Continuing the Work: DEI and the Current Political Landscape

Coming April 2025! Empower your agency to navigate the shifting legal landscape with confidence. Our new resource provides the knowledge, strategies, and real-world examples you need to adapt policies and programs—ensuring that equity remains at the heart of your work, no matter the challenges ahead. 

Participants will learn how the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on college admissions, the 2024 case against the Fearless Fund and the Executive Orders of 2025 impact diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs in local park and recreation agencies.  Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD, Chief Education and Equity Officer for NRPA will review ways to assess risk depending on funding streams, state and local policies, and provide recommendations for professionals based on work happening across the country.

Learning Objectives:  

1. Participants will be able to summarize key legal and political shifts that impact diversity, equity, and inclusion work in parks and recreation. 
2. Participants will be able to assess the risks and opportunities for diversity, equity, and inclusion work as it is related to different funding sources and local/state legislation. 
3. Participants will be able to identify language and framing strategies to maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion work while navigating legal constraints. 

This talk is available for 1 year from it's release date! 

Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD

Chief Education & Equity Officer

National Recreation and Park Association

Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD, developed a love of the outdoors first through her grandmother’s yard and then exploring city parks with her family in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.  Now a resident of Washington DC and mom of two, she is the Chief Education & Equity Officer at the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). 

She started her career as an elementary school Health and PE teacher in DC Public Schools and after receiving graduate degrees in Health Education and Sociology, has worked in various positions that placed her at the intersections of health, equity and parks.  Most recently, she served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Lead for NatureBridge, and prior to that she held positions in non-profits, health and recreation departments. 

Autumn is a connector- actively seeking out ways to build bridges between seemingly disparate people, opportunities and ideas.  And if you really want to see a sparkle in her eye, start a conversation on all things Marvel, Octavia Butler or Star Trek: The Next Generation.

TC Cunin, PhD

Senior Manager, Education

National Recreation and Park Association

TC (they/them) is a Senior Manager, Education at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) where they oversee diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professional development and education programs like NRPA’s Equity in Practice Certificate Program. Using their extensive background in physical activity, public health and translational research, TC weaves recreation, physical activity and play together to transform public health’s commitment to social justice and the elimination of health equities. 

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