June 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Healthy Professionals,
Healthy Communities
Summer is a busy time for
park and recreation professionals,
but it's also a time to
appreciate the vital support
we provide to families nationwide.
As schools break for
summer, park and recreation
agencies gear up to offer exciting
outdoor and aquatics
programs, as well as engaging
and meaningful summer
camps, giving children opportunities
to play, learn and connect
with their peers - while
also providing much-needed
childcare support
for working
families. Summer camps
hosted by park and recreation
agencies tend to be more affordable than private offerings
for those with a wider range of income levels. This
helps ensure children receive quality care during school
breaks and working parents have access to reliable, enriching
childcare. Equity lies at the heart of our work,
and we strive to provide affordable, inclusive programs
for all throughout every season.
Park and recreation professionals can best deliver
high-quality programs to our communities with the
grounding support of a healthy, inclusive workplace.
This month marks Parks & Recreation's Health and Wellness
issue, and we encourage you to read its stories with
a mindset of growth, considering how your agency can
continue to support various dimensions of well-being
for both community members and your team. In " Mental
Health and Parks and Recreation, " on page 32,
NRPA Senior Director of Programs Allison Colman
delves into strategies for prioritizing mental health
among park and recreation staff, particularly as they
increasingly experience the effects of the nation's mental
health crisis and encounter distressed individuals in
park and recreation settings. Park and recreation leaders
can implement policies designed to safeguard the mental
health of their staff, normalize conversations about
mental health and drive positive change in our communities
by modeling workplace well-being.
8 Parks & Recreation | JUNE 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
As we celebrate Pride Month, consider how you can
center inclusion as we strive to ensure that all community
members fully realize the benefits of parks and recreation.
Mentorship is one important way park and recreation
professionals connect with youth in our communities,
and park and recreation professionals need the skills to
mentor youth from diverse groups. Jonathan Echevarria
Tolentino (he/him/él), MHS, PCC, QUEERSPACE
collective consultant and sexual health specialist for the
Department of Public Health at Hennepin County, Minnesota,
provides insight in " Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Intersectional Mentoring Spaces, " on page 22. He says,
" Creating 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive intersectional mentoring
spaces means providing a space where individuals
can show up as their most authentic selves to connect,
learn and grow in a safe and supportive environment. "
Park and recreation professionals can use strategies outlined
in the column to better shape spaces and experiences
to meet the needs of all community members.
In honor of Juneteenth, explore the family history of
Michael Pearl, the owner of Pearl Family Farm in Missouri,
in " Exploring the Pearl Family Story, " on page 12,
by Kristina Stanley, Overland Park (Kansas) Park and
Recreation Department recreation supervisor. A frequent
attendee of the Overland Park Farmers' Market, Pearl
is a fifth-generation farmer who continues his family's
long-standing farming tradition. Though both were born
enslaved, his great-great-grandfather dreamed of owning
land, and his great-grandfather achieved the goal and purchased
87 acres of land in 1890. Both gained their freedom,
and today, Pearl honors their legacy by continually
serving as a trusted leader and mentor in his community.
Inspiring park and recreation stories drive us to
continue the important work of our field, supporting
and bringing joy and connection to our communities.
Throughout these busy months of summer fun, please
remember to nurture your own health and well-being
as you serve your community.
JESÚS AGUIRRE
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
June 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2024 – Parks & Recreation
