October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 36

INCLUSIVE
This past summer, I had the honor
of meeting Robin Rowe, née
Desens, as I started the process of
connecting with professionals with
experience and passion working
with the LGBTQIA+ community,
specifically supporting non-binary
and transgender (trans) youth. Jessica
Desens, who has been a park
and recreation
professional
for
more than 20 years, and Robin, her
child - the " definition " of a park
and rec kid - is now a dance instructor
for the same park district
they grew up attending.
Their approach to creating a
safe and inclusive space for their
dancers shows the power each of
us has to help make sure people
- and specifically young people
- feel like they belong. Recently,
I spoke with both of them to learn
more about how they are fostering
belonging.
Autumn Saxton-Ross: Can
each of you tell me a bit
more about yourself and
what you do?
Jessica Desens: For [more than]
23 years, I have been the recreation
supervisor for performing arts at
the Round Lake Area Park District
(RLAPD) [in Illinois]. I oversee
the dance program, the community
band and other music lessons, as
well as assist with organizing and
planning events.
Robin Rowe: I have grown up in
RLAPD, participating in programs
for the past 20 years. For the past
six years, I have been a dance
teacher for the park district. Currently,
I am a facilitator for Illinois
Park and Recreation Association's
(IPRA) Safe Zone Conversations
(tinyurl.com/2p949eaw) throughout
Illinois, via Zoom.
Saxton-Ross: From each
of your perspectives, what
are the major challenges or
barriers for non-binary and
trans inclusion in dance
and parks and recreation?
Desens: The first major hurdle is
acceptance. I think it's the main
one since every community is different
and everyone's understanding
and level of acceptance does
not look the same.
Rowe: Another obstacle is parent/
child relationships. Parents are the
ones who make the final decision
regarding paperwork, really everything,
for their child. A parent's
perspective on LGBTQIA+ looks
different, depending on their willingness
to accept their child's identity.
A parent's level of acceptance
can make it harder for kids to share
with trustworthy adults and see us
as a support system when their immediate
support system (parents/
family) isn't accepting.
Jessica Desens says building a trusting
environment is key.
36 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF CASS PHOTOGRAPHY

http://www.tinyurl.com/2p949eaw

October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 1
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 2
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 3
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 4
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 5
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 6
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 7
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 9
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 11
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 12
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 13
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 14
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 15
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 16
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 17
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 18
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 19
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 20
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 21
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 22
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 23
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 24
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 25
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 26
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 27
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 28
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 29
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 30
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 31
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 32
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 33
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 34
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 35
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 36
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 37
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 38
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 39
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 40
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 41
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 42
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 43
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 44
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 45
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 46
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 47
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 48
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 49
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 50
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 51
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 52
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 53
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 54
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 55
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 56
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com