Dineo Dowd has been nominated as one of Wisconsin’s most influential black leaders in 2022. She started a movement that encourages people to go outdoors and through it, depression and anxiety is decreasing.

Dineo’s journey is a testament to Diversity, awarded ,Equity and Inclusion, both through her beginning into nature and her work in removing barriers to getting outside. Recently nominated as Wisconsin’s 48 most influential black leaders As a South African native, Dineo spent time outdoors and had a love of nature. Still, it was after moving to Utah that she developed a deep love of hiking, camping, and a variety of other outdoor experiences.

Dineo writes diverse children’s books that aim to encourage kids from all cultures and backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors. She writes these books in her own voice based on her own lived experiences, but in a voice that children understand, enjoy, and connect with. Being an author of diverse children’s outdoor books gives her a unique way of looking at the outdoors through a child’s eyes, but with the life experience and knowledge to help break down barriers that kids may see in getting outside.

She is passionate about sharing her love for the outdoors with other women and creating spaces for those who are looking to explore the outdoors, connect with like-minded women, take time for themselves and step out of their comfort zone. Dineo is taking a group of women from different parts of the world to join her in August in Tanzania, to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, with the first black African women to summit Mount Everest. TO get in contact with Dineo, see her links for social media and other channels.