It's not only the right thing to do- it's a smart
business decision! And it’s the very key to protecting
the legacy of our national parks, forests, and all public lands.
Especially when you consider the multicultural future of the United States. If we don't reach out to
our children of color today- just who do we think is going to be skiing, snowboarding, hiking, camping,
fishing and mountain biking in 20-30 years; when minorities become the majority in the United States?
Who is going to feel any affinity for the legacy of our mountains and understand the need to protect them?
When you consider that so much mountain recreation takes place on U.S. forest land that belongs to all Americans,
this nation clearly needs to do a better job of making mountain recreation a reality for thousands of kids who
live within a few hours of extraordinary mountain resources- but often never ever get to the mountains during
their entire life.
As Colorado Congressman Mark Udall and Senator Ken Salazar both note, "Mountain recreation is important to
children of color because it helps create good citizens and leadership skills."
Since the ski season of 2003-2004, ALPINO has provided snowsports and summer mountain recreation experiences for over
13,000 Front Range kids. In addition, ALPINO works closely with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA),
Ski Area Management (SAM) Magazine, Snowsports Industries America (SIA), Colorado Mountain College and several
area resorts like Keystone Resort, Breckenridge, Vail Resort, Eldora Mountain Resort, Beaver Creek Resort,
Crested Butte, Copper Mountain, Aspen, Steamboat, Arapahoe Basin, Powderhorn, Taos, Mountain High, Hunter
Mountain and Angel Fire Resort. We are now creating nationwide industry models for snow and mountain sports inclusivity.
Nationally and in Colorado we're actually making the "business case" for snowsports diversity, and are pleased to say
that snowsports diversity success stories are emerging throughout the United States and here in Colorado- where
our work has received broad recognition from the Denver City Council, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard,
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Mark Udall, the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Outside Magazine, 5280 Magazine,
the New York Times, the Denver Business Journal, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, CBS-Denver Channel 4 and
NBC-Channel 9, Telemundo, Univision and many national media outlets.
We enjoy strong support from most of the Colorado Congressional delegation, the Congressional Snowsports Caucus,
the U.S. Forest Service, Denver Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, Adams County Schools,
the Denver Catholic Archdiocese, the Daniels Fund, many faith based youth groups- all who recognize our common
vision for a more inclusive mountain recreation future.
Schedules permitting, we are available for speaking engagements
throughout the United States. If you are interested in getting underserved youth involved in mountain sports- we
are interested in talking to you. Some recent engagements have included the National Ski Areas Association National
Conferences and Regional Meetings, Education Seminars, SAM Snowsports Diversity Symposiums at Steamboat, CO. Mt.
Washington/Bretton Woods, N.H., numerous corporations and school districts, Federal, State & Local legislators,
broadcast and print media outlets, Ski Industry Week, Colorado Mountain College Ski Operations Program and the
Scholarship Committee for the Daniels Fund.
We're not only changing the lives of kids- but we're finding creative new ways for Colorado's No. 2 industry to reach out to Colorado's emerging multicultural majority. They are simple yet complex tasks.
We hope you share our vision of inclusivity for snowsports and mountain recreation. Call us and find out how you're organization might partner with us.
Sincerely,
Roberto Lopez Moreno
Founder & President
ALPINO
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