Ava Mountain Club: My Love Letter to Nature and the Communities That Raised Me

For those who have been following along, you’ve probably noticed a shift in the direction of Ava. What started as Ava New York has now become Ava Mountain Club. I want to take a moment to share why.

From the ages of 2 to 7, I lived in foster care and orphanages around Boston. My mom was struggling with addiction, and my father was in jail before I was born. Most of the places I stayed were in underprivileged neighborhoods, where I was often the only white kid. At that age, though, none of that mattered. We were just kids looking for friends to play with.

Those years were filled with some of the most traumatic experiences of my life. But amidst the chaos, there was one thing that always grounded me—my biannual trips to visit my birth family on the coastal woodlands of Maine. There was something about the silence of nature, the feeling of moss or sand beneath my feet, that reminded me the world was bigger and more beautiful than the struggles I was facing.

Then, in 2001, when I was seven years old, I was adopted by my two loving moms. We weren’t wealthy by any means, but they worked hard to get me a scholarship to a private school so I could receive the best education possible. It was another massive shift—suddenly, I went from being the only white kid to being surrounded by privilege and wealth. Through some of my closest friends, I got to experience nature in a new way—trips to the mountains, hikes, weekends at the beach. But one thing stood out to me: everywhere we went, the outdoor spaces were overwhelmingly white.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand why. But as I got older, I realized it came down to representation and resources. Getting outside isn’t cheap—gear, travel, lessons, and access all add up quickly. On top of that, for years, people of color were barely included in outdoor ads or marketing. While brands have made progress, there’s still so much work to be done. And beyond that—how can we expect kids from underprivileged communities to care about protecting the environment if they’ve never even had the opportunity to experience it?

After working in the fashion industry for over ten years, I knew I wanted to do something different—something with real purpose. When I started Ava New York, I was inspired by the skills my mom left me when she passed, and I wanted to help others who weren’t as fortunate as me in making it out of the circumstances I faced as a kid. But I realized I wanted to do more than just create a brand—I wanted to create a movement.

Ava Mountain Club is that realization. If I can give just one kid—someone who doesn’t look like me or hold the same privilege I do as a straight white man—that same feeling of calm and peace that nature gave me, then I’ll have done my job.

Through education, representation, community events, and sustainable product drops that give back, we’re working to help kids from underprivileged neighborhoods get outside. We’re supporting organizations already doing the work and using every tool we have to open doors for the next generation.

I’m sharing this because I know the posts where I spill my guts seem to resonate the most. If you want to support in any way—whether it’s following us on social media, signing up for our newsletter, or just sharing our mission—it would mean the world. We’ve got some incredible things in the works for this spring and summer, and I can’t wait to bring you along for the journey.

Let’s get more people outside—together.