Pictured left: Tiff Cunin smiling in Kauai, on their last big trip before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a year that has been painted with uncertainty, pain and a national reflection of humanity, it was absolutely refreshing and inspiring to join more than 3,000 others for the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference: A Virtual Experience (NRPA Virtual). Conversations amongst park and recreation professionals across the country and the globe sparked emotions of solidarity, bravery and humility as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, a struggling economy and the effects of racisim on our communities.

This was my first NRPA Annual Conference and I had my own assumptions of what to expect. However, as we embarked on the Opening General Session, I realized the historical moment we were all experiencing together. Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, delivered a keynote that was not only timely, but was a dynamic and enlightening call to action for park and recreation professionals to engage in steps to end institutionalized racism.

Harris’ speech sparked a constructive dialogue among attendees about methods for working with various groups and government agencies to develop a more equitable society. Harris reminded us that park and recreation agencies and professionals are community cornerstones with the leverage, experience and compassion to advance racial equity both locally and globally.

The Opening General Session set the foundation for a historical annual conference that fostered an engaging constructive dialogue aimed at transforming our communities into thriving, sustainable environments centered around equity and social justice. We shared stories and creative solutions to combat social isolation among vulnerable populations. We discussed inspiring ways to collectively engage in advocacy and activism. We learned how to reimagine health and wellness, equity and conservation during this pivotal moment in time.

Education sessions set the stage for attendees to learn best practices from their colleagues in the profession. I remain amazed by the meaningful, fantastic work being done across agencies to use data-driven strategies to invest in Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as well as low-income communities. I am inspired by the innovative methods, like virtual recreation options, in which park and recreation professionals are supporting social connectedness and mental health among older adults, individuals with different abilities and gender-expansive populations. 

Learning was further enhanced by the addition of “Coffee Talks.” Coffee Talks were characterized by a more informal setting where speakers engaged in conversations about pressing issues like parks and recreation’s role in community healing, park equity and racial justice, navigating staffing and budget cuts, disaster preparedness, and recommendations for elevating the profession. The organic feel of these conversations empowered attendees to share their experiences, recommendations and questions about propelling the parks and recreation profession forward to build and support resilient communities.

As a whole, NRPA Virtual was a highlight of my year! Following the conference, I spent the better part of two weeks consuming and digesting all of the sessions I could not attend in real-time. While I have more takeaways from my first NRPA Annual Conference than I can count on two hands, I will leave you with my top three:

1. We must continue working collaboratively to move dialogue into action, and advance population health through equitable opportunities for physical activity, recreation and play.

2. We are our communities, and we have a responsibility to examine and critique systems, institutions and individuals that perpetuate oppression and racial, health and social inequities.

3. We are parks and recreation, and we have the power to transform standards of humanity, care and dignity across the globe.

I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what you learned at the NRPA Virtual and share it with others. Don’t just share with our parks and recreation network though, because it is important that the world knows how profoundly important the work we do is for a better tomorrow. 

Tiff Cunin (they/them) is the Senior Program Manager for Health at NRPA. They are a social justice practitioner with more than 10 years of experience in physical activity and public health.