After 14 months in snowy, suburban Connecticut, I made my way back home to the Bay Area. Being born and raised in Oakland, my wife and I drove from the eastern end of the country to the furthest west we could drive. Making it a sort of mini-migration. But it wasn’t until the fall, when I went on a hike in the redwoods at Joaquin Miller Park, that I really started to feel like I was home.

It was November 2025, and I had joined the Men’s Unity Hike—a hiking supergroup, maybe 100-plus people—formed by Loove Moore, 510 Hikers, Oakland Tarzan, Trap Nature, Hiphop TV, and Negus In Nature. They do it a few times a year.

Even in the parking lot, I ran into many familiar faces and leaders of various Bay Area groups and communities. Some I knew from family connections, others were friends of friends. We didn’t know each other as hikers, but we had all come for the same reason. The communal feeling was overwhelming. I was reminded of what I was returning to—intentional community and the luxury of vast, accessible public land. Things that were not as easy to find on the East Coast.

There were several groups that walked together from the start of the hike. Halfway through the hike, we paused to collect ourselves. Some of the other groups were behind us and some were in front. 

There was a feeling in the air of curiosity, wondering what would happen on this hike and where the paths would take us. And as we walked through this park I had known my whole life, I reflected on what this meant. To return home after being gone, to miss a place, and what intentional community feels like. In just the first half hour, I understood what was meant by Negus in Nature’s promotion of the hike as a way to connect and share wisdom in a supportive environment.

Conversations ranged from catching up, to business propositions. Children were chasing lizards. Or schooling the adults—some of whom were avid naturalists—on tarantulas, among other topics. It was clear that no matter where you were in your relationship to the outdoors, the common denominator was that we were here in unison. For me, I saw what I had been missing for 14 months: connection and community. And, this land that I’ve called home my whole life—I realized I was seeing it now as an adult, with a new perspective on being outdoors. I started to think about what that meant, and how I could explore it as a photographer.

Children on the hike were finding tarantulas and showing them to the crowd.

This February, I want to explore all of the ways that nature connects people. During Black History Month, I am capturing spaces where Black leaders and supporters cultivate community in the outdoors—gathering people who are seeking, those who want to share, and those who just want to get outside. I’ve made a list of events, in case you’d like to join me.

February events

Feb. 14, Oakland. Coffee x Climb. Organized by Negus in Nature.

Feb. 21, Oakland. Oakland Redwoods. Organized by Family Wellness Group.

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Feb. 21, Oakland. Annual Black History Celebration Hike in Oakland with 510 Hikers and Friends in BLACK!!. Organized by 510 Hikers.

Feb. 22, Fremont. Storytime in the Garden: Black History Month. Organized by East Bay Regional Parks

Feb. 28, Loma Mar. Guided Black History Hike at Sam McDonald Park. Organized by Outdoor Afro

Feb. 28, Mount Diablo. Organized by Family Wellness Group.

You can also check what these groups have on their calendars, as more events may arise:

Amir Aziz, a 2025-2026 Bay Nature editorial fellow, is a documentary photographer and filmmaker whose visual work explores culture, community and the environments they shape. Originally from Oakland, he has documented community stories across the Bay Area, France and Hong Kong, often finding connections to his hometown along the way. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Globe and Mail.