Chevon Powell (She/Her)
by Greg Guettler (He/Him)
In 2015, Chevon Powell was driving through rural Vermont. An avid hiker, she was excited for her two week backpacking trip along a section of the Appalachian Trail. On her first night, she was driving to her hotel when she was pulled over by a white police officer. When she was asked what she was doing she told the truth; preparing for a hike. The police officer remarked how that story was “unbelievable.” Living as a Black woman, she is no stranger to issues of “driving while Black.” The unimaginable existence of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in nature is an issue that underlines all of the important work that Powell does.
At five months old her family’s apartment in Houston burned down. Powell suffered life-threatening burns, requiring many surgeries and a lifetime of recovery. At the age of three she attended Camp Janus, a place dedicated to young burn survivors. This experience is where Powell’s love of nature began, and where she learned that nature could be a place of safety and healing. Unfortunately, people with marginalized identities generally don’t get the opportunity to safely experience the outdoors like Powell did.
At the age of 30, while on what she calls her “great NW adventure”, Powell visited Seattle and fell in love. By November 2nd, 2010, Seattle had become her home.
In 2012, Powell started her business Golden Bricks Events (GBE), an event production company focused on bringing outdoor recreation to BIPOC communities. This began as an event-hosting service for primarily Seattle based clients, but they put on events across the US. 2018 marked the beginning of her signature event series for GBE, Refuge Outdoor Festival. This event brings together BIPOC communities and their allies for a multiday outdoor excursion, whether they are nature-obsessed or first time campers.
Recognizing her dedication to outdoor access for all, the Wildlife and Recreation Coalition Awarded Powell with the Joan Thomas Award in 2024. Receiving a lifetime achievement award does not mean she’s done blazing trails and amplifying BIPOC voices. In 2025, her company began a new project. Public Lands: UnEarthed is an interview series dedicated to showcasing the lesser known histories of BIPOC communities on Washington’s public lands.
Powell continues to foster community, learning, and love for nature in the Pacific Northwest as a beacon of progress for BIPOC representation on public lands.
