Crawford Prize

Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize

2023 Prize Recipient

Manny Almonte

Nature is a way of life for Manny Almonte.

Growing up in the bustling city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Almonte sought peace and freedom during weekend, holiday, and summer visits to his father’s home in Bonao, an inland town at the foothills of the Pico Duarte mountains. “I was able to experience nature beyond the beach. Usually you think of the Caribbean Sea and how beautiful the beaches are, but when you go into the land, you find beautiful mountains, streams, and wildlife—and that is something that I always looked forward to,” said Almonte. “I didn't experience nature intentionally; it was simply life.”

Today, Almonte shares that way of life with young Black and Brown men from New York City and Denver and uses it as a vehicle to help them create connections with nature, their passions, their inner selves and their communities through his non-profit organization Young Masterminds Initiative and its Camping to Connect outdoor mentorship program.

Camping to Connect uses outdoor recreation to instill self-reliance, healthy lifestyle choices, leadership, introspection, and brotherhood.

“In the quiet of the forest, we hold conversations on topics like race, masculinity, and mental health that tackle the meaningful issues these youth face in America’s cities,” said Almonte. “These trips also show our young participants and their families that America’s outdoor spaces are safe and theirs to benefit from, too.”

Camping to Connect’s volunteer mentors are from Mastermind Connect, a nationwide collective (also founded by Almonte) of progressive men of color who support one another to become the best versions of themselves.

“Mentoring these young men is our way to give back and work with younger versions of ourselves. There was so much we needed to learn, relearn, unlearn [like generational trauma and boundaries we had set for ourselves based on fear] and overcome. This is the catalyst for our work with the young men,” said Almonte. “We understand that someone has to share these experiences with them—to go out into nature with them and help them see and feel the healing power of nature, to connect with nature and to connect with each other and, more importantly, to connect with themselves.”

The power of connection to nature is highlighted in the award-winning short film, Wood Hood, which follows a group of young men on a wilderness journey with Camping to Connect. Produced by Almonte and Young Masterminds Initiative co-founder, Andy Isaacson, Wood Hood champions justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the outdoors and urges viewers to recognize the power and potential of a world where nature is accessible and inclusive for all.

In recognition of his creativity, dedication, and steadfast commitment to changing the lives of young Black and Brown men and for his powerful work to increase access and inclusion for BIPOC youth in the outdoors, the National Recreation Foundation awarded Manny Almonte the 2023 Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize.

“It is an honor to receive this award and to be respected by those who understand the value of investing in a community beyond its immediate neighbors,” said Almonte. “Young Masterminds Initiative has been asked to collaborate and expand our Camping to Connect program all over the country, from the Bay Area to Portland, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and Texas. The prize money is going to allow us to build capacity, hire staff, and expand so we can do more of this good work.”

To learn more about Camping to Connect, visit campingtoconnect.com.

Images courtesy of Manny Almonte.

The Crawford Prize

Presented annually since 2002, the purpose of the prize is to recognize a living person who has dedicated him or herself to enhancing recreation opportunities for youth, making it possible for more young Americans to live healthy, participatory lives, thus reinforcing the work of the Foundation. Each year, the prize is awarded to that person, whether professional or volunteer, who has made an extraordinary contribution in advancing recreation programs for youth from disadvantaged circumstances.

The prize consists of a $50,000 cash award which the prize winner may direct to an organization providing programming aligned with the Foundation's mission. The individual members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees may make nominations. The award is presented at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Robert W. Crawford

For 60 years, Robert W. Crawford served others through his role as Commissioner of Recreation in Philadelphia and as Executive Director of the National Recreation Foundation. As the Commissioner of Recreation, Mr. Crawford established a national model for local government's provision of recreational services for all citizens. His creativity and innovative ideas won him international recognition. He also played an important role in the development and growth of the National Recreation Foundation during his time as its Executive Director. Mr. Crawford personified those qualities of leadership and commitment that the Foundation seeks to foster, which is why this Achievement Prize was named in his honor.

Video

Watch this video to learn about the life and legacy of Robert W. Crawford.

Past Prize Winners: