DIVERSITY | EQUITY | INCLUSION
OUR STATEMENT
Mesa Rim is committed to fostering a space that is diverse, accessible, and inclusive to ALL people – a place that our community members consider a second home. While we have been working on this since our inception, we are now formalizing our DEI effort as part of our yearly strategic planning process to ensure DEI stays at the forefront of our organization. Cultivating an inclusive culture is one of our core values and it has always been an important building block in achieving our vision to improve the quality of life of our community. We recognize that the climbing community has historically excluded many types of people and many barriers still exist (both indoors and out) and there is more that Mesa Rim can do to make climbing, yoga, and fitness more inclusive and accessible to all.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Mesa Rim
- Actively working to increase diversity in our spaces by seeking out and reaching people historically underrepresented in the climbing, yoga, and fitness community.
- Continually learning and acting to improve equal access to Mesa Rim for employment and recreation.
- All people belong. We hold an expectation of respect and kindness in our spaces.
This page helps us share information with our community about what we are doing as an organization to help create more diverse, inclusive, and accessible spaces at Mesa Rim. We also want to uplift the work of our partner organizations who are already doing this work, some who host meet-ups and other community events in our gyms! We are also working on several internal programs to help make our spaces and climbing programs more accessible for underserved youth in our cities.
As a part of our strategy to foster more inclusive spaces at Mesa Rim we have also launched a DEI Advisory Committee made up of staff members from all of our locations to help guide our efforts, and we will continue adding resources to this page as we expand our list of partnership organizations/ambassador groups and create more opportunities for our BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and Adaptive communities inside Mesa Rim. With that being said, if you are part of a group or organization that would like to host meet-ups at our gym, or partner in another way, please reach out to us at DEI@mesarim.com to get the conversation started!
PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS, AMBASSADOR GROUPS, & ACCESSIBILITY OPPORTUNITIES
OUTDOOR OUTREACH
10+ YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP
Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has provided opportunities for more than 17,000 young people to explore their world, cultivate belonging, and discover what they’re capable of. Their mission is to connect youth to the transformative power of the outdoors.
Outdoor Outreach meets multiple times per month @ Mesa Rim Mission Valley + Mesa Rim North City
To participate, please reach out to Outdoor Outreach directly!
QUEER CLIMBING COLLECTIVE
The Queer Climbing Collective hopes to connect the LGBTQIA+ community through their love for climbing and the outdoors.
QCC hosts climbing meet-ups monthly at all of our San Diego locations!
To participate, please reach out to the Queer Climbing Collective directly for their most current meet-up schedule and more information on location specific discounts/offerings!
MOONROCKS BOULDERING
MoonRocks Bouldering is working to make climbing more accessible to Washoe tribal members, Veterans, Active duty members and Navy Recruits in Reno NV. Their mission is to introduce underserved communities to the sport of rock climbing as a therapeutic tool to help cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mental and physical afflictions.
MoonRocks meets at Mesa Rim Reno on Thursdays @ 5pm.
To participate, please reach out to MoonRocks Bouldering directly!
Para Cliff Hangers
ParaCliffHangers is a nonprofit organization that fosters community, adventure, strength, and equity through adaptive rock climbing. Their programming includes recurring indoor meet-ups, outdoor adventures, and competition experience. They build communities where disability is not a barrier to climbing.
Para Cliff Hangers hosts climbing meet-ups on the last Sunday of the month at our Mission Valley location. This meet-up is FREE for paraclimbers & includes gear.
Please fill out the ParaCliffHangers Sign-up Form to attend the next meetup, or reach out to them directly for more information on their current offerings!
North County Lifeline
NC Lifeline is a community-based human services organization that serves more than 5,000 members of the community through clinically-strong and evidence-based programs that focus on positive youth development, child abuse prevention and domestic violence intervention, housing and self-sufficiency, behavioral health, and human trafficking victim and survivor services. Their mission is to build self-reliance among youth, adults, and families through high-quality, community-based services.
NC Lifeline hosts climbing meetups several times a month at our North City location.
Please reach out to NC Lifeline directly to attend their next meetup, and for more information on their services.
