Sierra Brown, Co-Founder at Changing Current | Empowering melanated surfers to travel
Sierra Brown just wants to surf. But she’s pretty busy now as the co-founder and program Coordinator at Changing Current - an organization committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the surf travel industry. Changing Current’s hope is to foster a community of empowered individuals who not only gain access to new experiences but also become advocates for a more just and equitable society.
And while that’s an impressive title, Sierra’s a little reluctant to own up to it. Namely, because Sierra is still so new to all this… she’s new at being a founder, she’s new at running a non-profit, she’s relatively new to surfing, to modeling… and if you ask her, she’s still trying to figure it all out herself. But that said, Sierra has some very wise words and a perspective that I was eager to hear more from.
You see, Sierra and I are both surfers. But as a black woman who surfs, Sierria’s experience has been much different than mine. Of course, as we discuss, those facts definitely don’t define her. But they provide the backdrop for her lived experience, and that’s an experience I wanted to learn more about.
In our conversation, Sierra shares her journey from getting the job, quitting the job, taking that first surf lesson, making that first trip to Costa Rica, and realizing that, yes, surfing and traveling were for her.
Sierra’s been through a lot these last few years, and in our chat, she speaks openly about being in - and working her way out of - a dark place. She shares stories that many of us might be familiar with: struggling to get that lucky break, feeling overworked, and overwhelmed with adulting… but all in all, this is a story of joy. Knowing where to find it, how to tap into it, and how to create it for others. And it’s a story about going places; both physically and figuratively. There’s a lot in here to soak up.
Here are some of topics we touched on:
- Chasing your dreams after college is tough (period)
- Learning where you thrive and where you don’t is crucial
- Chasing the entertainment industry dream can be brutal
- The growing pains of growing up
- Making tackling mental wellness your priority
- The frustrations of developing a career
- The value of self-discovery
- Dealing with stress and depression
- Finding purpose
- The power of the ocean and the joy of surfing
- Finding your community and support network
- Appreciating shared values above all else
- The realities of being a Black surfer
- The power of travel and global experiences
- The challenges that come with starting a non-profit organization
- The excitement of what lies ahead
SDG Alignment: #5 Gender Equality, #10 Reduced Inequalities, #17 Partnerships for the Goals
Links:
- Sierra Raequel - https://www.instagram.com/sierraraequel/reels/
- Eliette Singleton -https://www.instagram.com/eliettesingleton/reels/
- @Black.surfers https://www.instagram.com/black.surfers/?hl=en
- @Kayitaj - https://www.instagram.com/kayiitaj/?hl=en
- Textured Waves - https://www.instagram.com/texturedwaves/
- Ebony Beach Club - https://ebonybeachclub.com/
- @Brick - https://www.instagram.com/____brick/?hl=en
- Intrsxtn Surf - https://www.instagram.com/intrsxtn_surf/?hl=en
- Color the Water - https://www.colorthewater.org/
- WOW Surf Camp - https://www.wowsurfcamp.com/
- OneOC for nonprofits - https://oneoc.org/
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (the book Sierra was reading)- https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57926137
Also: Be sure to check out our conversation with Michael Stewart, Co-Founder of Sustainable Surf and their SeaTrees blue carbon and EcoBoard sustainable surfboard projects: https://www.theunderswell.com/podcasts/good-things-happening-just-under-the-surface/episodes/2148116934
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Looking for more structured sustainability learning? Check out our School of Understanding. Link here: https://www.theunderswell.com/pkgs
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#diversity #equtity #inclusion #surfing #careers #adulting #keeplearning #ocean #nonprofitmanagement #empowerment #blacksurfers #ebonybeachclub #changingcurrent #travel #founder #surftrip #womenthatsurf
Intro/Outro music by QubeSounds from Pixabay.
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