Park Pride is excited to announce that Grace McKinney has joined the team as Park Pride’s new Executive and Administrative Coordinator! As a strategic systems-thinker with a diverse nonprofit background, Grace enjoys jumping in to support all kinds of projects and initiatives, whipping up spreadsheets, and playing Tetris with calendars.
Continue reading to get to know Emily in her own words!
What does the “power of parks” mean to you?
I’ve seen firsthand how parks provide a space for people to gather and organize their communities, whether that be meeting your neighbors, organizing a food distribution, or planning a campaign to help make change in your community. To me, the power of parks is that they provide an accessible anchor for communities to connect and make change together.
Why are parks an important part of the community?
Parks provide much needed space to play and gather that are open and available to everyone. There aren’t many spaces that all community members can access for free, and parks provide that. They also provide important greenspace and opportunities to move your body and soak in nature.
What are you most excited about regarding your new role?
I’m really looking forward to getting to work with people who want to improve their communities, from our staff at Park Pride, government partners, board members, volunteers, and community partners.
How do you hope to empower communities to engage and make a difference in their neighborhood parks?
I hope to help play a role as a connector, connecting people to each other and to resources that they can use to improve their parks and communities.
What’s your favorite park memory?
I had the privilege to spend some time at a large homeless encampment in Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis. I saw so many members of the community from all walks of life putting their heads together and their hands to work to figure out the best way to support each other and advocate for a better solution to homelessness in the city. It was an inspiring and challenging summer, and I will never forget watching people show up day after day to be part of the community that was being built there.
Favorite Atlanta park (and why)?
While I don’t make it over there as often as I’d like, I have fond memories of Whittier Mill Park. I spent a lot of time exploring there when I first moved to Atlanta, and I love how it feels hidden and tucked away. It’s clearly well loved by the community who maintains it.
Send Grace a message at grace@parkpride.org to help welcome her to the team!