UMOJA COMMUNITY
Umoja is a community of educators and learners committed to the academic success, personal growth and self-actualization of African American and other students. The Umoja Community seeks to educate the whole student–body, mind and spirit. Informed by an ethic of love and its vital power, the Umoja Community will deliberately engage students as full participants in the construction of knowledge and critical thought.
Umoja hosts monthly climbing meet-ups on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5-8pm at our North City location.
To participate/learn more please reach out to Umoja directly, or attend the next meetup!
BROWN GIRLS CLIMB
Brown Girls Climb is a social enterprise which strives to facilitate mentorship, provide access, uplift leadership, and celebrate representation in the outdoors and climbing for People of the Global Majority with a focus on building equitable and just relationships in all the efforts they commit to, including meet-ups and mentorship, resource sharing and redistribution, and employment and industry practices.
BGC hosts climbing meet-ups monthly at our Mission Valley location, and periodically at our other San Diego locations!
To participate, please reach out to Brown Girls Climb directly for their most current meet-up schedule!
ADAPTIVE CLIMBING TEAM
The Mesa Rim Adaptive Climbing Team provides individuals ages 16+ with physical disability a chance to explore the sport of rock climbing within a safe and encouraging environment. The team is best suited for climbers who wish to pursue personal goals with a constructive focus or who wish to participate in adaptive climbing competitions.
The Adaptive Climbing Team currently meets twice per week at Mesa Rim Mission Valley
For more information on our Adaptive Climbing Team, please reach out to AdaptiveClimbing@mesarim.com
BIG BROTHERS || BIG SISTERS
Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country.
We are proud to provide free day passes + gear to all “Bigs” and “Littles” in both San Diego and Reno!
For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, please reach out to your local branch directly!
SENSORY FRIENDLY MORNINGS
During Sensory-Friendly Mornings we are open for climbing with no overhead lights, no music, and minimized noise throughout the gym. Sensory-friendly mornings aim to make the climbing experience less busy, noisy, and bright so that climbers of all needs and preferences can enjoy their experience here at Mesa Rim.
This offering occurs monthly at all Mesa Rim locations! Contact your home gym for more information.
The Phoenix
Since 2006, The Phoenix has helped more than 104,000 people across America rise above addiction and harness the power of self-transformation. Their mission is to build a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together they rise, recover, and live.
The Phoenix hosts climbing meet-ups periodically at our Mira Mesa location.
To participate, please reach out to The Phoenix directly!
QUEERING THE PATH
Queering The Path works to create a collective affirming, inclusive, and accessible Outdoor experience for Queer and Trans BIPOC. Their mission is to increase accessibility and relationship to nature through curiosity.
QTP hosts QTBIPOC climb nights every third Thursday of the month at our Mission Valley location.
Please reach out to Queering The Path directly to attend their next meetup, and for information on their current offerings/discounts.
Reps 4 Recovery
Reps 4 Recovery aims to strengthen the sober community, and the health of recovering addicts & alchoholics through fitness, coaching, community, and mentorship. Due to the ongoing generous donations from thousands of people around the world, R4R has been able to serve hundreds of individuals in the Reno-Tahoe-Sparks community.
R4R hosts climbing meet-ups on the first and third Fridays of each month @ 6pm at our Reno location.
To participate, please reach out to Reps 4 Recovery directly to attend their next meetup, and for more information on their current programs.
Native Like Water
Native Like Water (NLW) curates experiences through an Indigenous lens. Conserving the natural environment/s cultural practice of travel, surf, music and food as medicine.
NLW hosts youth climbing meet-ups periodically at all of our San Diego locations.
Please reach out to Native Like Water directly to attend their next meetup, and for more information on their current offerings.
Fat Senders
Fat Senders goal is to build a safe space for folks in bigger bodies to participate in recreational activities or learn new things. This project aims to raise awareness of the very real problems that fat folks face, not just in the outdoor industry, but in their everyday lives.
Fat Senders hosts climbing meet-ups twice per month at our Mira Mesa location.
Please reach out to Fat Senders directly to attend their next meetup, and for more information on their current offerings.
FEEDBACK
Is there anything you’d like to tell us? Is there an organization you’d like to put us in touch with?
All DEI specific feedback can be sent to us by emailing DEI@mesarim.com or filling out the contact form below.