October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 49

attendees. Every month, members
can find an EiP offering, whether a
talk or clinic, available on NRPA's
online learning platform.
EiP Certificate Program
In response to surveys, focus groups
and interviews during the past year,
NRPA has developed the final piece
of the EiP initiative, NRPA's Equity
in Practice Certificate program. The
program is based on the reality that
we can all perpetuate racism - and
we can all take action to dismantle it.
This series expands our understanding
of systemic racism and how it impacts
the field of parks and recreation.
This certificate program seeks to fill
gaps in DEI content that is relevant
and applicable to park and recreation
professionals working at the intersection
of increasingly interracial and intergenerational
demographics.
The certificate program will provide
a high-quality professional
development experience that uses
a race equity lens as a foundation
to examine ways that various identities
are marginalized, specific to
the needs of park and recreation.
NRPA has made a careful and informed
decision
to
center
racial
equity, and within that, to focus on
anti-Blackness as a lens for building
skills that can be applied across
many historically-excluded communities.
Through conversations with
professionals in the field, it was clear
that racism often feels the hardest to
discuss, yet is the most salient barrier
in serving our communities. By leading
with race, we can intentionally
make connections across identities,
equipping professionals with the
skills to tackle discrimination in all
its forms and promote equity across
race, gender, age, ability, class and
other demographic lines. The Equity
in Practice Certificate program will
consist of a small cohort of professionals
who will dive into skills and
action plans around racial equity
over a 12-week period, specifically
boosting skills around the following
four areas: equity analysis,
direct
communication, self-awareness and
relationships across differences.
This certificate program will be
divided into three sequential cohorts,
each building upon the necessary
skills and knowledge from
previous cohorts to culminate in
equitable agency change. Participants
who complete all three certificate
cohorts will be equipped with
the necessary skills and confidence
to serve as DEI leaders within their
agencies and communities.
" Exploring Racial Equity, " the first
of the Equity in Practice Certificate
installments, is designed for
individuals who are just beginning
to learn about equity and crosscultural
issues, whether personally
or professionally. Spanning 12
weeks of pre- and post-session
work and live learning sessions,
this cohort will introduce and stress
fundamental terminology, concepts
and approaches, offering participants
time to build understanding in a
supportive environment. Launched
in September 2022, members now
have the opportunity to apply for
this inaugural cohort with sessions
beginning in February 2023. Capped
at 20 participants for each cohort, this
deep dive into racial equity within
parks and recreation allows for
robust and personalized learning, led
by an experienced facilitator. Once
participants complete the 12-week
program, NRPA will offer several
complementary opportunities for
them to continue building their
capacity in this area, including an
in-person networking event at the
NRPA Annual Conference and the
chance to advance to the second and
third certificate cohorts. Applications
for this inaugural cohort will be
available
via
the NRPA website
beginning the first week of October.
Preparing for the Future
NRPA embraces our role and obligation
to help our members meet
emerging and future challenges
by working to expand innovation,
research, resources and life-long
professional development. This requires
centering equity in all that
we do to ensure all life experiences
are valued and represented; the
field better reflects the community it
serves; and our parks remain accessible,
inclusive, engaging and culturally
responsive. The purpose of the
EiP initiative is to continue building
NRPA's foundational capacity to develop
and provide high-quality professional
development to park and
recreation professionals that increase
knowledge, understanding and application
of core competencies in
DEI. As the leading not-for-profit
organization dedicated to building
strong, healthy and resilient communities
through the power of parks
and recreation, NRPA does not take
its responsibility lightly. We've surveyed
the field, and we are listening
to what professionals need and the
challenges they face in promoting
equity in their communities. We are
committed to bridging gaps to provide
our members with scaffolded,
intentional learning opportunities to
advance equity across the country by
putting equity into practice.
To hear NRPA's Autumn SaxtonRoss
and Philip Silva share more
about our DEI journey and Equity
in Practice initiative, tune in to the
October bonus episode of Open Space
Radio at nrpa.org/October2022Bonus
Episode.
Shalini Mirpuri is Senior Manager of Education - Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion at NRPA (smirpuri@nrpa.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | O CTOBER 2 0 22 | Parks & Recreation
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http://www.nrpa.org/October2022BonusEpisode http://www.nrpa.org/October2022BonusEpisode
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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