a Q+A with founder, mountaineer, and father Scott J. Briscoe.
MAE: Let’s jump in! What were your inspirations for starting WeGotNext?
Scott: There have been so many. Being the only person of color (POC) in outdoor spaces for so long; having the opportunity to be part of the first African American Expedition to climb Denali (Expedition Denali); and not seeing any bold action from outdoor industries (recreation, adventure, conservation, environmentalism) to make a difference in the areas of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion have all had a part.
But ultimately it has been my daughter, Semiya Sage Strongheart. Semiya was born in 2015 – a tremendously loving little human with Down syndrome. While Down syndrome isn’t a singular part of her identity, it will affect her life in new and different ways. It was realizing how the experiences of exclusion in spaces will impact Semiya that really inspired WeGotNext. While life will be what it will, I want do whatever I can to help that process be more loving for Semiya and anyone else who might feel excluded and not invited in, particularly in outdoor spaces where we have always been on the front lines of deep, meaningful connection, yet our stories have been erased, left out or re-written be the dominant culture.
MAE: Where does the name WeGotNext come from; what does it mean?
Scott: Ahhh, my good brother Jorge Moreno! Jorge is a colleague and dear friend. He and I often worked and played in spaces where we were the “only ones” yet we were making moves and inspiring each other to do better and become leaders for change so that others wouldn’t have to feel the same way . . . he would often say to me, “Briscoe, we got next!”.
“We got next!” is a phrase often declared on basketball courts. When two teams are playing a game, another will start to form on the sidelines . . . “hey, anyone know who’s got next game!?” . . . creating a bond, a relationship, a confidence to step onto the court and face the challenge together of playing the next game. “We got next!”
The name WeGotNext embodies the courage and building of teams to be next in line for equity and justice in outdoor spaces. It also symbolizes the next cohort of WeGotNext Ambassadors that are in line to step onto the “court” and grow as leaders who act on behalf of air, land, water and community.
Photo credit: Hannah Aldern, 2018
MAE: Black, Indigenous, Brown, LGBTQIA+ folks, those of us with disabilities, and our many more intersections — have always been outside. We've always stewarded the earth. And yet, in the modern environmental movement, we've been not only left out from these conversations but our histories and stories intentionally erased, as well.
At its core, WeGotNext is a vehicle for powerful storytelling. So with that in mind:
What role do you see storytelling in healing our relationship to the land, to the earth, and ultimately to one another?
Scott: It has always come down to representation or reflection and how seeing someone who looks like me, has had similar experiences as me or has a familiar story to tell resonates and broadens an emotional access. The power and influence of seeing and hearing stories from our communities re-ignites our relationships to land and one another that have always been there. It is the storytelling of us – and by us – that validates and galvanizes our participation to protect spaces and communities and remove many barriers preventing us from acting.
MAE: Tell us a little bit about you.
Scott: I am the father to a charming and empathetic 4 – year old. I am grateful for the relentless lessons in life she shares with me . . . patience, perspective, Love, empathy and so many others. I was born in San Francisco and, while I spent my more formative years in Sacramento, I have been back in San Francisco since ‘06. As someone who identifies as bi-racial, equity and justice are integrated into my lens and, as a result, a structural part of everything I do. I have a strong desire to see new places, take part in new adventures and I care deeply about the power of story and the the need for invitation as a starting place for equity and justice. I attended Howard University, spent 3 months on a factory trawler in the middle of the Bering Sea, had dinner with an anti-slavery activist in Mauritania, traveled 7 months through West Africa, lived in several small ski mountain towns, and been chased by elephants in South Africa; these are some of the experiences I carry with me when trying to understanding equity, differences and inclusion and how to implement bold decision in conservation, environmentalism or adventure/recreation. Even though I grew up as an only child, my extended family is expansive . . . I grew up having relationships with my great–great grandmother, who was Spanish only speaking, and my great–grandmother. My family history has imparted on me the necessity of community, inclusion and diversity. This year you can find me on a river casting, struggling through the cold on some mountaineering project (only to do it again) or playing with Semiya in an Oakland or San Francisco city park.
MAE: What are your hopes for this inaugural year of WeGotNext?
Scott: My hopes are for the Ambassadors to feel the power of their own stories through bonding with one another and witnessing the impact their stories will have on others to engage in the protection of air, land, water and community in new and actionable ways.
MAE: And finally, what's the best way someone reading this can support?
Scott: Donate and share with a foundation or individual that our mission aligns with. As a nonprofit we rely on donations, partnerships, and the meaningful, deep connections with the people that make all of this happen.
To get in touch with Scott, please reach out to scott.briscoe@we-got-next.org, and follow us on Instagram to stay updated.
Interview + Photography: michael a. estrada
Photo credit: Donnie Hedden, 2018
