February 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 46

ALLYSHIP
The American
Academy for Park
and Recreation
Administration's
Justice, Equity,
Diversity and
Inclusion Committee
Co-Chairs
* Tracey Crawford, CTRS,
CPRP
* Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Members
* Jane H. Adams
* Stacie Anaya
* Becky Benna
* Bob Bierscheid
* Sue Black
* Alicia Bradford
* Kelly Bricker
* Bo Carlson
* Michael Clark
* Darrell R. Crittendon
* Joe DeLuce
* Chris Dropinski
* Myron Floyd
* Bill Foelsch
* Seve Ghose
* Sean Johnson
* Deb Jordan
* Jean Keller
* Michael Kies
* Michael McCarty
* John McGovern
* Carolyn McKnight-Fredd
* Jayne Miller
* Ellen O'Sullivan
* Greg Petry
* Terry Rynard
* Ingrid Schneider
* Tom Shuster
* Cindie Sullivan
* Lakita Watson
* Cindi Wight
* Dr. James Worsley
What Makes an Ally?
According to the NRPA Equity
Language Guide (nrpa.org/Equity
LanguageGuide), the
definition
of an ally is someone who makes
the commitment and effort to recognize
their privilege (based on
gender, class, race, sexual identity,
etc.) and works in solidarity with
oppressed groups to elevate these
other voices, above their own, in
the struggle for justice.
When you are an ally, your words
and actions are in-sync. A true ally
will advocate by lifting others up,
will share growth opportunities equitably,
will recognize systematic
inequalities, will realize the impact
of micro-aggressions and unconscious
bias, and, most importantly,
will listen, support, self-reflect and
change first on a personal level,
and then as a professional.
" My 'ah-ha' moment came
when I participated in a discussion
about vocabulary audits,
and I realized I was using phrases
that I thought were innocuous
but in reality were highly offensive
to others, " says Jane H. Adams,
executive director at the Academy.
" It was at that moment that I realized
that any work we do has to
start first within us as individuals. "
An ally makes a continual investment
of their time in having those
brave conversations, supporting others,
holding themselves accountable
when mistakes are made, apologizing
and making the effort to educate
themselves to better understand the
alternative perspectives. A true ally
will listen to those around them,
adapt their thinking, rework what
they believe to be correct and get
comfortable being uncomfortable.
Creating the JEDI
Committee
In 2020, the JEDI Task Force was
46 Parks & Recreation | FEBR U AR Y 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
formed and co-chaired by Tracey
Crawford and Roslyn Johnson, and
consisted of an additional 32 Academy
members. The mission was set
out with McCarty's
objective: to
create allies, to make an impactful
difference in our profession and to
start the conversation about the importance
of diversity in our profession.
The task force, now an official
committee, developed the following
purpose statement to guide the
work of the Academy:
The Academy is committed to a
culture of justice, equity, diversity
and inclusion in the profession of
parks and recreation. There is no
doubt that bias, whether implicit
or unconscious, prejudice and
discrimination on the basis of human
characteristics harms society
and are barriers in our profession.
Eliminating these barriers requires
deliberate and intentional efforts
by all of us, especially Academy
members who serve as leaders in
the field of parks and recreation.
Together we must all strive to justly
provide equitable parks, recreation,
therapeutic recreation, and
nature-based opportunities
that
are essential to the quality of life.
The purpose of the JEDI Task
Force is twofold. First, with our
Members and our continued efforts
to become more inclusive, we
will look within, at our governance
infrastructure, policies and procedures,
leadership, and membership,
to identify and eliminate discrimination
and bias, while promoting
and celebrating diversity without
division. Second, we will support
the profession externally, through
the provision of tools and strategies
to provide just, equitable, diverse,
and inclusive opportunities for all.
" This is difficult work and will
take a team to accomplish, but ultimately
every individual in the com
http://www.nrpa.org/EquityLanguageGuide http://www.nrpa.org/EquityLanguageGuide
February 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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