Bringing History to Life: Archives to Action Through Technology, Recreation and Storytelling

Thursday, October 1 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Room 111AB

Session Type: 1-Hour Education Session

Topic(s):
Access for All, Community Engagement, Partnerships, Recreation Programming, Technology

Description:
How can park history strengthen community connection? This session explores how staff at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board brought archival materials to life through creative storytelling and program design. Three case studies highlight innovative ways storytelling is woven into practice: (1) McRae Park created a layered visual history rooted in racial equality, connecting past and present following participation in NRPA’s Equity in Practice programs; (2) ArcGIS StoryMaps, used to create a digital exhibition, unpacks the complicated history of property assessments for financing park development; (3) the Cycling Without Age trishaw bike program brings site-specific histories into action through a mobile, interactive experience. Grounded in the Minneapolis Park Board’s commitment to fostering belonging in our parks, these programs make park history more accessible. Attendees of this session will learn to identify local resources and partnerships that can support storytelling in their own communities and will explore how to apply a fairness lens to transform archives into meaningful opportunities for community connection.

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will identify history resources and partnerships to expand community-focused programming and relate the importance of history programming to community-building through storytelling.

2. Attendees will recognize how racial equality frameworks provide action-oriented tools to influence welcoming programming to dismantle systemic racism.

3. Attendees will locate opportunities for community-building and outreach and be inspired to construct an action plan of tangible, sustainable next steps.

Speaker(s):
Angela Salisbury
Rachel Hoben
Joe Ayers
Maggie Mercil