September 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 49

CONFERENCE
2023
ANNUAL
Equity and Inclusion Session Highlights
I
f equity and inclusion are topics you're hoping to learn more about
during the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference, here are just a few sessions
you may want to add to your schedule during your time in Dallas.
Fighting Transphobia in Youth
Sports: A Roundtable Discussion
Tuesday, October 10, 2:30 p.m. -
3:30 p.m. CDT
Speaker: Cal Dobbs
Reaching more than 40 million
youth each year, park and recreation
professionals are well-positioned to
lead the fight against transphobia
in youth sports. More than 30 percent
of transgender youth ages 13 to
17 live in states that have laws preventing
youth from participating in
sports consistent with their gender
identity. Embodying inclusion demands
that no one is excluded or is
required to face additional scrutiny
to participate fully in park and recreation
spaces, programs and services,
including youth sports.
Join this
interactive, roundtablestyle
discussion with NRPA staff,
athletes, and park and recreation
professionals to discuss strategies for
building positive environments that
ensure transgender youth can participate
fully and fairly in youth sports.
Uncomfortable Conversations
With Park and Recreation
Professionals
Wednesday, October 11, 1 p.m. -
2 p.m. CDT
Speakers: Neelay Bhatt, Barbara
Hernandez, Dequel Robinson and
Tiff Cunin
In today's world, with tailored social
media messages and algorithmdriven
news feeds, the otherization
of people based on stereotypical
representation of gender (or gender
identity), race, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
religion, language spoken,
immigration status and more keeps
growing, resulting in increased polarization.
This session builds on
the need to create safe spaces for
uncomfortable conversations that
allow people to hear what others
have to say without defaulting to
stereotypes. It aims to challenge
people to step away from their digital
echo chambers to meet people
where they are in the real world.
This is where fellow professionals
across spectrums will share their
truth, answer questions that people
thought they'd never ask and remind
us to think beyond our differences
and focus on our " why " : to impact
people's lives every single day
through parks and recreation.
Neurodiversity and Inclusive
Workplaces: Insights From Park
and Recreation Professionals
Wednesday, October 11, 2:30
p.m. - 3:30 p.m. CDT
Speakers: Kande Jones, Tammy
Schwab, John McGovern and Dave
McDaniel III
Learn how to foster a safe and welcoming
environment for all employees.
During this panel discussion,
you'll hear from park and recreation
professionals who identify as neurodiverse
and have firsthand experience
working in the field. Join this conversation
as our panelists explore how to
find workplace champions and allies,
individual
strengths
professionals bring to
neurodiverse
their work,
and the strategies and accommodations
that have helped them succeed.
They also will offer suggestions for
how organizations can better support
and include neurodiverse individuals
in the field, from hiring and training
practices to workplace accommodations
and accessibility.
Environmental Justice and Park
Equity: Restoration, Regional,
Rural and Race
Thursday, October 12, 9 a.m. - 10
a.m. CDT
Speakers: Clement Lau, Sean
Woods and Melissa Erikson
Completed in 2022, the Park Needs
Assessment Plus (PNA+) is a national
model for park equity and planning.
Parks, open spaces, recreation facilities,
trails and gardens are essential
community infrastructure, but not all
communities have access to these resources.
The PNA+ identifies priority
areas for regional and rural recreation
- based on population vulnerability
factors - along with environmental
conservation and restoration, which
form the basis of a 30x30 strategy
for Los Angeles County. This session
will provide an overview of the
data collection, analysis, community
outreach and engagement, findings,
and next steps to address park equity
while looking at the need to include
restoration of degraded lands,
such as brownfields, landfills and oil
fields, which negatively impact lowerincome
communities of color where
vulnerable populations and environmental
burdens are concentrated.
Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances,
this information is subject to
change. For more information, please
visit nrpa.org/Conference.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
49
http://www.nrpa.org/Conference
September 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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