Community Schoolyards™: A Game-Changing Solution for Equity and Climate Resilience
Liberty NOP, Level M4
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The climate crisis is exacerbating poor community health outcomes and educational inequities in low-income communities of color. This session will demonstrate a common-sense, multi-impact solution to harness the potential of our nation’s 2 million acres of school land through the Community Schoolyards™ model. These projects swap out blacktop for trees, gardens, and creative playgrounds and provide daily opportunities for students to be physically active, create an enriching learning environment, and create resilience to the impacts of climate change. They also provide enrichment and leadership opportunities for students, staff, and the broader school community.
The Trust for Public Land has worked alongside schools and communities across the country to transform nearly 300 public schoolyards and is on a mission to make Community Schoolyards a standard practice. During the discussion, its experts will share examples of how districts nationwide are transforming their underused outdoor schoolyard space into vibrant public parks—full of trees, shade, and places to exercise, play, and learn. They’ll show how school districts and their partners can access public funding and implement the Community Schoolyards™ model. Finally, they will discuss the enabling conditions and policy change needed to take this practice to scale.
Ronda Chapman is the Equity Director at The Trust for Public Land, where she works to bring parks and nature to the places, people, and communities that can most benefit as a matter of health, equity, and justice. She has spent two decades leading efforts on climate resilience, water infrastructure and equity, renewable energy, and waste management for municipal, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining The Trust for Public Land, Chapman served as a Senior Associate for PolicyLink, where she was responsible for building out and integrating the organization’s national water equity and climate resilience portfolios in close concert with frontline organizers, community-based organizations, and conservation organizations. She also served as Commissioner for the Commission on Climate Change and Resilience for the District of Columbia and as the Executive Director for Groundwork D.C. As a skilled facilitator, Ronda derives great joy convening leaders who are committed to the possibilities of equitable communities rooted in healing. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Ronda enjoys recreating outside whenever possible.
Danielle Denk is the Schoolyards Initiative director at The Trust for Public Land, where she works across the organization to enable the local, state, and federal systems for equitable community schoolyards nationwide. Peviously, Danielle directed and managed The Parks for People Program in Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she worked directly with schools and communities to transform asphalt schoolyards and parks into vibrant, healthy, climate-smart centers for resilience and health. With over 25 years experience in public space design and development, Danielle sees access to high-quality public space as a human right. Danielle has a professional degree in architecture and urban design from Kent State University and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. When not working, Danielle can be found hiking, biking, and kayaking with her family on the trails in the Wissahickon Valley.