From the fresh smell of mint leaves in his grandfather’s garden to fishing trips with his grandparents on the Clear Fork River in Ohio; Alex’s familial connection to the outdoors always inspired him to connect deeply with nature. This foundational love and connection to nature led him to envision a program which radically transforms outdoor spaces and programming to be a beacon of joy and liberation for Black youth; later to be known as Black Outside, Inc. Since 2019, Black Outside, Inc has collectively served over 900 youth from across the U.S and is one of the largest black founded outdoor education organization in the southwest Alex is  proud alumni of the Wild Gift fellowship, Echoing Green Fellow, Aspen Institute Fellowship, and a TEDxSan Antonio Speaker