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Our two-year journey and how we’re preparing for the future
Park and recreation professionals operate at the intersection of differences in race, gender identity, religion, class, geography, age and ability, and remain on the frontlines of many of today’s most pressing challenges. Quality parks and recreation opportunities are essential to advancing individual and community health, environmental and community resiliency, and overall well-being. As trusted local leaders with a mission to make their communities better places to live, learn, work and play, park and recreation professionals are in a unique position to champion efforts that advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and enable every community member to find themselves in the outdoors.
Despite the vital role park and recreation professionals serve in their communities, across the profession there remain gaps in understanding how systemic racism, unfair power structures and a lack of cultural humility undermine quality park and recreation spaces, programs and services for Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income communities.
At NRPA, equity is at the center of what we do. Our mission is to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people. NRPA’s Equity Pillar has been a driving force behind our programs for the past six years. With the approval of our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, NRPA transitioned its DEI efforts away from initiatives implemented by a handful of staff and into a consistent, committed effort — both internally and externally — supporting individual growth and organizational change in the field. Because of this, we are broadening our focus outward and making strategic investments to advance DEI across the industry.
What We’ve Learned
Park and Recreation agencies are increasingly prioritizing DEI efforts.
To guide this journey, NRPA began with a survey in the winter of 2020, titled “Equity Practices in Parks and Recreation,” to assess the state of equitable practices in the field, identify gaps and inform our future offerings. We learned that 40 percent of affiliates and 30 percent of agencies were looking to establish DEI activities within the next year. We also found that one-third of park and recreation agencies already had formal DEI activities, and another third planned on launching DEI initiatives in the near future. Even agencies that do not have formal DEI programs in place still promote DEI practices through their policies and activities.
The most common DEI activity among park and recreation agencies is the development of hiring practices and policies, followed by an expressed commitment to DEI in foundational documents, such as vision and mission statements. However, more than 65 percent of survey respondents identified their biggest challenge to advancing DEI efforts is difficulty developing staff capacity and competency around DEI.
Over the past few months, NRPA also has been conducting focus groups and individual interviews with members and professionals about the state of DEI initiatives in their agencies and communities. Through this discovery process, most participants noted that they have been exposed to most of the foundational concepts of DEI but are looking for training opportunities that go beyond that. One focus group participant noted, “We need to move on from why this is important to what we can do about it.”
Park and recreation professionals value professional learning.
In 2021, NRPA found that park and recreation leaders note a strong desire to share best practices in DEI as they establish or build upon existing efforts at their agencies. Specifically, survey respondents want more conversations with their peers on “what’s being done across the country” when it comes to DEI, such as exchanging agency policies and making recommendations on DEI subject matter experts and speakers. When survey respondents were asked what was needed from NRPA, agencies requested access to educational and professional development opportunities; subject matter experts and consultants; and a library of resources, including best practices, webinars and toolkits. During our focus groups and interviews, one participant highlighted that leaders want to learn from the practitioners who are one step ahead of them on their DEI journey. They want to “see the path” and learn how to better transfer their knowledge into the application of skills.
During the past 18 months, we’ve been working hard to fill these gaps, and in response, have developed our latest initiative: Equity in Practice (EiP).
Equity in Practice: NRPA’s Plan to Support the Field in Achieving Equitable Outcomes
To put it simply, to create a future where everyone has fair and just access to quality parks and recreation, we need to act. Equity requires practice, patience and a commitment to progress. Because of this, NRPA is creating new opportunities for park and recreation professionals to put equity into practice through a variety of learning experiences where members can increase their knowledge around centering equity and practice the necessary skills to advance equity in our communities. NRPA’s new EiP initiative has three goals: (1) Provide a curated learning experience for our members that meets them where they are and builds upon core skills to advance DEI; (2) Create a sustainable learning model that equips individuals or teams within agencies to develop long-term, meaningful equity programs; and (3) Go beyond awareness-based DEI education to elevate equitable change that’s specific to the goals and challenges of parks and recreation.
The EiP initiative provides members with several different learning and engagement opportunities, which are designed to assist every single professional, regardless of role, capacity or influence with promoting equity in their community and agency. Our EiP initiative can be broken down into four types of offerings: a resource library, peer networks, monthly online learning events, and our latest certificate program.
EiP Resource Library
One piece of the EiP initiative includes NRPA’s newest resource library, the EiP Resource Library, which is a set of vetted and carefully curated resources available to NRPA members. Designed to help park and recreation professionals with any DEI-related issue, the newly launched EiP Resource Library has toolkits, policy examples, book recommendations, articles, research, webinars and other activities to support individual learning of equity concepts across park and recreation functions. Housed on our website, anyone in the field can search, filter and discover new ways to learn about and implement equitable solutions.
