Show Me The Equity: From Planning to Impact | Meeting Room A

($150 Standalone Registration)

The Show Me The Equity: From Planning to Impact workshop is designed to raise awareness and provide actionable strategies to center equity and inclusivity in event planning and execution. This interactive session encourages participants to examine the importance of belonging in creating meaningful and transformative event experiences. Through discussions, and collaborative activities, attendees will explore the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and learn effective practices for designing inclusive and accessible events. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical tools to ensure equity is at the heart of their event planning and execution.

By the end of this session, you will be able to;

• Define key equity-related terms and explain their relevance in the event planning process.
• Identify strategies to incorporate equity into pre-event activities, mitigating the impact of implicit bias.
• Develop an action plan for implementing equitable practices in future events and evaluating their effectiveness.
• Create strategies to ensure equity, accessibility and inclusivity throughout the event planning process.

Karen Foster is an Event Producer and Social Equity Strategist, and the visionary Founder of KF Curates, an Event Strategy, Execution, and Consulting Agency. With a passion for creating inclusive and transformative experiences, Karen partners with purpose-driven organizations to design events that drive meaningful change and foster authentic spaces of belonging. Through her signature workshop,“Show Me The Equity! From Planning to Impact,” she equips event professionals with the tools and strategies to integrate equity into every aspect of their work, empowering them to create systemic change and inspire lasting impact.

       Secondary Tag: Inclusion

TOUR: Walla Walla Public Spaces & Wine Tour

Cost: $50

You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at wrpa@wrpatoday.org to sign up separately.

TOUR: Bike with a Ranger! Exploring the “Secret City” History of Richland

Cost: $25 - If you need a bike rental | $15 – if you bring your own bike

You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at wrpa@wrpatoday.org to sign up separately.

TOUR: G.A. Pehrson Urban Greenbelt Trail Walking Tour

Cost: FREE

You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at wrpa@wrpatoday.org to sign up separately.

Golf Tournament

Hole Sponsored by Great Western Recreation

12:45 PM – Arrive at Playground of Dreams

1:00 PM -1:45 PM – Tour

TOUR: Kason’s Corner: Transforming Spaces for Inclusive Play Tour

Cost: FREE

You can register for this activities during your main conference registration, or contact us at wrpa@wrpatoday.org to sign up separately.

Tuesday Night Social: HUB & GRUB

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 13 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Summers HUB of Kennewick
Address: 6481 W Skagit Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 – Transportation NOT provided

Sponsored by Kaizen and Romtec 

Welcome Address, Annual Meeting, and Opening Keynote: Michael Novakovich (Making Vitality Your Reality) | Great Hall AC

        Secondary Tag: Wellness

Morning Tradeshow Break | Great Hall BD

Sponsored by AHBL

Breakout Session Block 1

1A: Journey Mapping: Small Steps for Big Impacts to Equitable and Inclusive Parks

Location: Meeting Room EF

 CEU: 0.1

        Secondary Tag: Inclusion

1B: Conversational AI - Unlocking Its Potential and Productivity

Location: Meeting Room C

 CEU: 0.1

       Secondary Tag: Technology

1C: Pickleball Policy for Inclusive Play

Location: Meeting Room D

 CEU: 0.1

       Secondary Tag: Wellness

1D: A Safe Space for Play: Consent and Boundaries in Recreation

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag:

       Secondary Tag: Programming

1E: Preparing for Success: Securing the Interview

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

       Secondary Tag: Career Development

1F: The ABCDs of an Extraordinary Workplace: Accessibility, Belonging, Culture & Diversity

Speakers: Michael Novakovich

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management

       Secondary Tag: Inclusion

1G. Riding the Rapids: Mastering Risk and Adaptability in Uncharted Waters 

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: 

       Secondary Tag: Risk Management

Lunch Break (Lunch will be provided)

Location: Great Hall 

Breakout Session Block 2

2A: Neighborhood Parks as a Model for Growing Urban Forestry Programs

Location: Meeting Room EF

 CEU: 0.1

 

       Secondary Tag: Arboriculture

2B: Managing Volunteer Programs: Developing Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers

Location: Meeting Room C

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag:

       Secondary Tag: Volunteer

2C: Social Emotional Wellness & Inclusion in Recreation

Location: Meeting Room D

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: 

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2D: Let's Ride! Building a Bike Program in Your Community

Speaker: Kevin Witte and Kjerstin Lange

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Programming

       Secondary Tag: Wellness

2E:​ Interview Like a Pro: Skill Development

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

 

2F: Tell Your Story through Data Visualization

Speaker: Amy Johnson and Jay Kim

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: 

