September 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 40

EQUITY IN PRACTICE
The Equity in Practice program
centers on the practical application
of equity principles, ensuring
these values translate into tangible
actions within everyday park and
recreation work. This
program
is not only a pathway to personal
and professional growth, but also a
commitment to promoting equity
within every facet of the park and
recreation profession.
The Equity in Practice program
is anchored by its three-tiered certificate
structure. Each certificate,
delivered
throughout
multiple
weeks, provides a structured learning
experience with increasing levels
of complexity and interactive
learning tasks, such as workshopping
action ideas and building an
equity action plan.
CERTIFICATE 1:
Exploring Racial Equity lays the
groundwork for the program by
fostering an understanding of historical
and contemporary issues
related to racial equity in parks
and recreation. Interactive workshops
and guided self-paced activities
encourage open dialogue and
Each Equity in Practice certificate
provides a structured learning
experience with increasing levels of
complexity and interactive learning.
knowledge exchange. Participants
are exposed to concepts and frameworks
that help them think critically
about how they can use their
unique context to address gaps in
equity by analyzing existing power
dynamics within the profession.
CERTIFICATE 2:
Pursuing Racial Equity in Parks
and Recreation builds upon Certificate
1 and empowers participants
to translate theory into action using
the foundational knowledge and
skills learned in Certificate 1. This
program guides them in developing
a strategic Equity Action Plan.
This plan serves as a roadmap, outlining
concrete steps toward greater
equity within the context of their
specific agency or community.
CERTIFICATE 3:
Integrating Equity in Practice
promises an even deeper dive.
Participants will concentrate on
a specific initiative aimed at advancing
equity within their park
or program. They will
valuable
feedback
from
receive
their
peers and other park and recreation
leaders, allowing them to
refine their approach while prioritizing
ways to amplify attention
to equity in their day-to-day work
moving forward. This culmination
stage strengthens the integration
of equity considerations into
everyday practice.
NRPA recognizes that certificates
comprehensively
alone
cannot
address the multifaceted issue of
equity. Alongside the core program,
NRPA offers a range of resources
that support ongoing learning and
engagement. On-demand webinars
and events delve into specific
topics, such as culturally responsive
programming and designing inclusive
playgrounds.
Additionally, NRPA
maintains a robust online resource
library that houses case studies,
best practice examples and research
reports. This library enables park and
recreation professionals to learn from
successful initiatives implemented by
their peers across the country.
Furthermore, NRPA fosters a
sense of community and safety
among participants through online
forums and regional workshops.
This creates a space for profession40
Parks & Recreation | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
September 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2024 – Parks & Recreation
