On Monday, Jan. 15, the US honors the achievements and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. In King’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” he described a world in which justice, freedom and equality before the law are rights enjoyed by everyone. Decades later, we continue to be inspired by his words and legacy. We recognize the great contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and when we reflect on his fight for equality, we think about how we can bring equal opportunities to the future of our sport.
At Vail Resorts we believe we have a responsibility to ensure anybody who wants to ski or snowboard, and experience the joy that comes with being on the mountain, are welcome. This mindset is grounded in our core value to Be Inclusive. We’ve always had a robust youth access program and have expanded the program to include a particular focus on organizations that support youth of color in major cities surrounding our resorts, including Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and New York City. This program aims to build a more inclusive culture, while increasing participation in the sport by removing some of the barriers to entry. We know we’ll be a stronger company and better industry with more diverse viewpoints, and the sport will be more resilient with broader engagement.