September 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 42

EQUITY IN PRACTICE
Cindi
CPRE,
Wight (she/her),
M.R.,
director of Burlington
(Vermont) Parks, Recreation and
Waterfront, shares:
" The EiP experience broadened
my understanding of racial equity
specific to parks and recreation.
Going through it in a cohort [of
people] with different lived experiences
provided more depth than
I anticipated. Based on the experience,
I added a 'DEI moment'
to our leadership meetings to be
more intentional about our DEI
work, and I plan to start on the
health equity framework (one of
the resources/tools given to participants)
in the fall. "
Robin Rowe (they/them), a Round
Lake Area (Illinois) Park District
dance instructor, explains:
" Not
only
did
a comprehensive program at our
[p]ark district. All of the resources
used helped provide a baseline for
our action plan. The live sessions
were informative, as well and
helped us get to know perspectives
from all over the country, giving us
deeper understandings of underrepresented
groups within our
community and any communities
we come in contact with
throughout our lives. "
Indianapolis Parks and Recreation
Chief Strategy Officer
Kavita Mahoney states:
" Participating
in
the
Equity
in
the Equity in
Practice Certificate Program help
me learn new ways in which to be
inclusive within my own agency,
but it also encouraged me to take
steps toward equity regardless of
my position in my agency. Also,
it helped me begin to sketch out
EiP Talks and Clinics are a one-stop-shop of live and
on-demand sessions presented by subject matter experts
in the field, sharing their experience and what DEI
practices are working in their agencies and communities.
The DEI Leaders Network and State Affiliate DEI Network
host bimonthly calls and NRPA Connect groups to
facilitate peer learning, connection and support.
The EiP Certificate is a series of three " train the
trainer " curricula, designed specifically for park and
recreation professionals, focused on skill building
and practice and culminating in a completed equity
action plan. With the completion of the three certificates,
agencies will have the option of taking the curriculum
home to use for staff community partners.
The EiP Resource Library contains curated resources
- including toolkits, podcasts, articles and
books - that support individual and group learning.
42 Parks & Recreation | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 3
Practice Certificate allowed me to
connect with and learn from equity
practitioners in the parks and recreational
field specifically. It was extremely
helpful to have a network
of colleagues across the nation who
are facing similar challenges so we
can share resources, engage in conversations
and work together on
projects. The people and resources
I connected with through this guided
program were very valuable,
and I appreciated the collaborative
nature of the EiP program. "
Bronwen Mastro (she/her), PLA,
LEED BD+C, a landscape architect
for the Bend (Oregon) Park and
Recreation District Office, says:
" I appreciate the parks and recreation
focus embedded in the EiP
Certificate. It's what sets it apart
from other, more general equity
training. It was great to build relationships
with other folks from
my cohort and extend my network
of peers across the country. A colleague
from our state affiliate and
I have been discussing how we can
team together to bring this information
to other agencies across
the state once we complete the entire
program. "
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
Tricia Diaz (she/her/hers), OOC
P&E equity hub coordinator for Seattle
Parks and Recreation, shares:
" I was in the [third] cohort of NRPA's
Equity in Practice Certificate.
I completed the USF DEI certificate
program, and others, but this
program is specifically geared toward
park professionals. I found
the information extremely relevant,
up to date, and useful in our work.
The format was effective to have
in-depth reading and exercises to
prepare for each discussion group
time. The small group breakouts
were also beneficial to not only
network, but also gain ideas and
examples of what other cities are
doing around the country. The
program ended with equipping us
all to create specific equity work
plans. The exercise challenged me
to create four different areas of
focus with specific next steps for
each. The work plan helped me
feel like I don't have to solve all the
problems myself. I have listed all
of the meetings and people to meet
with to help bring in accountability
from our organization as a whole.
[I really] appreciate the opportunity
to take the program and put it
into practice to help reduce barriers
and dismantle systemic racism. "
Olivia Salazar de Breaux (she/
her), equity,
inclusion and belonging
specialist for City of
Olympia (Washington) Parks,
Arts and Recreation, says:
" The first cohort of the Equity in
Practice Certificate allowed me space
to dive in a little deeper on diversity,
equity, inclusion and belonging topics
- such as language, history of equity
within this industry - and what equity
could look like in our parks spaces
and within our organizations. I especially
appreciated the ability to be part
of a community of practice with oth
September 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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