September 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR' S LETTER
Moving the Needle Toward Equity
" If you want to understand today, you have to
search yesterday. "
- Pearl S. Buck, author and humanitarian
Although Buck was best known as the first U.S. woman bestowed the
Nobel Prize in literature and the Pulitzer for The Good Earth, it's her prolific
work advocating for civil rights during the mid-1930s and 1940s that
resonates more than 80 years later. Her public statements, speeches and
published writings - along with her involvement with the National Urban
League and the NAACP - called attention to racial equality for Black people
in the United States and worldwide. What's more, her quote reminds
us today that to truly move the needle toward equity, we must be intentional about learning from
our past.
In May 2021, NRPA published Equity in Parks and Recreation: A Historical Perspective (tinyurl.
com/mu8p5uay), a comprehensive story map that chronicles " park inequities throughout
U.S. history and the opportunities and challenges ahead. It is designed to acknowledge and
reflect upon the experience of unequal access and abject practices. Most importantly, this story
map is meant to inspire the transformation of a just and equity-driven parks and recreation
system for all. "
Leading with a link to our story map speaks to Buck's words and sets the table for the stories
featured in this month's Equity issue - such as the cover story, " Overcoming Barriers to Park
Equity, " on page 34. Contributor Jai Cole takes a closer look at the historical inequities, including
redlining and hostile parkitecture, that have created obstacles for people of color and underresourced
communities to attain access to quality parks and green spaces. Cole writes that at Fairfax
County (Virginia) Park Authority, " ... we believe the predominant race and demographics of
an area should not predetermine the quality or quantity of parks in that area, and our programs
and services should be affordable to all residents. "
Next, in the article, " Equity in Practice, " on page 40, NRPA Chief Education and Equity Officer
Autumn Saxton-Ross shares insights from some of our members who participated in our first
Equity in Practice Certificate, " Exploring Race Equity in Parks and Recreation. " She also reveals
" what they plan to do with the knowledge and skills that they have gained. " This program " uses a
race equity lens to examine the ways that various identities are marginalized, specific to the experience
and needs of park and recreation professionals, " Saxton-Ross explains.
Lastly, in the feature article, " Becoming Culturally Responsive, " on page 44, author Tracee Hall
addresses implicit bias and microaggressions in the field of parks and recreation and explains
why " instilling culturally responsive values and actions is a way to begin transformative [diversity,
equity and inclusion] (DEI) initiatives. "
As you read through our Equity issue, I hope these shared stories inspire you to start your own
DEI journey and help move that needle even further.
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
12 Parks & Recreation | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS
AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
Clarissa Garcia
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Alexandra Reynolds
areynolds@nrpa.org
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Chris Brummett
cbrummett@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
703.858.2174
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP - Chair
Neelay Bhatt
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
September 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2023 - Parks & Recreation