DEI Peer Networks
A second portion of the EiP initiative includes new ways to engage members through peer networks. The State Affiliates DEI Committee Network (a peer network for members of state associations working to advance equity at the state level) and the DEI Leaders Network (a peer network for members leading DEI work within their agencies) utilize bimonthly calls and an NRPA Connect channel to facilitate learning and sharing amongst professionals. These network calls are held on alternating second Tuesdays of every month at noon ET.
Monthly Online Learning Events
Members now can dive deeper into equity issues through monthly “talks” and “clinics.” Formerly known as a webinar, a “talk” is a presentation by a subject matter expert or a panel of professionals sharing best practices across the field. A “clinic,” while still virtual, is a more hands-on approach to learning, inviting participants to actually practice a specific skill with guidance from an instructor. These events allow participants to interact and dialogue with the facilitator, as well as with other attendees. Every month, members can find an EiP offering, whether a talk or clinic, available on NRPA’s online learning platform.
EiP Certificate Program
In response to surveys, focus groups and interviews during the past year, NRPA has developed the final piece of the EiP initiative, NRPA’s Equity in Practice Certificate program. The program is based on the reality that we can all perpetuate racism — and we can all take action to dismantle it. This series expands our understanding of systemic racism and how it impacts the field of parks and recreation. This certificate program seeks to fill gaps in DEI content that is relevant and applicable to park and recreation professionals working at the intersection of increasingly interracial and intergenerational demographics.
The certificate program will provide a high-quality professional development experience that uses a race equity lens as a foundation to examine ways that various identities are marginalized, specific to the needs of park and recreation. NRPA has made a careful and informed decision to center racial equity, and within that, to focus on anti-Blackness as a lens for building skills that can be applied across many historically-excluded communities. Through conversations with professionals in the field, it was clear that racism often feels the hardest to discuss, yet is the most salient barrier in serving our communities. By leading with race, we can intentionally make connections across identities, equipping professionals with the skills to tackle discrimination in all its forms and promote equity across race, gender, age, ability, class and other demographic lines. The Equity in Practice Certificate program will consist of a small cohort of professionals who will dive into skills and action plans around racial equity over a 12-week period, specifically boosting skills around the following four areas: equity analysis, direct communication, self-awareness and relationships across differences.
This certificate program will be divided into three sequential cohorts, each building upon the necessary skills and knowledge from previous cohorts to culminate in equitable agency change. Participants who complete all three certificate cohorts will be equipped with the necessary skills and confidence to serve as DEI leaders within their agencies and communities.
“Exploring Racial Equity,” the first of the Equity in Practice Certificate installments, is designed for individuals who are just beginning to learn about equity and cross-cultural issues, whether personally or professionally. Spanning 12 weeks of pre- and post-session work and live learning sessions, this cohort will introduce and stress fundamental terminology, concepts and approaches, offering participants time to build understanding in a supportive environment. Launched in September 2022, members now have the opportunity to apply for this inaugural cohort with sessions beginning in February 2023. Capped at 20 participants for each cohort, this deep dive into racial equity within parks and recreation allows for robust and personalized learning, led by an experienced facilitator. Once participants complete the 12-week program, NRPA will offer several complementary opportunities for them to continue building their capacity in this area, including an in-person networking event at the NRPA Annual Conference and the chance to advance to the second and third certificate cohorts. Applications for this inaugural cohort will be available via the NRPA website beginning the first week of October.
Preparing for the Future
NRPA embraces our role and obligation to help our members meet emerging and future challenges by working to expand innovation, research, resources and life-long professional development. This requires centering equity in all that we do to ensure all life experiences are valued and represented; the field better reflects the community it serves; and our parks remain accessible, inclusive, engaging and culturally responsive. The purpose of the EiP initiative is to continue building NRPA’s foundational capacity to develop and provide high-quality professional development to park and recreation professionals that increase knowledge, understanding and application of core competencies in DEI. As the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, healthy and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation, NRPA does not take its responsibility lightly. We’ve surveyed the field, and we are listening to what professionals need and the challenges they face in promoting equity in their communities. We are committed to bridging gaps to provide our members with scaffolded, intentional learning opportunities to advance equity across the country by putting equity into practice.
To hear NRPA’s Autumn Saxton-Ross and Philip Silva share more about our DEI journey and Equity in Practice initiative, tune in to the October bonus episode of Open Space Radio.
Shalini Mirpuri is Senior Manager of Education – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NRPA.