The Tennessee RiverLine, Explore Kentucky and Mind Body Paddle collaboratively hosted the inaugural Paddlesports Leadership Academy June 22-26, 2022 in Knoxville, TN. Collectively, they developed the Leadership Academy as a program to train and mentor individuals from communities typically underserved by outdoor recreation as leaders on the water, and empower participants to transform their local communities by growing diverse representation in paddlesports. By fostering inclusive engagement with the Tennessee River landscape, the academy aims to enable diverse participation in river experiences and inspire pride and ownership of river spaces.