Welcome New Park Pride Staff Members!

Park Pride’s team is growing! Please help us welcome Torey Garrett and Camila Sanchez!

Torey Garrett

Torey is a Program Associate on our Community Building team and will provide support to our Friends of the Park and Volunteer Programs. If he looks familiar, that’s because he also supported the Park Visioning team last summer as an intern! Torey has a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Auburn University and earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia. We’re thrilled to add his skills and experience to the Community Building team.

Getting to know Torey:

Why are parks important?

Parks are important because they provide an opportunity for outdoor recreation (active/passive) and many other outdoor activities.

Park Pride’s mission is “to engage communities to activate the power of parks.” What does the “power of parks” mean to you?

The power to be engaged with your community and activate the public space to benefit all visitors.

What are you looking forward to most in your work with Park Pride?

I’m looking forward to assisting neighborhoods in improving their local parks to create more equitable spaces that welcome all residents.

Why is it important for communities to have a voice in their parks?

It is important for the community to have a voice because the park is for the community. The community should be actively involved in its development.

Contact Torey:

torey@parkpride.org


Camila Sanchez

Camila has joined Park Pride for the summer as our Community Building Intern. Camila is an Environmental Engineering major at Georgia Tech and is participating in the Serve Learn Sustain Summer Internship program. She will administer the annual Friends of the Park check-in survey and work with our partners at Food Well Alliance to conduct check-ins with City of Atlanta community garden groups. We’re thrilled to have her support this summer!

Getting to know Camila:

Why are parks important?

I think parks are important because they have an ability to bring community members together and encourage socialization. They give community members a reason to go outside and relax or exercise, and in today’s world, that is priceless.

Park Pride’s mission is “to engage communities to activate the power of parks.” What does the “power of parks” mean to you?

The “power of parks” is the aspect of community building. Not many places have the ability of bringing together people for a greater good such as volunteer work, gardening, or even other events like concerts in parks, or football or soccer. The ability to create stronger communities in such a versatile way is something only parks can do.

What are you looking forward to most in your work with Park Pride?

I’m looking forward to making a difference and helping parks and communities in need. I think all parks deserve equal love and care, and working with Park Pride this summer will definitely help these communities by using their feedback to help them.

Why is it important for communities to have a voice in their parks?

Communities should have a voice because the parks are theirs to use. If a community has a voice in their park, then the park and the community will both benefit from that. Communities have the ability of using and observing the park, and also seeing what they want and what they don’t want, which is why there’s nothing more important than having a voice.

Contact Camila:

camila@parkpride.org

 

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