2G: Safe Havens: Reinventing Park Safety, Security and Risk Management

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices

Afternoon Tradeshow Break | Great Hall BD

Sponsored by AHBL

3A: Beyond ADA: Making Accessibility Inclusive

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices

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3B: Instagram Balancing Act: Creating Content that Informs AND Engages

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Outreach & Engagement

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3C: Becoming a Parks and Recreation Director: Panel Discussion

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management

3D: Summer Teen Late Nights: More than a Drop-in Program

Speaker: Sheryl Blessing, Bao Huong Doan, and Marycruz Talavera Chevez

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Programming

       Secondary Tag: Teens

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3E: The Vital Role of Park Rangers in Urban Spaces

Speakers: Matt Navarro

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices

       Secondary Tag: Park Rangers

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3F: Creating Connection through Emotional Intelligence Principles

Speaker: Katie Anderson

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Leadership & Staff Management

       Secondary Tag: Staff Development

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3G: Guardians of Play: Preventing Child Abuse in Recreation

Speakers: Jefri Peters

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

 Primary Tag: Administration & Business Practices

       Secondary Tag: Risk Management

WRPA Annual Conference Run Club [totally-not-a-race] 5K w/Jen Wills

Location: Main Entrance of Three Rivers Convention Center
Description: Lace up those sneakers and join one of WRPA’s most spirited members (and proud pastpast-President), Jen Wills—City Manager of Longview—for a not-so-serious, definitely-not-Olympic morning 5K jog!

Meet Jen at 7:00 AM sharp outside the main entrance of the Three Rivers Convention Center, where there will bejust enough stretching to feel virtuous before she leads you on a mystery loop of her choosing. The route is about 5K, give or take a few extra turns, and the pace? Totally up to you—whether you’re chasing a personal best or just chasing coffee.

Bring a buddy and join Jen for some early morning motion. Don’t make her jog alone… though let’s be honest, she will anyway.

Registration Desk | Foyer

Visit with Exhibitors | Great Hall BD

Breakout Session Block 4

4A: Restorative Leadership

Location: Meeting Room EF

 CEU: 0.1

4B: Through Their Eyes: Gen Z’s Vision for Parks and Recreation Careers

Location: Meeting Room C

 CEU: 0.1

4C: Title VI Foundations: Removing Barriers and Enhancing Equity (Virtual)

Location: Meeting Room D

 CEU: 0.1

4D: Better Recreation through Collaboration

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

4E: Engaging Camp Staff: A Fresh Approach to Training

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

4F: Everyday Leadership: Promoting A Shared Values System for Your Agency

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

4G: Blueprints for Safety: Mastering Facilities Management for Recreation

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

Morning Tradeshow Break | Great Hall BD

Breakout Session Block 5

5B: Inclusion of All Sizes: Designing Inclusive Play for Every Budget

Location: Meeting Room C

 CEU: 0.1

5C: Where the Street Ends! Finding and Leveraging Hidden Parks

Location: Meeting Room D

 CEU: 0.1

5D: Student Conservation Corps, Youth Employment for Neurodiverse Teens

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

5E: Aquatic Safety Plan: Mitigating Risks and Ensuring Safety

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

5F: From Request to Delivery: A Practical Guide to Accommodations

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

5G: Elevating Your Recreation and Event Management Programs Through a Risk Management Lens

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

Lunch Break (Lunch will be provided) | Great Hall 

Breakout Session Block 6

6A: IRONMAN 70.3 Tri-Cities: Engaging our Community by Hosting an Iconic Event

Location: Meeting Room EF

 CEU: 0.1

6B: Rewriting the Script: Defining Boundaries and Mastering Your Inner Critics

Location: Meeting Room C

 CEU: 0.1

6C: Lead with Dreams: Realizing Opportunity-Driven Projects

Location: Meeting Room D

 CEU: 0.1

6D: Wildland Fire Fuels Reduction on City of Spokane Parks Land

Location: Meeting Room A

 CEU: 0.1

6E: Learning and Improving from Lifeguard Audits

Location: Meeting Room B

 CEU: 0.1

6F: The BUILD Strategy: A 5-Step Guide to Team Cohesion and Effectiveness

Location: Meeting Room G

 CEU: 0.1

6G: Risk Management Leadership: From Risk to Possibility

Location: Meeting Room H

 CEU: 0.1

Afternoon Break | Lobby

WRPA Network Meetings

2025 WRPA Awards Banquet | Great Hall AC

Thursday Night Social: The Time Traveler’s Bash 

Reach Museum, Kennewick - 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352
(Transportation provided; pick up outside in front of convention center)

Breaking the Silence: Transforming Negative Voices into Empowerment

Location: Meeting Room ABC

POST CON TOUR: Richland’s Wartime Houses

*Meet at Jefferson Park