Our Normal

We meet often overlooked communities where they are, everyday.

Basic Humanity

Everyone deserves to benefit from what parks can offer people and communities. To include economically stressed communities, parks must remove barriers to participation and foster health, belonging, and community.

Community-Led Decision Making

Empowering communities to decide what happens in their parks ensures park initiatives reflect individuals' needs, gifts and interests. When people and communities are actively involved, parks reflect the people they serve.

Connection First

People need meaningful relationships with nature before being inspired to contribute. A sustained connection to natural spaces propels community members to invest their time, talents, and money in their parks.

Love and Reciprocity

Parks are places to practice reciprocal love in economically stressed communities. When people experience a park's gifts and have the opportunity to give back, park love expands. Reciprocal love ripples outward, impacting how people feel about themselves, their communities, and their world.

Trauma-Informed Engagement

Incorporating trauma-informed engagement and programming ensures that parks are safe, supportive spaces for individuals who live in stressed communities. Understanding and responding to the effects of trauma promotes healing, resilience, and a sense of safety and belonging.

Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Restorative engagement requires continuous learning and adaptation. Parks must be dynamic spaces that evolve with nature and the community's changing needs and feedback. Regular feedback and flexibility in programming and design ensure that parks remain relevant, resilient, and beneficial.

Trusted Partnerships

Authentic relationships are essential to restorative park engagement. Respecting various perspectives, lifestyles, abilities, and roles leads to richer bonds that inspire individuals to show up, shift, contribute, and collaborate.

Sweeetz LaBamba

2026 Fellow

“Inner safety is what lets someone show up, take a risk, and actually learn. The park is where we build it.”

Seasoned Settlers

intergenerational play and safety programming

Geocaching + Play-Based Learning

safe, active, park-based edutainment

Sweeetz LaBamba is an educator and entertainer who uses parks and open spaces to create opportunities for safe, active play and learning across generations — from children to adults navigating serious health challenges to seniors.

Through her organisation, Seasoned Settlers, she designs outdoor experiences that build participants' sense of inner safety as the foundation for growth and healthy relationships. Her programs meet people where they are — using movement, play, and nature as entry points for communities carrying stress and trauma.

Sweeetz LaBamba leading a play-based safety session with children — Meet Sweeetz Labamba - CanvasRebel

Sweetz speaks, teaches, and plays for a living. Book her for a conference session, a podcast conversation, or a pop-up activity that gets a room moving.

She built her practice in Anacostia Park, turning safety topics into play-based assemblies kids ask for by name. If your event needs someone who can hold a room and get people participating, contact Sweeetz.

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