In its mission to elevate and amplify the stories of underrepresented athletes and leaders within the outdoor community, the Outbound Collective has launched a film, fundraiser and virtual panel event to help save Slim Pickins Outfitters, the first Black-owned outdoor gear shop in the nation.
Since it was founded in 2017, Slim Pickins Outfitters has been a community mainstay and a purveyor of positivity in Stephenville, Texas, known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” The store and its owners, Jahmicah and Heather Dawes, have been a fixture within the community; Slim Pickins brings together people from all walks of life, and is the town’s go-to supplier of outdoor and adventure-ready goods and services. The store is a vital part of the spirit and energy of the community.
The 15-minute film, titled Slim Pickins and produced in partnership with Wondercamp, features Jahmicah and Heather discussing their struggles to keep their family business afloat in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released as part of the #EveryoneOutside film series presented by HOKA ONE ONE. Click here to view it.
“Slim Pickins Outfitters exists to diversify the outdoors, and we do that by being a relevant space for our community, our culture, for the creative outdoor enthusiast,” said Jahmicah Dawes. “What we are trying to do, simply put, is to get more people that look like me out into these outdoor spaces.”
Outbound Collective, with the support of Kampgrounds of America (KOA), Wondercamp and JAM Collective, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help get Slim Pickins out of debt caused by the pandemic, and provide Jahmicah and Heather a firm foundation to continue to build their vision for a more diverse and inclusive outdoor industry.
The team at Seattle-based Wondercamp brought on director Justin Jeffers and producer Abdul Kassamali, two fellow Seattleites and Black creatives, to collaborate and drive the film. In addition to the film’s release and the launch of the fundraising campaign, HOKA ONE ONE and the Outbound Collective will present a virtual panel discussion about the film on Wednesday, February 17, at 8 p.m. EST. The panel includes:
• Jahmicah and Heather Dawes, owners of Slim Pickins Outfitters
• Justin Jeffers, film director in collaboration with Wondercamp
• Abdul Kassamali, film producer in collaboration with Wondercamp
Latria Graham will facilitate, and ASL interpretation will be available for the duration. The event is free. Registration will open next week.
This film series is one of several Outbound Collective initiatives designed to get everyone outside, especially members of communities the outdoor industry has historically excluded. The initiatives promote representative storytelling, spotlight diverse artists, highlight underrepresented communities in film, and strengthen partnerships with and among community partners.
