Marmot Celebrates Winners Of Elevation Grants Focused On Supporting Outdoor Creatives Of Col

Marmot proudly announces the winners of its Elevation Grant campaign focused on supporting outdoor creatives of color. With a hugely successful number of entrants into a contest vying for the two coveted spots, winners Janelle Paciencia and Jade Begay are sure to produce amazing works of art in the coming months and years. 

The Elevation Grants are specifically designed to support BIPOC creatives in the outdoor industry. Co-founder L. Renee Blount navigated her route to success through many hurdles and roadblocks but had a dream to make the uphill climb as fair as possible for future BIPOC creatives following a similar path as hers. To help with this process, L. Renee Blount and Marmot were supported by other industry leaders to put more than just money behind this effort. The grant is made possible by the generous support of its co-sponsors (Bronco, Smartwool, Sony, Coleman, Peak Design, Marmot) and mentors that include Irene Yee, photographer;  Will Saunders, photographer; Faith E Briggs, filmmaker; and L. Renee Blount, photographer and creative strategist.

Janelle Paciencia, the Peak Elevation Grant contest winner, will focus on championing all members of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities through her photography. Her project will be a celebration of the intersectionality of the outdoor BIPOC community and Latinx diaspora community living in the US as told through the photography of female community members that are excelling in mountaineering and ice climbing. 

Jade Begay, the Summit Elevation Grant contest winner, will focus her filmmaking on her journey of environmental justice across Turtle Island and beyond to uncover and share the unique stories and cultural connections that have existed between Athabaskan Speaking Peoples, such as the Diné, Apache, Dene, Gwich’in and so many more.

Marmot and L. Renee Blount were completely ecstatic about the success of the campaign and humbled by the rigorous process of selecting the winners from an amazing pool of contest applicants. After skyrocketing on social media with more than 1,000 shares and an estimated organic reach of 9 million, the decision on selecting winners was not an easy one. The spirit coming from the aspiring creatives was contagious, resulting in an incredibly rewarding experience to see the passion emanating from each person behind the application.

The winners are connecting with their mentors and developing their strategy for the future work ahead. With monthly meetings taking place over the following five months, these projects will wrap up by the end of January 2022. Later in January, Marmot will host a grant project takeover on their social media channels. The same day, L. Renee Blount will host a live Q&A with the winners.

Follow along with Janelle (@janelle_takesphotos) and Jade (@jadethemighty) in their creative journey at www.marmot.com/elevation-grant.html and on Marmot’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marmot/. For more information on Marmot, please visit www.marmot.com.