Title
Accepting a scholarship of travel expenses from The Knight Foundation for Shaina Abraham to attend the National Recreation and Park Association annual conference on Sep 27, 2026-Oct 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
Body
WHEREAS, The Knight Foundation and the William Penn Foundation launched Grounds for Expression <https://williampennfoundation.org/news/grounds-expression-public-space-participation-democracy>, a joint initiative exploring the relationship between public space, civic participation and democracy. Inspired in part by a series of essays by William Penn Foundation Executive Director Shawn McCaney, the initiative asks us to think of parks, plazas, libraries and other shared spaces not simply as amenities, but as places where people gather, connect, express themselves and participate in civic life, and;
WHEREAS, Shaina Abraham has been recommended to attend the National Recreation and Park Association annual conference; and
WHEREAS, The Knight Foundation has offered to cover travel expenses and lodging for Shaina Abraham to attend said conference; and
WHEREAS, attendance will expose park and recreation leaders from across the country and learning from the work happening in communities represented at NRPA to public realm best practices that they can bring back to Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that attendance at this convening is beneficial to the City as it creates opportunity for public officials, civic leaders, and changemakers from across the country to engage in leadership development, develop expertise, obtain practical knowledge, share successes, develop a professional network, and participated in conversations that will shape communities and impact the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council accepts the gift of travel expenses which will not exceed $3,000 for Shaina Abraham to attend the National Recreation and Park Association conference and thanks The Knight Foundation for their generosity.