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2021 Conference Schedule at a Glance

Schedule Key:

  EBI Level: Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced
  CEU: Available NRPA Continuing Education Units
  Tags: Topic/Subject Area

This schedule is subject to change.

Pre-Conference Tuesday, April 27

9:40 AM —
12:30 PM

Socially Distant Golf - Sign Up Now!

Lake Padden Golf Course | Bellingham
Mint Valley Golf Course | Longview
Auburn Golf Course | Auburn
Esmeralda Golf Course | Spokane
Veterans Memorial Golf Course | Walla Walla

Day 1 Wednesday, April 28
8:45 AM — 9:00 AM	Trivia Opening
9:00 AM — 9:15 AM	Welcome, Platinum Sponsor Northwest Playground
9:15 AM — 10:15 AM	Opening Keynote Address Restoring Civility in the Workplace Ken Nwadike, Jr., Free Hugs Project
10:15 AM — 10:30 AM	Break
10:30 AM — 11:45 AM	Breakout Session Block 1 1A: Mind & Body Wellbeing in Crisis Ken Nwadike, Jr Cancelled 1B: Intersectionality Is Core to the Advancement of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) - Here's Why B Hill, Shanyanika McElroy EIB Level: Intermediate 0.1 CEU Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management 1C: Using Augmented Reality to Create Engaging Educational Experiences Michele Cardinaux, Joel Krupa EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Programming, Leadership & Management 1D: WRPA Today, and WRPA Tomorrow – A Round Table Discussion About Planning for Our Best Future Paul Simmons, Guy Michaelsen EIB Level: Beginner Leadership & Management
11:45 PM — 12:45 PM	Lunch Break
12:45 PM — 1:30 PM	WRPA Annual Meeting WRPA Virtual Annual Meeting The WRPA Annual Meeting is an event for all of the valued members of our association. Access is included for WRPA members who are registered for the Conference. Separate free registration is available for members who are not registered for Conference.
1:30 PM — 1:45 PM	Break
1:45 PM — 3:00 PM	Breakout Session Block 2 2A: Practical Planning with Equity at the Center Shanyanika McElroy, Sarah Olson, MPA, Paul Simmons EIB Level: Intermediate 0.1 CEU Planning & Design, Equity & Inclusion 2B: Programming by the Numbers - Are You Serving Your Community Equitably? Moshe Hecht EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Business Operations, Programming 2C: The Transformational Leader: Be Courageous. Be Authentic. Be Ready. Dethorn Young EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Leadership & Management, Career Development

Day 2 Thursday, April 29
8:45 AM — 9:00 AM	Trivia Opening
9:00 AM — 9:05 AM	Welcome, Gold Sponsor Great Western Recreation
9:05 AM — 10:20 AM	Breakout Session Block 3 3A: (PART 1) Bringing Anti-Racist Practices to Your Agency: Racial Identity Caucus WRPA Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee Pre-Registration for Session 3A and 4A are Now Closed! This session has a limited number of available spots (25 BIPOC and 25 White Ally) and requires additional registration. Participants can choose to take only this course or to take this course or they can also take part in Part 2 Session 4A. Pre-Session Materials EIB Level: Intermediate 0.1 CEU Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management
9:05 AM — 10:20 AM	3B: Modifying Adaptive Recreation in a Virtual World Kim Indurkar, Mary Boyle, Stephanie Ruiz-Carbajal EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Programming, Equity & Inclusion 3C: Top Trends in Parks and Recreation Richard Dolesh EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Leadership & Management, Career Development 3D: The Great Symphony—How Water and Air Interplay in Natatoriums Justin Caron EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Aquatics, Maintenance & Operations
10:20 AM — 10:30 AM	Break
10:30 AM — 11:45 AM	Breakout Session Block 4 4A: (PART 2) Bringing Anti-Racist Practices to Your Agency: Caucus Train-the-Facilitator WRPA Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, Shanyanika McElroy, Brian Judd Pre-Registration for Session 3A and 4A are Now Closed! This session has a limited number of available spots (25 BIPOC and 25 White Ally) and requires additional registration. In order to participate in this session, you MUST also attend the prerequisite course, PART 1 Session 3A. Pre-Session Materials EIB Level: Intermediate/Advanced 0.1 CEU Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management 4B: Keeping Communities Connected - Virtual Programming During COVID19 and Beyond Moshe Hecht, Katherine Ichinoe EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Business Operations: Customer Service/Marketing/Finance, Programming 4C: Demystifying Land Dedication, Development & Impact Fees Jeff Milkes EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Business Operations, Planning & Design 4D: Swimming Through It—Defining Essential Aquatic Services During a Pandemic Cory Hilderbrand, Lydie Gutfeld EIB Level: 0.1 CEU Aquatics, Leadership & Management
11:45 PM — 12:45 PM	Lunch Break
12:45 PM — 2:00 PM	Breakout Session Block 5 5A: How Parks & Recreation Can Support Mental Health Initiatives Barbara Heller, Lauren Kiefert EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Programming, Equity & Inclusion 5B: Community Outreach & Engagement with an Equity Lens Courtney Acoff, Delia Flores, Abigail Vizcarra-Perez EIB Level: Intermediate 0.1 CEU Equity & Inclusion, Programming 5C: The Sport for Everyone: How Junior Disc Golf Courses Get Kids Moving Erin Johnson, Ryan Griffith EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Programming, Risk Management 5D: Riverfront Park Renaissance: Planning, Realizing & Programming a Treasured Park for New Generations! (While nimbly responding to a global pandemic!) Guy Michaelsen, Garrett Jones EIB Level: Beginner 0.1 CEU Planning & Design, Leadership & Management
2:00 PM — 2:15 PM	Break
2:15 PM — 4:00 PM	WRPA Awards Ceremony WRPA Awards Ceremony for 2020 & 2021 Recipients Access is included for WRPA members who are registered for the Conference. Separate free registration is available for award recipients (and their guests) who are not registered for Conference.

Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB) Levels

Beginner: These sessions are for individuals who have little knowledge or are just beginning to learn about diversity, equity, inclusion, and cross-culture issues whether personally or professionally. They will introduce and stress fundamental concepts and approaches, offering participants time to work for understanding in a supportive environment.

Intermediate: These sessions are for individuals who have a working knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion, and cross-cultural issues, and have begun exploring the concepts of privilege and anti-racism. These sessions stress the interconnection between fundamental concepts and new knowledge, techniques, methodologies, and skills. Individuals who are looking to explore what to do and how to apply their new knowledge and skills are the target audience for intermediate workshops.

Experienced: These sessions are for individuals who are educators, facilitators, and practitioners in cultural diversity and who have a developed understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, privilege, and anti-racism and have applied one or more of these concepts in varied settings. These sessions offer ways in which individuals can deepen their knowledge through experiential activities. These sessions will also offer experienced practitioners ways to share insights, refine their knowledge and sharpen their skills.

Want to learn more about WRPA's approach to Equity, Inclusion & Belonging?
Visit our EIB Committee Page.

Learn More