Crystal Gail Welcome

Crystal Gail Welcome is a Black, disabled, lesbian experiential educator, author, storyteller, activist, backpacker, and outdoor leader who overcame a rare brain disease through the healing power of nature.[1][2] Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, and now living in Minnesota, she became the first known Black person to through-hike the 1,500-mile Florida Trail and has tackled the Pacific Crest Trail, while founding the nonprofit Footprints for Change to bring underrepresented groups, including children of incarcerated mothers, outdoors.[2][4][7] She advocates for social and environmental justice, using her intersecting identities to break barriers and promote access to nature.[1][6]