USAL Project: An Interview with Michael Washington

Nature has a way of pulling on the soul, beckoning you to be welcomed by her embrace and enjoy her bountiful gifts. This same call to nature is what drives explorers into the wilderness in seek of adventure, spiritual practitioners into the serenity of a quiet clearing, or even a morning jogger to veer from the sidewalk onto the dirt road. We all hear her call in our own way.

Launched in Los Angeles in 2022, and expanding to NYC in 2024, USAL Project aims to help people not only find a place for themselves within nature, but also help connect to a community of like-minded souls, all looking to get outside and experience gifts that are right in front of us, but can sometimes feel far away. Having supported a few events with the Usal Community, we asked the team if they would answer a few questions for the journal, and curate a playlist for Madre Radio. If their mission inspires you, be sure to visit their website and join one of their upcoming gatherings.

The act of getting into nature inherently places you into a more curious, open minded state. With that as a backdrop, it is such a helpful way to break those all too familiar barriers as it comes to meeting new people. Every week we are getting strangers together to do something in the fresh air. It’s been beautiful to see the relationships that have come out of the events we curate.

WHAT LESSONS OR REFLECTIONS ABOUT CONNECTING WITH NATURE DO YOU HOPE PARTICIPANTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES ON YOUR TRIPS?

Our hope is that when you come to an Usal event, whether it's 2 hours or 2 days, you find yourself in a position that allows you to be curious, meet likeminded people, and gain a new perspective.

USAL SEEMS TO BRING A NEW TYPE OF DESIGN AESTHETIC INTO THE OUTDOORS WORLD, WHAT WAS THE THINKING WITH THAT KIND OF DIRECTION?

With anything, branding is everyone’s first touch to what you are about. That is why design direction is extremely important to us contextualizing the Usal community. Design is very much a language that can show things like intention and values. We do our best to make sure the design shows up for the events we throw.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING PART OF BUILDING THE USAL PROJECT?

The most fulfilling part is always seeing the friendships that come out of people meeting for the first time at an Usal event. I’m not sure I will ever get over that.

YOU JUST EXPANDED INTO NYC, DO YOU SEE YOURSELF EXPANDING FURTHER, POTENTIALLY DOING LONGER INTERNATIONAL TRIPS, MAYBE ONE TO OAXACA?

Totally. For us though, we want to take a holistic approach to expansion and make sure we have strong reasons for going anywhere we go. But Oaxaca is a place steeped in tradition and community values so I can see that happening one day for sure.

WHAT SONG HAS BEEN STUCK IN YOUR HEAD LATELY?

Carlton's “Cool with Nature”.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PLAYLIST YOU CREATED FOR MADRE?

We made a “the perfect dinner party” playlist.

WHAT DOES USAL MEAN, AND WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF THE USAL PROJECT?

IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEZCAL WITH ANYONE LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE A WHY?

Waylon Jennings. The outlaw life.

Check out Usal Project.

Usal’s mission is to make the outdoors as accessible as it can be while growing community through Nature.

THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN SO QUICKLY, WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO EAGER TO GET INVOLVED?

I think the growth we’ve had over the past two years is a testament to the fact that young adults living in urban areas are deeply looking for new ways to connect. Not only each with other, but also to where they live. We’ve done our best to position ourselves to be an answer to that calling, and it’s been amazing to see the community respond as it has.

Images by Mike Pham

DO YOU SEE THE ACT OF GETTING OUT INTO NATURE, AS OPPOSED TO STAYING WITHIN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AS SOMETHING THAT INHERENTLY HELPS FOSTER COMMUNITY?