October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR' S LETTER
Teaching Kids to Be Equity Leaders
When I turn on the television to watch my go-to channel for local
news, I often look forward to a segment, called " Cool Kids, " which
profiles children and youth around Southern California who are
making a difference in their communities. From the 13-year-old who
started a nonprofit for providing care packages to the homeless, to the
high school senior with a visual impairment who created Braille menus
for local restaurants, to the 17-year-old philanthropist who inspired her
fellow students and community members to donate money in order
to bring clean water to people around the world - these kids embody
equitable values. As park and recreation professionals, you have the
power to inspire, encourage and teach your youngest community
members about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)
through programming and active dialogue.
So, what better way to kick off our Equity issue than highlighting
inspiring stories about DEI? In the cover story, " Creating an Inclusive Environment While
You Wait, " on page 34, NRPA Vice President of Education and Chief Equity Officer Autumn
Saxton-Ross interviews Jessica Desens, a park and recreation professional, and her child, Robin
Rowe, a dance instructor, about the major challenges for non-binary and trans inclusion in dance
and parks and recreation, as well as the role of visibility in creating inclusive spaces. When it
comes to making sure park and recreation programs are more inclusive, Rowe says, " Frontline
staff set the tone, environment and expectations of the center. They are the first staff most community
members interact with, and should maintain a welcoming environment, treating all participants
and families as equals. "
In 2021, Indianapolis Parks and Recreation (Indy Parks) reaffirmed its commitment to DEI by
re-evaluating its programs, services and amenities to make sure they were inclusive and accessible
to all. In the feature article, " Indy Parks' Road to Racial Equity, " on page 40, contributors Kimberly
Campbell, Kavita Mahoney and Ronnetta Spalding discuss their park and recreation agency
forming a DEI Committee, developing a diverse and equitable workforce, and embarking on a
DEI journey. As they put it: " DEI will always be an important facet of our organization and must
be integrated into everything we do. "
Lastly, NRPA's Shalini Mirpuri looks back at our own two-year DEI journey and how NRPA is
preparing for the future in the feature article, " NRPA's Equity in Practice Initiative, " on page 46.
" Equity requires practice, patience and a commitment to progress, " she writes.
It's amazing to learn about all the great DEI work across the field. And, by creating the framework
for our communities and being positive role models for our youngest park and recreation
patrons, we are teaching kids to be tomorrow's equity leaders. That's pretty cool.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
MANAGER OF ONLINE
CONTENT
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
916.880.5225
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
10 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
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October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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