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Equity in Practice Certificate 1: Exploring Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation

Thank you for your interest in NRPA's Equity in Practice (EiP) Certificate 1: Exploring Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation!

Learn more about the EiP Certificate 1 program, including key dates and how to apply, below!

Overview

This interactive program invites park and recreation professionals to explore racial equity through self-reflection, dialogue, and action. Participants will exchange perspectives on racial equity in the field of parks and recreation, deepen their understanding of key concepts, and generate ideas to advance equity in their own contexts... and in the profession as a whole. 

During Certificate 1, learners will engage in:

  • Live workshops focused on core equity concepts, practical tools, and peer learning.
  • Peer exchange opportunies that foster networking, dialogue, and shared problem-solving. 
  • Self-paced activities that extend learning between workshops and support real-world application.
  • Action planning tailored to each participant's unique role and context within their organizations and their communities. 

Each learning block includes a downloadable workbook designed to guide learners in applying what they've learned, tracking progress, and building a doable equity action plan!

Important Dates

Activity Date
Application Opens September 5, 2025
Application Closes October 31, 2025
Applicants Notified of Status November 14, 2025
Learners Receive Welcome Packet December 11, 2025
Cohort 11 Begins January 5, 2025

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through 10/31/2025, or until the roster has been filled (24 max). All applicants will be notified of their status by 11/14/2025. To help with your planning, please see the important dates below. 

Certificate 1 consists of 6 learning blocks, each 2 weeks in duration. Each learning block includes one live workshop. Please hold the following days and times in your calendar:

Workshop Date Time
Workshop 1: It Begins With Us Tuesday, January 20 1:00 - 3:30pm ET  
Workshop 2: The Language We Use Tuesday, February 3 1:00 - 3:30pm ET
Workshop 3: Connecting Past to Present Tuesday, February 17     1:00 - 3:30pm ET
Workshop 4: Seeing Inequity Tuesday, March 3 1:00 - 3:30pm ET
Workshop 5: Moving Towards Equity Tuesday, March 17 1:00 - 3:30pm ET
Workshop 6: Pulling it All Together Tuesday, March 31 1:00 - 3:30pm ET

Workshop participation is required to complete EiP Certificate 1 and to be eligible for CEUs. If you have questions or concerns about participation, contact us at access@nrpa.org. 

In addition to participating in the 6 live workshops (2.5 hours each), learners should anticipate spending at least 1 hour per week on self-guided activities (e.g., workbook and discussion boards). 

Cost

Currently, there is no cost for NRPA Members to participate in EiP Certificate 1. 

Upon successful completion of EiP Certificate 1, NRPA Members may purchase 1 CEU. Contact access@nrpa.org for more details. 

How to Apply

Applications open on September 5, 2025. CLICK HERE to APPLY!

While you are at it, share the application with your colleagues! We love having teams work together!

Questions? Contact us at access@nrpa.org.