On Digital Advocacy - (Speaker's Corner) by Katie Boue (Paperback)

About the Book

"On Digital Advocacy is outdoor advocate Katie Bouâe's exploration of the intersection of advocacy, stewardship, social media, and our humanity. In this refreshingly frank consideration, Bouâe maintains that we all share a responsibility to protect our planet--especially those in the outdoor industry--and in the digital age, access to advocacy is abundant. Social media hands out the tools to get educated, gather resources, organize, and empower people to choose whatever slice of the "save the planet" pie that tempts the appetite to do good. The opportunity and potential for digital advocacy are dizzying, and Bouâe describes her own journey through that exciting and complex world. She then asks-and answers-the questions: What happens when we begin to tangle our personal identities with our pursuit of saving a dying earth? What happens when a meteoric rise as a social media influencer comes at the expense of our well-being? In passionate form, she argues that as users of public lands, we have an ethical responsibility to the planet. Yet as inhabitants of our identities, we also have an ethical responsibility to ourselves. Bouâe's honest and quick-paced essay charts a course for using the digital space to protect the outdoors while still protecting our human spirit"--

Book Synopsis

Whether you hike, bike, camp, climb, hunt, ride, paddle, paint, garden--whatever way you get out and enjoy nature, you leave an impact on the outdoors every time you step out your front door. Every step your boots take down dusty trails, every bolt your clip draws into, every time you cruise down a dirt road, till the soil, you leave an impact.

Outdoor recreation inherently leaves an impact on the land, but we can work to offset that impact by advocating for earth in our own circles, online and in our neighborhoods. The question is, can we use the digital space to protect the outdoors while still protecting our human spirit?

We all share a responsibility to protect our planet--especially those of us in the outdoor industry--and in the digital age, access to advocacy is abundant. Social media hands us the tools to get educated, gather resources, organize and empower ourselves on whatever slice of the "save the planet" pie tickles your appetite to do good. The opportunity and potential for digital advocacy is dizzying--but what happens when we begin to tangle our personal identities with our pursuit of saving a dying earth? As users of public lands, we have an ethical responsibility to the planet. As inhabitants of our identities, we have an ethical responsibility to ourselves, too.

Inside, the book covers topics like:

• The two types of advocacy
• Becoming an advocate for the outdoor industry
• Voting for the outdoor spaces you love the most
• The advocacy retention cycle
• Online bullying and stalking

Review Quotes

"Impressively informed and succinctly informative, On Digital Advocacy is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal combination of instructional reference guide and 'how-to' manual to advocate for making our outdoor recreations as environmentally sound as possible."--Midwest Book Review

"Because we have enough 'doom and gloom, ' we need more "do and bloom" that activates individual action in relation to our communities so we can thrive. And Katie offers us that."--José Gonzalez, Founder at Latino Outdoors, Educator, Creative, Facilitator

"It's a must-read for folks interested in digital advocacy. But really, it's a crucial conversation for anyone working to create a true impact between their digital profiles and neighborhood community."--Heather Balogh Rochfort, award-winning adventure writer

"The book is a refreshing invitation to breathe and get curious about the things that matter most to us. And along the way, Boué generously grants us the tools we need to make a real difference--all delivered with her trademark gusto and grace."--Gale Straub, Author of She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild

"Whether you're an individual or an organization, learn how to create impact that matters using Boué's unique combination of storytelling and case studies that are sure to inspire. Reading this book will support you in your journey to making the world a better place."--Caroline Gleich, professional skier and climate activis

About the Author

Katie Boué believes we all belong in nature and have a responsibility to be stewards of the earth and communities around us. She is a Cuban-American outdoor advocate, gardener, adventurer, and budding bird-watcher. When she's not out communing with nature, Katie spends time as an award-winning marketing strategist, writer, and content creator. 
Katie was the recipient of the Hero for the Planet Award at the Outdoor Media Summit in 2017 and has been featured in publications like Outside, Lonely Planet, SELF, the Denver Post, and many others. She earned her communications chops over ten years of social media marketing and digital organizing in the outdoor industry before burning out and finding balance through gardening and backyard stewardship. 
Born in Queens, New York, and raised in Miami, Florida, Katie currently lives on a half-acre urban homestead in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her dog, Spaghetti, and partner, Brody Leven.