October 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 14

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
Equity in Practice
Foundational learning for park and recreation professionals
By Danielle Lucas
N
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RPA's Equity in Practice Certificate Program Series serves as a starting point for individuals who
wish to deepen their knowledge and skills in promoting equity and creating inclusive environments.
The first certificate, " Exploring Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation, " sets the stage for exploration
and empowers participants to contribute actively to the advancement of equity in their communities
and agencies. Participants in this program engage in interactive learning experiences that foster critical
thinking and reflection. This certificate provides a high-quality professional development experience that uses
a race equity lens to examine ways that people with various identities are marginalized, specific to the needs of
parks and recreation, with a tangible focus on action.
A Community Focused on Equity
City of Greensboro (North Carolina) Facilities
Coordinator Chamreece Diggs, CPRP, MBA,
shares her experience in the certificate program:
" The Equity in Practice Certificate Program
was not only an opportunity to develop a toolkit
of resources to help support my organization's
efforts in addressing our equity shortfalls, but
also a space to identify and address potential
[unseen areas] and gaps in my own knowledge. I
also wanted to join a community of professionals
so that I [could] not only learn from them
[and] hear success stories and best practices, but
also gain support on working through personal
change-agent burnout.
" Tangible examples, articles and thoughtful
activities prompted necessary dialog. Materials
reviewed and the action plan worksheet provided
ideas and resources that translate into longterm
facilitation and training tools that can be
used within my organization. I am enthusiastically
waiting for the next course. "
To learn more about NRPA's certificate programs,
visit learning.nrpa.org/Certificate-Programs.
Danielle Lucas is Hybrid Learning
Coordinator at NRPA (dlucas@nrpa.org).
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Embracing Opportunities
Ben Johnson Jr., CPRP, assistant director, recreation, for Louisville
(Kentucky) Parks and Recreation, shares his experience:
" I had the pleasure of being in the most recent cohort with [more than]
20 amazing park and recreation professionals, representing 14 states
and every possible title, level of experience and lived experience you
can imagine. The course, assignments, learning opportunities and information
shared was very impactful.
" An unexpected blessing were the bonds we managed to form during
the virtual sessions - so much so people were asking, 'Will I see you
in Dallas?'
" If you want to learn about yourself as well as parks and recreation's
history and opportunities related to equity, sign up for the next session.
It will be time well-spent. "
Becoming an Ally
City of Stockton (California) Public Works Department Project
Manager Susan Christy says:
" We learned to speak from our own experiences about race. This is a
constant learning process. There are always more books, more people
to talk to and a variety of viewpoints. But, let's talk!
" A few years ago, I actually asked a colleague if he got into a program
because of the color of his skin. I was horrified and so sorry. It
just popped out. Going about our merry way without acknowledging
the systemic racism in our communities isn't helpful.
" I want to be an ally. NRPA made a safe space for us to learn and
gave us resources to continue learning and developing DEI [diversity,
equity and inclusion] policies and programs at our own agencies. I'm
looking forward to contributing to DEI policies in my workplace. "
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http://learning.nrpa.org/Certificate-Programs

October 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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