Partnering in Bold New Ways to Accelerate Playspace Equity

How cities are using data-driven collaborations to ensure every child has equitable access to play.

January 12, 2023

Sponsored Webinar

Play provides kids with a range of developmental benefits, but children often have different access to playspaces depending on their race and economic status. The enduring realities of racial segregation and disinvestment mean that local leaders must use data to better understand who has access to these vital spaces and who doesn’t, and to shape how they plan and develop interventions to create equitable spaces for play. It will also take innovative partnerships that bring together committed partners across government agencies, philanthropy, the private sector and communities.

In this webinar, KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff joins local leaders from Baltimore Dept. of Recreation and Parks and Baltimore City Public Schools to share insights from a bold new initiative to identify and solve playspace inequity across city systems. This work is part of the KABOOM! 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, a five-year, $250 million plan to end playspace inequity in 25 places nationwide.

Moderator:
Lynn M. Ross, Founder, Spirit for Change Consulting, LLC
Lynn M. Ross is a nationally recognized urbanist and the founder of Spirit for Change Consulting, LLC where she works across sectors with organizations on a mission to create the equitable policies and practices that sustain just places. Her work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a place to thrive and that the most effective practices for creating and sustaining just places are co-created, centered in lived experience, equitable by design, and intentionally inclusive. Recent engagements include leading an initiative to reimagine the federal role in housing policy that resulted in the release of New Deal for Housing Justice; serving on the national steering committee of Reimagining the Civic Commons—a national demonstration and learning network advancing an equitable public realm; and partnering with the City of Akron, Ohio to set a new course for equitable community development by establishing its Office of Integrated Development. Lynn is a member of Next City’s Board of Directors and serves as the Vice Chair of the KABOOM! Board of Directors.

Speakers:
Lysa Ratliff, CEO, KABOOM!
In early 2021, Lysa M. Ratliff became the newest CEO of KABOOM!, the national non-profit that works to end playspace inequity. For good.

Throughout her career, Ratliff has served as a champion for kids and their resilience, leading efforts to connect partners and make change for communities and kids across the country, and around the world. She was the Vice President of Partnership Development at KABOOM!, has held senior leadership roles at Habitat for Humanity International, Save the Children, and spent more than a decade in international marketing communications at several large corporations.

Lysa has led both public and private fundraising teams, cause marketing and communications campaigns with large global corporations. When not spending time with her own kids and husband, Lysa enjoys all things home, with most of her playtime being spent in the garden growing organic fruits and vegetables.

Reginald Moore, Executive Director, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
Native Georgian, Reginald Moore, is the current executive director of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. Appointed in the spring of 2017, Mr. Moore is responsible for overseeing the stewardship of the City’s 262 parks, 51 recreation centers, 170 athletic fields, 120 playgrounds, 110 tennis courts, 101 basketball courts, 12 neighborhood pools, six large swimming pools, three indoor pools, and two splash pads. He also administers over 700 full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff of 10 divisions within the agency.

After attending Georgia College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, Moore then went on to obtain a Master of Public Administration from Georgia College & State University. Currently, he attends the Concordia University of Chicago to obtain his Ph.D. in Sports Administration with a concentration in Recreation. In addition, he has obtained the following certifications: Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (National Recreation and Parks Association); Certified Financial Officer (University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute); and Certified Youth Sports Administration (National Youth Sports Alliance).

Reginald was recently inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administrators and served as a board member for the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials.

Reginald’s mission is to build healthy communities through people, parks, and programs, that will benefit all park visitors for generations to come. He is a strong believer in quality customer service, responsive government, and the preservation of quality parks and recreational facilities. Director Moore continues to use his 23 years of local government experience to raise the bar for communities.

Alison Perkins-Cohen, Chief of Staff, Baltimore City Schools
Alison Perkins-Cohen was appointed to the Chief of Staff position by the Baltimore City School Board on July 1,2016, at the recommendation of Dr. Sonja Santelises. As Chief of Staff, Ms. Perkins-Cohen works closely with the CEO and oversees the day-to-day operations of the district and major district initiatives. Prior to this position, she served as Executive Director of New Initiatives at Baltimore City Public Schools, leading major work at the district, including management of the district’s portfolio of schools, annual evaluations of school performance, and analysis of the district’s school funding framework. She also oversaw the district’s 40 operator-run schools and guided the creation of new schools. Under former CEO Andres Alonso, Alison led the development of the district’s 21st -Century Buildings Plan to provide all students with modern, up-to-date school buildings.

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