The AAPRA commits to promote, nourish, and embody an inclusive and equitable environment, strengthen our commitment to promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, combat systemic and structural racism, and promote a culture of equality for all, through our knowledge advancement, research, education, and scholarly efforts.
The Legends in Parks & Recreation Program creates and shares video interviews of distinguished administrators, educators, citizen advocates and policy makers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Parks and Recreation. Designed to inspire innovation, promote professional development and foster leadership in the field, the Legends videos share personal backgrounds, professional insights, advice and philosophical beliefs. Each video is approximately 30 minutes in length and is available online and in DVD format.
Through one-on-one interviews, administrators, educators, citizen advocates and policymakers share stories about their contributions to the profession. The interview records the Legend's personal background, professional insights, advice and philosophical beliefs.
The Academy's Legends in Parks and Recreation Program was initiated by Robert Toalson in 1981. Through the years more than 100 interviews have been recorded including such notables as Dr. Edith Ball, Conrad Wirth, Robert Crawford, William Penn Mott, Patricia Delaney, Charles Jordan, Ford Hughes, Karla Henderson, Ira Hutchinson, Fran Mainella, Leon Younger, John McGovern and Robert Stanton. Early videos are 45 minutes in length. Newer videos are now approximately 30 minutes in length. Legends videos are currently being moved to a new platform and will be available for viewing shortly. Additionally, using excerpts from the individual Legends interviews, themed videos have been created, and more are in the works.