October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 39

Saxton-Ross: How can leadership
at the agency, state
and national level support
non-binary and trans inclusion?
Rowe:
Support staff who are employed
by the agency, whether
it is targeted support for those
staff who are non-binary, trans or
LGBTQIA+, or providing training
for all staff on language, acceptance
and how to support their
co-workers and the larger community
as it relates to LGBTQIA+
concerns and issues.
Budget
for changes. Agencies
should plan and include funding
for facility changes that show their
support, like gender neutral restrooms,
improved signage and updated
forms across the agency.
Create a team to review and revise
the current employee handbook
and other policies. Be proactive
and make changes in policies
and practices to reflect that we want
to keep not only non-binary and
trans employees safe, but also the
many facets of the LGBTQ+ community.
Think about summer camp
and aquatics policies and email
templates. Don't wait for your first
non-binary camp counselor to start
or your first trans camper to register
to get your policies in place.
Desens: This is a good first activity
or starting place for a DEI (diversity,
equity and inclusion) committee.
Every agency should have one for
accountability and updating policies
for all to be safe and educated.
Rowe: As someone who works
in Safe Zone and has seen many
agencies with people who hold
different beliefs, one of the more
important aspects is to have DEI
programs or committees. There
have been park districts that come
to Safe Zone conversations without
having a DEI committee, but
the simple fact is that they took
the time to come and be at the
trainings. All of this is to say that
regardless of where your agency
is at with creating a committee,
you must keep yourself and the
agency updated and informed on
new ways to support the LGBTQ+
community. Adapt with the times!
Saxton-Ross: Beyond inclusion
and creating welcoming
spaces for trans and
non-binary people, there's
power in these community
members also feeling visible
and seen within parks
and
recreation
Can you talk to us about the
role of visibility in creating
inclusive spaces?
Desens: The
best
answer
is
acknowledgement - the best way
to say, " we see you, we hear you,
we respect you, you are valid! " We
must, as agency employees, set an
observable and admirable example
for the current participants
and those who will participate in
the future. Whether as an employee
you like it or not, we do not diminish
based on like and dislike.
Change is inevitable and ignoring
it or bringing animosity to the table
will eventually lead you to the
destruction of your program or
agency. That is why we say, " Embrace
diversity. "
Saxton-Ross: Is there anything
we didn't discuss that
you feel is important for folks
to know - specifically, when
it comes to serving trans and
non-binary folks through
parks and recreation?
Remember that their gender/
sexual preference is just one part
of them. Just like all humans,
they have many aspects of
themselves.
programs.
Rowe: If a young person comes to
you [for anything], fill the GAP:
Gratitude
Ask if they have an adult
Pass it on to a supervisor
Be careful when a participant
comes forward to share their situation
with you. If they are a child
and haven't shared with their parents,
it may not be safe to do so. It
is not your job to tell the parents;
it is your job to protect them and
run a safe program. Here are some
guidelines we compiled:
Show gratitude that they trusted
you enough to tell you about it. Acknowledge
the risk they took coming
to you and sharing with you.
Ask, " Do you have a trusted
adult you can talk to? " (Not just
you, the employee of the agency
is another person). Don't judge
and don't push, meaning don't
shame or force them to discuss
what they are not comfortable
sharing with you.
Ask parameters, such as: " How
confidential is it? Do I use your
preferred name with
parents?
Peers? What do they prefer? What
are your pronouns? How can I support
you? " Again, don't push if
they don't respond. Accept " I don't
know " as an answer, as some are
still processing.
Remember that their gender/sexual
preference is just one part of them.
Just like all humans, they have many
aspects of themselves.
Autumn Saxton-Ross is Vice President of Education and
Chief Equity Officer at NRPA (asaxtonross@nrpa.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | O CTOBER 2 0 22 | Parks & Recreation
39

October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 1
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 2
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 3
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 4
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 5
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 6
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 7
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 9
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 11
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 12
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 13
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 14
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 15
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 16
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 17
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 18
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 19
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 20
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 21
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 22
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 23
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 24
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 25
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 26
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 27
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 28
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 29
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 30
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 31
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 32
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 33
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 34
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 35
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 36
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 37
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 38
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 39
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 40
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 41
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 42
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 43
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 44
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 45
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 46
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 47
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 48
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 49
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 50
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 51
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 52
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 53
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 54
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 55
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 56
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
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