LIZELLE JACKSON
Growing up, Lizelle Jackson was surrounded by nature-loving family members who instilled a love for the outdoors in her from a young age. After spending years as an active travel guide, leading hiking and cycling trips around the world, Jackson realized that the outdoor industry lacked diversity and inclusion. As a biracial Black woman, she felt the need to make a change. When the opportunity arose to co-found Color the Water, an organization dedicated to diversifying surf lineups by offering free surf lessons to the BIPOC community in Los Angeles, Jackson found her purpose. “I’d always longed to see more people that look like me in the outdoors and especially in the ocean,” she says. Jackson believes that providing opportunities for underrepresented communities to experience surfing can help break down systemic barriers that prevent people of color from accessing the ocean. The most rewarding aspect of her work is seeing the joy on people’s faces when they realize they’ll soon be surfing—something they’d always dreamed of, but hadn’t dared tried before. “To be a part of someone’s journey to discovering their potential is priceless.” When not surfing, biking, or hiking, Jackson indulges in her other passion: eating desserts. “I love to live life to the fullest and that includes indulging in sweets every chance I get!” Jackson’s dedication to making the outdoors more inclusive and diverse is inspiring. Through Color the Water, she’s helping to create a more equitable future for adventure sports, and we can’t wait to see where her passion and hard work take her next.
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