Vasu Sojitra

When Vasu was only nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Since then, Vasu has not looked back; with the help of his parents, brother, friends and so many other resources and opportunities, Vasu has gained access to the confidence needed to face new challenges with grace, courage, strength, humor, and unwavering determination. Vasu witnessed extreme poverty growing up in India, and has been living most of his life with a “dis”ability. He looks at these experiences as a blessing; they have allowed him to truly hone in on his ability to empathize with others. He continues to strengthen his vigor through his work in advocacy for those who are historically marginalized. Vasu will continue to embolden others to be a positive influence in their own communities by pushing personal limits, putting others first, and encouraging people to believe in themselves and in their own unique abilities! With the motto of “ ninjasticking through the wood to bring intersectionality to the outdoors” Vasu continues to challenge the biases that go with being a person of color with a disability through his intersectional work which include being the first adaptive athlete for The North Face, an advisor for The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, the co-founder of Inclusive Outdoors Project, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategist for In Solidarity Network and independently.