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advancing mental and physical health, creating climate -ready parks, supporting equity and inclusion, and so much more. We know we cannot solve these challenges alone. By partnering with like-minded organizations — including non -profits, government agencies, academics and corporate leaders — we bring strength to our programs and mission. NRPA's Mission To advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people. NRPA's Vision We seek a future where the full power of parks and recreation is widely recognized for creating a better life for everyone by building strong, healthy and resilient communities. We advance this vision by investing in and championing the profession as a catalyst of positive change for equity, climate readiness and overall well-being. The NRPA website is fairly robust and contains information about the recreation and park profession, advocacy, technical studies and educational resourses. Per the NRPA website, NRPA's three main focus areas or "pillars" are: 1. Health and Wellness; 2. Equity; and 3. Conservation. According to the Park and Recreation magazine, NRPA's focus over the next year is going to be "equity". As part of that equity focus, NPRA recently published a document entitled: "Equity Language Guide – Glossary of Terms." NRPA's Equity Language Guide draws upon the work of other organization's documents (such as Sierra Club's 2018 Equity Language Guide) in publishing its own guidance to park professionals on considering a variety of terms when communicating about recreation and parks. In introducing a link to its Equity Language Guide, the NRPA website states: The words we use matter — language has the power to uplift as well as marginalize. From the time we start learning how to communicate, we unconsciously take in the implicit biases in our language. We may not realize certain words, and how we use them, can be damaging to others. With so many ways to convey a single thought, finding the "right" word can be difficult. With the constant evolution of language, personal preferences and changing contexts, the "right" word rarely exists. However, understanding which words may be more appropriate than others in certain situations can reinforce our values of diversity, equity and inclusion while inviting others into our work. Most importantly, when we make thoughtful word choices, we can be part of creating a more inclusive environment. As the creators of community, park and recreation professionals can especially benefit from using language that is inclusive and welcoming for all people. This guide can help those in the field of parks and recreation use consistent and appropriate terms related to diversity, equity, inclusion, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability and more.