An award-winning documentary-adventure photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist, Navy Veteran Chad Brown is the founder/president of non-profits Soul River, Inc. and Love is King. In addition, Chad’s latest efforts include outdoor adventure travel, threatened wild spaces, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. Through his projects, he connects the public to endangered lands, capturing the true essence of their peoples in moments of passion and the indomitable human spirit. Utilizing striking documentary portraits, photographic exhibitions and film, Chad also advocates for social and environmental justice.
Chad’s pathway began as a conventional one, but took on a number of unexpected twists and turns. He studied communication and photography at American Intercontinental University, then moved onto the Pratt Institute in NYC earning his Master’s Degree in Communication Design. He went on to manage interdisciplinary teams in multiple agencies, serving in various roles including creative/art director and photographer, as well as a freelance artist and editorial photographer for the New York Times. His efforts crossed into the world of hip-hop fashion and culture, where he worked with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons of PhatFarm and Rasheed Young of Run Athletics, photographing and developing creative campaigns for national hip-hop culture magazines.
In 2007, Chad moved from New York to Portland, Oregon, once more expanding his life and career path beyond the conventional. Today, his adventure photography leads him around the globe – Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, and into the Alaskan Arctic several times a year. Mother Nature played a significant healing role from the war trauma he experienced during his Navy service. After a failed suicide attempt, he launched his first non-profit, Soul River Inc. in 2013. The organization specializes in cultural expeditions called “deployments” which bring at-risk youth and Veteran mentors together in threatened wild spaces for mission-driven experiences where advocacy and outdoor education meld seamlessly together. Soul River, Inc. also led Chad to Capitol Hill, where he advocates for public lands, wild places, and indigenous peoples and provides youth leaders of tomorrow the opportunity to interact with Congressional members.
In 2021, Chad founded Love is King, a second non-profit organization focusing on access, safety, and healing in the outdoors as well as conservation leadership training opportunities for BIPOC communities and other underserved voices.
Chad also serves on the board of the Alaska Wilderness League, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, and Northern Alaskan Environmental Center. He has been featured on the BBC and CBS, including Good Morning America and NatGeo/Disney’s Called to the Wild, as well as national publications like Outside Magazine and The Drake and regional publications in the Pacific Northwest. Chad was the first recipient of the Breaking Barriers Award presented by Orvis, and the Bending Toward Justice Award from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.
Most recently Chad is the 2024 recipient of three prestigious IndieFest Film Awards – including the African American Theme Award of Recognition, the African American Filmmaker Award of Merit, and the African American Theme Award of Merit.
To learn more about Chad’s non-profits and how to help, please visit Soul River Inc. and Love is King.
To experience Chad’s award-winning and life-changing creative works, please visit https://chadocreative.com/about/.
Learn more about Soul River Inc and Love is King.
Outside Magazine Podcast
Behind The Camera – https://prophotosupply.com/blogs/behind-the-camera/behind-the-camera-chad-brown
Creative Portfolio Work – https://chadocreative.com/
Films
Blackwaters Film – https://blackwatersfilm.com/
INWARD Film- https://inwardfilm.com/
Mother Film – https://mother-sisterhoodinthewildfilm.com/
Resilience Rising – https://resilience-rising.com/
Nonprofit work
Soul River Inc. soulriverignc.org
Love Is King https://www.loveisking.org/
What are your areas of Outdoor Communication?
My areas of communications is Film Making and adventure photography / Stylized Portraits
My areas of communications and professional interest as a photographer, filmmaker, creative director, advocate, and nonprofit leader. My work centers around telling stories of underserved voices documents indigenous stories, especially up in the Arctic Circle, and stories from the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities that revolve around their connection to the outdoors. Telling these stories helps dismantles stereotypes and false narratives but yet bring to light new conversation and ideas across all conversations. The idea of BIPOC recreationist int he outdoors are new concept is not new! Yes there are newbies but there are also newbies from all races. But Bipoc historically has been connected to the outdoors and not strangers in nature.
What drew you to the field?
I have always been drawn to the field of creative storytelling, and throughout my career, I have pursued my creativity by developing concepts for brands and products. Art, design, and photography have always been central to my life. However, there was a period when I had to put this passion on hold due to personal challenges related to my experience as a veteran fighting PTSD.
As I emerged from that difficult time and fought hard to overcome it, I began experiencing small successes that allowed me to carve out spaces for myself where I could express my creativity professionally. While I love telling stories in general, I became particularly interested in exploring narratives within the outdoor space.
