Workforce Development: Pairs meaningful employment with park revitalization. Employment and training programs that build individuals’ transferable skills and employability while cultivating their sense of safety, pride, belonging and community.

Trauma Informed Approach: Recognize the role of trauma in the lives of residents for whom crime, drug use and incarceration are part of their daily lived experience. Parks and nature are community assets recognized as a central part of people's continuum of care.

Restorative Engagement: Listening to, valuing, and understanding people’s lived experiences to inform park programming that helps address community needs. 11% of people in the United States live in poverty.

Visual and tactile activities to address literacy barriers

NACE Anacostia Park Late Skate Event. October 29th, 2022. Photos: NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Programs that empower parents to engage with their kids

Culturally relevant activities like fishing, hand dancing, and roller skating

Connection First: Building trust-based relationships with community stakeholders who see the park as a place of healing and a valuable community asset is central to our practice.

National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens delivers court-mandated mental health therapy on a park walk in nature rather than in an institutional setting.

Health providers advise clients to use the park’s bike path to help them get off diabetes medications.

Reducing seniors’ isolation by encouraging them to volunteer or work in the playground - ensuring kids are safe while building valuable social connections.

Community Led: Integrates principles of environmental justice, cultural relevance, holistic community health, collaboration, trauma-informed, and community-centered approaches.

Trauma-informed community workshops

Love and Reciprocity: Focuses on empowerment, advocacy and helping participants see themselves as valued stewards of their local parks and neighborhoods.

Supporting individuals to pursue their vision and goals for the park like: Leading an addiction group in the park, park clean-up, supervising activities, welcoming park visitors, and mental health walks.