April 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 10

P E R S P E C T I V E S A M E S S A G E F R O M N R PA' S L E A D E R S

We Need to Tell Our Stories
March was National Women's History Month, and I hope each of you found an opportunity to
acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the women in your life. I am surrounded every
day by amazing women who are making incredible contributions to our communities, our country
and this world. Our field is filled with examples of women making a difference and leading the
way in advocating for our health and wellness, conservation and social equity. One of those leaders, Sonya Shaw, was the focus of last month's Parks & Recreation Member Spotlight section.
Like many of you, I had a chance to see the " Black Panther " movie and marveled at the powerful
images of women, from the general (Okoye) to the genius intellect of Shuri, a princess of Wakanda. From the #MeToo movement to these cinematic images we are seeing on the big screen, our
country is resetting a narrative that leaves me very encouraged as I raise my three daughters, who
are seeing women in roles in our society that no longer fall into stereotypes.
While we celebrated National Women's History Month, we also witnessed another tragic incident
of senseless deaths due to gun violence of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
in Parkland, Florida. This tragedy has forced our country to revisit, once again, our stance on gun
laws, but it has also allowed us to appreciate the resilience and power of young people, who are
using their voices and platforms to be bold and courageous.
My reflections on the contributions of women remind me how important it is that we take the time to tell
our stories and accomplishments. It also reinforces that the assumptions and narratives we have about who
we are and what we do can change. The tragedy in Florida really spoke to me as I think about those who are
on the frontlines every day for our children and our community.
I think about our field and the sacrifice our park and recreation professionals make every day. I do not think
we say it enough and believe too many times it goes unnoticed, but our park and recreational professionals
sacrifice their time and risk their lives every day. They serve many times as the last line of defense for keeping the fabric of our communities together.
Story after story across this country offers powerful examples of park professionals who have taken the time
to build a relationship with a young person or parent, many times going above and beyond the call of duty.
We see time and time again that those relationships often can be the difference between life and death.
We need to do more to share these stories. And, by doing more to publicly acknowledge the important role
our park and recreational professionals play in cities, counties and communities, we can help advance the
narrative that this field is about more than just play.
We keep our communities connected, safe and thriving! So, let's keep working to tell our true stories!

LEO N T. AN D R E WS, J R .
Chair of the Board of Directors

Parks & Recreation

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April 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2018 - Parks & Recreation