The Black Surf Club Santa Cruz is having a pre-celebration for Juneteenth at Cowell’s Beach

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) The Black Surf Club Santa Cruz is having a pre-celebration for Juneteenth at Cowell's Beach in Santa Cruz.

This is an annual event that will be featuring a beach clean-up, a sand lesson for members, and a liberation paddle-out.

For Amidia Frederick, attendee of the surfing event, she's always had a love of nature and the outdoors but didn't feel like she quite fit in the crowd.

"I don't think I pushed myself as hard or have gone out often enough because I didn't see myself or people who look like me out there," said Frederick.

That's the problem that Bella Bonner, Founder of the Black Surf Club Santa Cruz, is trying to address, the issues of representation and holding space in areas like the outdoors and surfing that she says excludes BIPOC individuals. The club provides lessons and access to help individuals get into the water.

"Unfortunately, surfing almost is a segregated sport still just because of the limited access and equipment, coaches, and even just representation. It's hard to want to do something when you don't see anyone that looks like you in that space," said Bonner.

Many came out to today's event to support Bonner's goal of inclusion and had some surfing lessons during the event.

"I just wanted to support folks you know what I mean and hang out in the sun. It's a beautiful, warm day out here and it's just you know everyone is happy. This is good. I need more happiness in my life so that's good," said Taj Leahy, an attendee of the event.

Bonner says she hopes to have more events like this in the future.