A Year of Service with AmeriCorps for our National Park
by Sidney McCarty , NPP AmeriCorps VISTA, 2020-2021
AmeriCorps VISTA is a National Service organization that connects individuals looking to serve their communities with base organizations who need extra hands on deck in order to fulfill their mission. As an Americorps Vista, I, Sidney McCarty, joined National Park Partners in July in order to complete the following goal as defined by my service plan:
This project focuses on increasing access to the National Parks located in and around underserved communities in the greater Chattanooga area; and raising awareness of National Park Partners projects and programs in order to promote healthy living and jobs in national parks and the communities that surround them.
When first beginning my service a year ago, I had a rather vague idea of what work would go into accomplishing this mission with NPP. In the months since I’ve collaborated with members of the Chattanooga community as well as the board and employees of National Park Partners to expand NPP’s capacity for outreach. More than anything, I’ve found myself humbled by the work members of the Chattanooga community do to expand access to the outdoors and challenged by the barriers faced by people every day when considering exploring their public lands.
According to the Rocky Mountain Research center, access to the outdoors is often strictly delineated along lines of race and socioeconomic class. Consider the following data points they interpreted from the 2010 census:
“Blacks or African Americans, who make up about 13 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for about 1 percent of national forest visits. Hispanics or Latinos, who make up about 17 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for less than 6 percent of national forest visits. Non-Hispanic whites, who make up about 63 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for well over 90 percent of national forest visits (Rocky Mountain Research Center)”
These data points highlight the ways in which “free” access to the outdoors is not always easily available to all communities, an equity issue well known to many organizations in Chattanooga. In my time with National Park Partners, I’ve had the honor of learning from organizers across Chattanooga with a wealth of experience regarding equity in public spaces, including (but certainly not limited to) Greenspaces, Glass House Collective, and regional organizations such as SouthArts. With every meeting, webinar, and Zoom I’ve attended, the more grateful I have become for those who work every day to create a better Chattanooga. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to become more educated and closely engaged with the issue of outdoor equity.
National Park Partners is an organization dedicated, among other things, to connecting people to their National Parks across Chattanooga. As we pursue that goal, it’s important that we do so with all potential visitors in mind, a concept NPP has shown a sincere dedication to throughout my time with them. With their help, I’ve been supported in attending conferences, creating projects, and editing protocols such that our national parks may serve every community in the highest capacity possible. Through my VISTA Stewards position, we’ve worked to define methods for developing outreach, resources, and programs that help address the issue of unequal access to the outdoors. Our process is centered on listening first, followed by the research and actions necessary to bring those plans to life. As my service comes to an end, I greatly appreciate what I’ve learned - yet I also feel the gravity of the important work still to be completed.
Every individual deserves access to the outdoors and the well-known health benefits that come from engaging with open spaces and the natural world. However, the impacts of cultural and systemic racism and ableism result in the challenges to everyone feeling welcome and comfortable in our national parks that we see today. It is only through concerted, dedicated attention to this issue, and through programs created by and for BIPOC individuals, that access may become more freely available to all.
My tenure at National Park Partners has provided me the time and resources to learn about these issues from those most affected by them and to begin working against the systemic obstacles standing in the way of equal access for all. I know many in the Chattanooga community have undertaken this work for a long time and will continue their efforts far beyond my service. This effort may never truly be finished, but we can and must do better. As I prepare to leave, I wish only to echo my thanks and thanks and thanks again, for all those who have helped me to learn, grow, and face the issues ahead in the strongest possible light.
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Read more of Sidney’s blog posts during their tenure with us, here and here. We are so grateful for Sidney’s service and assistance with a multitude of projects this past year including a hefty clean up of the Pennsylvania Reservation Connector Trail in Glass Farm, grant research and groundwork to help us launch a Hikes For Healing pilot program in the coming year, and countless social media graphics that help create awareness so more people know about our work and these amazing National Park places that shape our city!