October 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 42

INDY PARKS
In 2021, Indy Parks reaffirmed
its commitment to welcoming all
children, adults, and their families
and friends by reflecting on and
re-evaluating all programs, services
and amenities to ensure inclusion
and accessibility.
As we celebrated our parks as
treasured spaces for all to enjoy,
As we celebrated our parks as
treasured spaces for all to enjoy,
we wanted to be thoughtful and
intentional about equipping
and supporting our team with
diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI) resources while building
a foundation for staff to learn,
share, lead and grow.
we wanted to be thoughtful and
intentional about equipping and
supporting our team with diversity,
equity and inclusion (DEI)
resources while building a foundation
for staff to learn, share, lead
and grow. We created this engaging
foundation through our staff-led
DEI Committee.
Beginning Our DEI Journey
Our deputy director of operations
and programs, Kimberly Campbell,
and chief strategy officer,
Kavita Mahoney, volunteered to
co-chair the committee with the
initial goal of researching and
identifying resources for education
and training, facilitating ongoing
discussions with staff, and assisting
with community focus groups and
active listening sessions.
To get
started,
the
co-chairs
scheduled regular one-on-one
sessions to share their own experiences
personally and professionally
as women of color. When asked
why she wanted to be part of the
park department's DEI efforts,
Mahoney acknowledged she was
beginning to integrate racial equity
work into her arts and culture goals
in a previous Indy Parks position,
and she wanted to expand some
of these practices throughout the
organization. It was important,
she said, to view her workplace as
inclusive and equitable, both internally
and externally.
Campbell and Mahoney also
looked at existing DEI resources
from other park and government
agencies whose cities were similar
in size to Indianapolis, and they
reviewed racial equity plans from
museums, arts organizations and
cultural institutions. This research
led to the review of best practices,
identification of training resources,
and a better understanding of
how other cities and agencies are
addressing racial equity and DEI
initiatives.
Through this initial review, it became
clear that Indy Parks needed
a guiding statement, something
to support its current vision and
mission, yet the statement should
clearly state why DEI matters to
the park department, its staff and
the people it serves. Our racial
equity statement was a guiding
platform for our DEI work, goals,
communication and other next
steps. It purposely positioned Indy
Parks as a leader in making Indianapolis
a vibrant and healthy place
to live to better reflect the multiIn
2021, Indy Parks reaffirmed its commitment
to welcoming all people by
reflecting on and re-evaluating all programs,
services and amenities to ensure
inclusion and accessibility.
42 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
October 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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