4 Local Leaders Changing the Face of Climbing
At the heart of Brown Girls Climb lies community
Brittany Leavitt is a Brooklyn-based outdoor educator, wilderness medicine instructor, world-traveling climber, and backpacker committed to making outdoor spaces more inclusive and accessible. As the executive director and founding member of Brown Girls Climb, she fosters leadership, mentorship, and representation for women of color in climbing, while also collaborating with organizations like REI and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to uplift Black joy and ancestral connection to land. She also runs a Brooklyn community garden focused on food justice, intergenerational care, and collective joy. Notably, in 2018, she was part of the first all-African American team to summit Mount Kilimanjaro.
Beyond her outdoor endeavors, Brittany has spent years as an early childhood educator at the Smithsonian, integrating nature and play into learning environments. Her multifaceted approach to education and activism continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations in the outdoors.
At the heart of Brown Girls Climb lies community
“We climb. We have always climbed.”
In New York City, mentees and mentors boost one another to become climbers and leaders.