October 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 72

N R PA U P DAT E

Alliance for Youth Sports and
was awarded the Distinguished
Professional Award for the 4th
District of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association.

Ian Proud
Research and Inclusive Play
Manager, Playworld Systems
Proud has helped lead nonprofit
organizations for 30 years, with
a specific interest in change management and adding value as the
community around them evolves.
He began Playworld System's inclusive play initiative, culminating in the Inclusive Play Design
Guide, a manufacturer-neutral
inspirational and educational
resource to get everyone, regardless of ability, playing on the
playground. Proud championed
the development of the nation's
first electronic outdoor play
product and led the creation of a
leading outdoor exercise product
line for seniors.

Som Subedi
Parks for New Portlanders
Engagement Coordinator,
Portland Parks & Recreation
Subedi was one of around 100,000
victims of The Kingdom of Bhutan's " One Nation, One People "
policy, which expelled his family
from their homeland. Since then,
he has worked as a refugee case
manager, helping new refugee families from Asia, Africa, the Middle
East and Eastern Europe integrate
into Portland's neighborhoods,
schools and social service networks. He founded a strategy and
practice of utilizing soccer to bring
foreign-born families and the city
of Portland together, through an
annual Portland World Cup Soccer
program and other culturally specific recreational, educational and
occupational opportunities.

Koboi Simpson
Athletics Administrator, Clayton
County Parks & Recreation
Department
Simpson manages youth sports
operations and supervises Clayton county's college internship
program. In addition to athletics,
he is a tireless advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. Simpson is a Certified Youth Sports
administrator with the National
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Parks & Recreation

Nonet Sykes
Chief Equity and Inclusion
Officer, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Sykes, who serves on the NRPA

| O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

Board of Directors and the board
of advisors for National League
of Cities' Race, Equity and Leadership Initiative, provides cooperative leadership, management and
strategic planning to ensure equity
and inclusion for all efforts. She
also helps to formulate policies
that address health and sustainability in communities, innovation in community outreach and
communication,
displacement
mitigation and long-term affordable housing efforts. Previously,
she worked at the Annie E. Casey
Foundation as the director of racial equity and inclusion.

Dr. Billy Willis
Director, Tunica Parks &
Recreation Department
Dr. Willis has developed a diversified department through which he
envisions building healthy minds,
bodies and spirits for the citizens
of Tunica County, Mississippi.
He also serves at the chairman
for the American Heart Association - Multicultural Leadership
Committee Social Determinants
of Health Taskforce, which focuses on implementing health and
wellness programs to help build a
culture of health throughout the
Mississippi Delta.
- Jennifer Cox, NRPA
Program Specialist

October 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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