August 27–30, the ACA partnered with the Trinity Coalition and Black Women Who+ to bring the Community Paddlesports Leader (CPL) program to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. The result was four newly certified CPLs and two new CPL Trainers, leaders who can help more people in their communities connect safely with the outdoors through paddlesports.
For the organizers, the journey began with a ripple. Tanya of Black Women Who first learned about CPL after attending a course in Tennessee back in 2021, and her enthusiasm spread from there. A course came to Austin as part of the 2024 Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Initiative, and now the Dallas-Fort Worth community has built on that momentum.
“What happened in Texas was about building leaders,” said Roxanne Thomas of Adventures on the Move/BWW. She credited ACA Instructor Melinda Moree for her depth of paddlesports knowledge and her collaborative style. Melinda took the time to understand the community, adapt, and challenge participants to grow.
The impact reaches well beyond one weekend. With new CPL Trainers now in place, these individuals can lead future cohorts and expand access to kayaking, canoeing, and other on-water activities, especially in Black and Brown communities where representation in outdoor recreation has not always been visible.
“This vision aligns with Trinity Coalition’s mission to elevate the Trinity River and expand public access to the Trinity River National Water Trail—a 130-mile federally designated paddling trail that brings ecotourism into an urban environment,” wrote Rose Thompson, COO of Trinity Coalition and a powerful voice for urban recreation leadership and conservation stewardship in DFW.
“One leader develops another leader, who reaches another community, and the ripple continues.”
Thank you to Roxanne, Black Women Who+, Melinda, Rose Thompson, the Trinity Coalition and everyone whose work helped make this possible.
Rose Thompson shared with us participant testimonies:
“Melinda Moree did an excellent job explaining trip planning, logistics, paddling safety, rescue techniques, and helping us consider all of the options that go into leading flatwater expeditions… I would highly recommend this experience to anybody looking to enhance their skills in getting people out on the water!”
“Attending the CPL Certification course with Trinity Coalition on the Trinity River was a great experience. The instructors were thorough, knowledgeable, and expressed genuine care for educating the participants. I feel confident in continuing to hone my skills because of the foundational practices taught during the course.”
These testimonials reflect the heart of the program: empowering everyday paddlers to become safe, skilled, community-minded leaders.