A Dozen Cousins Expands into REI Nationwide
A Dozen Cousins, the brand offering ready-to-eat products inspired by traditional Creole, Caribbean and Latin American recipes, has announced expansion into REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) nationwide to advance its goal in bringing diversity to the outdoors. Starting in April, A Dozen Cousins’ globally inspired rice and beans will be available to shop in-store at REI locations across the US.
A Dozen Cousins offers an annual social impact grant to non-profit organizations working to eliminate socio-economic health disparities in the US. This year, they will donate 100 percent of proceeds from sales at REI during the month of May to Hike Clerb, an LA-based intersectional women’s hike club and 501c(3), to help diminish the nature gap, recognizing that communities of color are three times more likely to live in nature deprived places. The donation will aid Hike Clerb in its mission of equipping women of color with resources to heal in nature. Founded by changemaker Evelynn Escobar, the organization was born as a radical solution to the underrepresentation of people of color in the outdoors.
“We’re thrilled to bring A Dozen Cousins to REI,” said Ibraheem Basir, founder of A Dozen Cousins, “Our shelf-stable, ready-to-eat products are nourishing, delicious and convenient for outdoor adventures. REI has always been a dream retail partner for me and I’m thrilled to be working with their team. When it came to the recipient of our grant, Hike Clerb was a no-brainer – we truly admire the work they are doing and the positive impact they are having on communities of color.”
This grant will fund Hike Clerb’s new Night Clerb camping program, bringing two unique overnight experiences to life in Southern California that facilitate new ways for women of color to experience the outdoors collectively. The guided programs will offer tools, resources and experiences that allow participants to heal together in nature through activities like camping and backpacking.
“My dream has always been to offer up a diverse pool of programming to our community,” said Escobar, “Through this grant, we will finally be able to realize a big goal of ours – which is taking women of color into nature to experience what it feels like to sleep under the stars and reconnect with the land in new ways alongside a like-minded group of Black, Indigenous, women of color.”
To learn more about A Dozen Cousins and shop their full product line of ready-to-eat rice, beans and seasoning sauces, click here or in-store at REI, Whole Foods Market, Target, Sprouts, Walmart and Trader Joe’s.