300 Parks and Recreation Leaders to Gather in D.C. for Legislative Forum
gengberg March 13th, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Amy Kapp
National Recreation and Park Association
484.343.1652
akapp@nrpa.org
Adolfo Carrión to Address Gathering of Park and Recreation
Leaders from Around U.S. at National Legislative Forum
Hundreds to Convene in Washington, D.C., to Shape Park and Recreation Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 2010 - On Wednesday, March 17, 2010, White House Director of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión, Jr. will serve as keynote speaker at the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) National Policy Luncheon (12:30 to 2 p.m.) at the Grand Hyatt Washington, in Washington, D.C.
The luncheon is a key event for NRPA’s 2010 National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation, which takes place March 16-19, 2010. Roughly 300 people in the parks and recreation community will convene for four days to attend educational sessions and discussions, speak to legislators on Capitol Hill, and collectively influence legislative action on bills that focus on parks, recreation, children and nature, energy, transportation and more.
Biography for Adolfo Carrión, Jr.:
In 2009, President Obama chose Adolfo Carrión, Jr. to be the director of the newly created White House Office of Urban Affairs. Director Carrión is charged with coordinating the policies of 10 cabinet agencies into an effective agenda for urban America.
Carrión’s career began as a school teacher in the Bronx when, after becoming increasingly involved in the needs of students and their parents, he chose to pursue urban planning as a means to positively effect change. After earning his master’s in urban planning from New York City’s Hunter College, Carrión worked for three years in the Department of Urban Planning. He was elected to the City Council in 1997, and elected Bronx Borough president in 2001, which made him New York’s highest-ranking Latino elected official.
Carrión is a former president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. He is also a former vice president of international affairs for the County Executives of America, and a former Aspen-Rodel fellow at The Aspen Institute.
The 2010 National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation is sponsored by Hershey’s Track & Field Games, the National Alliance for the Development of Archery, NBA FIT, PlayCore, Säjai Foundation, the United States Olympic Committee, the United States Tennis Association and Landscape Structures (In-Kind Donor).
Highlights - 2010 National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Taking the Hill: First Timers’ and Seasoned Veterans’ Orientation
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Concurrent Education Sessions:
Making the Case: Parks and Recreation as Essential Public Services
Creating Livable Communities Through Parks and Recreation
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities: A Top Federal Priority
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. National Policy Luncheon
Keynote: Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director, White House Office of Urban Affairs
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. Emerging National Policy Issues for Parks and Recreation
Speakers:
Tom Strickland, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Interior
Beth Osborne, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Shelley Poticha, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Housing and Communities, U.S.
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. 2010 NRPA Platform: From Your Community to Capitol Hill
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Delegate Welcome Reception
Thursday, March 18, 2010
7:30 - 8:15 a.m. Delegate Breakfast
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Congressional Recognition Ceremony & Reception (Capitol Hill, Russell Building - 325)
Honorees:
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. David Price (D-NC)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Note: From 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., delegates will be visiting legislators on Capitol Hill.
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of some 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrec-magazine.org.
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Amy Kapp
Communications Manager
National Recreation and Park Association
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148
Tel 703.858.2151
Fax 703.858.0794
akapp@nrpa.org
www.nrpa.org
Follow me on Twitter @AmyKapp_NRPA for the latest media coverage about NRPA and in the parks, recreation and conservation community!
