Bonus Episode: Women In Rescue
On October 5th, I sat down and talked to Cassy Aguirre and Aspen Wilks, the founders of Women In Rescue, to talk about all things Women In Rescue. Women in Rescue is a community devoted to increasing representation, access, and retention for women in the rescue industry. Their mission is to transform the rescue industry into a culture that supports women and recognizes that diversity is critical to success. They are committed to building a strong and supportive community, providing relevant educational materials and resources, and helping create a pipeline that supports women's leadership in the industry.
Both Cassy and Aspen have been involved in rescue for many years. Cassy co-founded "Women in Rescue" to empower and connect women in Search and Rescue. Her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in traditionally male-dominated industries is evident in her professional and extracurricular pursuits. Aspen is a staunch advocate for gender equality and is passionate about creating a more inclusive rescue community. She works to provide women in rescue fields with the educational, access, and leadership tools needed to create a diverse and empowered rescue community and amplify the impacts women make in this vital line of work.
Q: Why did you start Women In Rescue?
A: It actually started haphazardly! We began with an Instagram page, creating posts that spoke the most to us and other women in our industry. There aren't many female role models in Search and Rescue or Technical leadership positions. Through our social media pages and website, we hope to provide a space for women to share their experiences and expertise and inspire others to join. Women In Rescue also strives to reduce financial barriers in the Outdoor and Search and Rescue industries through no-cost membership and accessible resources.
Q: What does Women In Rescue do?
A: Our primary goal is to increase representation. Women belong in the Search and Rescue space! We don't often see women on SAR teams, and honestly, the industry needs to catch up in terms of inclusion. The gender gap is especially noticeable at the leadership level. Women In Rescue facilitates community building, eliminates barriers for women, and encourages difficult conversations to address the root causes of disparity. Most importantly, we strive to create a safe space for women to share their stories, be vulnerable, and grow in their field.
Q: What is the difference between calling out and calling in?
A: It's easy (and natural!) to get defensive or be accusatory. While there is certainly space to share our unique experiences, our team's primary focus is not necessarily individual cases but the system issue of discrimination. We invite people to participate in positive change and work toward more inclusive systems. Diversity benefits everyone and makes organizations more effective!
Q: Tell me about your new seminars!
A: We plan to start hosting virtual, quarterly seminars where women in our industry can share their expertise and insights on overcoming challenges. It will primarily be a learning environment for women only and act as a safe space to ask questions. Stay tuned to our Facebook or Instagram pages for more details.
It’s hard to break through in the outdoor industry as a woman, especially the Search And Rescue community. Tune in to this exclusive interview with Cassy and Aspen to learn more!
