ELK GROVE/GALT, CA (MPG) - July is National Park & Recreation Month, and we’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on the incredible people that maintain our programs, parks and services.

This week, we spoke with Yadira Barrera, Cosumnes Community Services District’s RAD & Enrichment Coordinator, to learn what “The Power of Parks & Rec” means to her:

“Parks & recreation is very important to me because I didn’t have too many recreational opportunities growing up, but I always felt the need and the want to be involved. Growing up I was always into leadership, and I knew that giving back to the community is what I wanted to do. I just didn’t know how. So that was the struggle: trying to choose a career path, thinking, ‘What am I going to do? How am I going to give back to the community?’

In college, I learned about the different Recreation majors, and I found out that I can give back to the community through play, through inclusion, through belonging. It confirmed, without a doubt, that’s what I wanted to do. I fell in love with it, and I kept falling more and more in love – with the community, with giving back, with being a part of something bigger than myself. 

What I hope that the community gets out of my work is the ability to see themselves in the community. I hope that they are able to find a place where they belong, create friendships and know that we are here for them. 

I’ve seen those moments where someone comes into our room super nervous, and they share with us that this is something outside of their comfort zone. They’re trying something new, they’re not sure if they’re going to like it, but before you know it, they’re coming back with a smile on their face. We hear those stories all the time – that RAD is something they’re looking forward to, somewhere they feel welcomed, included, valued for who they are...and, most powerfully to me, they feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.”

Want to hear more from Yad? Watch her video interview on Instagram @cosumnesparkrec or Facebook @CosumnesParkRec to learn about “the power of belonging.”