The more time I spent in nature and connected with my own soul, the more stories of fear among BIPOC individuals came to light. Even my own parents expressed concerns about me venturing into the outdoors and urged me to be cautious. This fear is deeply rooted in generational experiences and is not unique to every BIPOC person. However, it troubled me greatly that these fears could prevent individuals from fully embracing outdoor activities.
This disturbance motivated me to utilize my talents in a higher capacity by telling stories about people of color who engage with the outdoors despite their fears. Through these narratives, I aim not only to challenge stereotypes but also educate others about the very real fears faced by many individuals. By dismantling barriers through storytelling, I found myself occupying a niche where I can make use of my creative abilities for the greater good.
Having previously worked with brands and products while living in New York City, now residing in Portland, Oregon allows me an opportunity to channel my talents towards this important mission. My ultimate goal is not only bringing untold stories of people of color onto screens or stages but also fostering deeper conversations and moments of enlightenment that can benefit us all.
What enticed you to join OWAA?
It’s always great to step into a community of passionate folks whom carries the wonder of talent telling stories in unique creative ways.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and how did you get into it? (An anecdote would be great here!)
As a Navy veteran who served during Desert Storm and Operation: Restore Hope in Somalia, I have navigated the challenges of mental illness, particularly PTSD. This battle once consumed a significant portion of my life, leading me into a dark spiral that left me grappling with my inner demons and experiencing homelessness.
However, through the unexpected gift of fly fishing introduced to me by a friend, I found my way back to society. Fly fishing not only played a pivotal role in my journey but continues to be an essential part of my life today. It serves as a powerful tool for uniting communities and fostering meaningful connections among young individuals and fellow veterans.
Today, fly fishing stands as my beloved outdoor pursuit, providing me with the balance needed to nurture my creative endeavors. It symbolizes hope, resilience, and the transformative power of finding solace in nature while bridging hearts and minds.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am involved in multiple projects. One of them is a film called “The Guardians,” which focuses on the journey of five BIPOC veterans as they explore the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Through their experiences, they undergo healing and connect with indigenous cultures like the Gwich’in community. The film highlights their transformation from PTSD into advocates for the land and their understanding of political issues while sharing common ground with indigenous people and connecting with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Another project I am working on is completing a film called “Mother,” which centers around five BIPOC black women embarking on outdoor expeditions, particularly focused on fly fishing and sisterhood. This film aims to explore what it means for African-American women to engage in outdoor activities within wild spaces and foster sisterhood. My goal is to have this project launched by the end of August. https://mother-sisterhoodinthewildfilm.com
Additionally, I am collaborating with partners to establish an all BIPOC film festival that provides a platform for BIPOC filmmakers. This festival aims to facilitate various conversations within the creative world of filmmaking as well as advocacy work, emphasizing its significance. By showcasing diverse lived experiences in outdoor settings from an urban perspective, we hope to offer audiences a unique and enlightening perspective.
Furthermore, I am working on developing a deeper partnership with Tarleton State University in partnership with my nonprofit Love is King operation initiative. This collaboration aims to engage more BIPOC students in outdoor activities. It is worth noting that many of these students will be experiencing camping, hiking, or even attending college for their families for the first time ever—a truly remarkable endeavor that we anticipate will come into fruition by 2025.
Lastly, there is another project titled “Boundless” that I have been focusing on recently. This film tells the story of a US Marine veteran who identifies as part of both the LGBTQ community and her native American tribal community while battling terminal cancer. The narrative revolves around her fight against adversity—both as a member of the LGBTQ community and as a survivor of multiple instances of sexual assault during her time in the Marine Corps. Set in a desert landscape, this film symbolically represents her journey through life’s challenges and serves as her memoir. The protagonist hopes to inspire women, especially those who have faced obstacles, by demonstrating resilience and empowerment. Completing this film will be an exciting endeavor, as it sheds light on an extraordinary individual and their experiences. https://boundlessfilmstory.com
These projects represent my current focus and dedication.
What have you gained from the organization?
Being a member of any organization presents valuable opportunities for professional development, exposure, skill enhancement, and networking. Joining the Outdoor Writers Association, for instance, has allowed me to establish meaningful connections that have contributed to my personal growth. Additionally, the supportive community of fellow creative professionals within the association has been immensely beneficial.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking of joining OWAA?
The power of being part of a creative community like OWAA is essential to the growth of your craft. Acting silo clogs up your opportunities to grow. This is with anything you do and any organization you can be part of.
Are you an outdoor media professional?