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Message from Maggie
Two weeks ago, Pat O’Mara, Keisha, Savonta, Travis, Rember and I attended the NPRA conference in Philadelphia to earn CEUs, meet with potential vendors and most importantly, accept our award for earning CAPRA accreditation.
At our January 27, 2027 all-staff meeting, we will review what led to our success in earning this very prestigious certification, a designation earned by a total of 220 parks and recreation agencies across the United States. We will also go over the six standards that we did not meet and our plan to earn 100% compliance when we seek re-accreditation in 2031.
One of the conference highlights was an outstanding keynote from Shola Richards about what it means for an organization to have kindness as a business strategy. His main message was the following:
- Kindness is a competitive advantage. We do not have to choose between being kind and delivering results. Organizations that imbed kindness into their cultures gain trust, retention and resilience.
- Three strategic kindness pillars:
- Start within. Begin with self-kindness and self-care. You can’t give kindness to others if you don’t practice it on yourself.
- Just today. Take action now, even in small steps to shift the culture.
- Go first. Lead by example. Have difficult conversations when you need to confront destructive behaviors. Model the standards you expect of others.
- Practice kindness with a backbone. Care deeply about people and problems beyond your immediate circle. Choose empathy without letting people off the hook. Stand up against harmful behaviors even when it’s uncomfortable.
In a nutshell, I hope you all know that our PRC management team believes in Shola’s message that kindness is key in building high-performing, resilient cultures that deliver results while honoring people’s dignity and wellbeing.
Thank you for all you do to deliver excellent service for our organization and our customers.
Maggie
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Congratulations to Ryan Westrup!
We're excited to recognize Ryan as the September winner of our Kudos to You! employee recognition program. Here's what was shared in his nomination:
“I would like to recognize Ryan for his continued support, professionalism, and willingness to work together. Ryan has always been great to work with. Whenever I reach out with a question, request, or concern, he is willing to listen, offer guidance, and help however he can. Even when his team is short-staffed or dealing with their own challenges, he continues to be kind, supportive, and willing to find a way to help. We recently had a misunderstanding, and I really appreciated how quickly Ryan reached out and worked with me to clear things up. To me, that says a lot about the kind of teammate and leader he is. Although we work in different divisions, we are all part of the same department and working toward the same goal—providing the best service we can to the patrons who use our facilities. It takes all of us working together to make that happen, and Ryan is a great example of what that teamwork should look like.”
Congratulations, Ryan, and thank you for your outstanding contributions!
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Remember to Nominate a Peer for Kudos to You!
Don’t forget to submit your Kudos to You! forms to recognize a colleague’s great work! All submissions are entered into a monthly prize drawing.
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This month, we’re sending big birthday cheers to some of the amazing people who make our department so special. Join us in wishing a happy birthday to these incredible staff members!
Birthday formatting may look slightly different when viewed on a mobile device.
Note: If we’ve accidentally missed your birthday, please let us know! We want to make sure everyone gets the celebration they deserve.
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OCT-15
OCT-16
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OCT-31 |
Orlando Hernandez
Charlotte E. Tingey
Jeannette McNeal
Isidro Jimenez Hernandez
Maryliam J. Reyes
Ramond D. Jr White
William H. II Federson
Jason A. Ledet De Luna
Susan M. Jerrems
Eric S. Johnson
Kathryn R. (Kathy) Rouse
Ariel E. Thurton
Nijayah M. Wilson
Eduardo A. White Carrion
DeJuan O. Hazel
Sha'taiver K. (Tayah) Woods
Andy Muniz Rosales
Gabriel O. Durbin
Maddison G. Koehlmoos
Roderick J. Harvey
Silvia A. Geiger
Cathy A. Strand
David R. Lemmon
Marissa E Mondschein
Katelyn R. Blum
Romina G. Bellato
Josimar Cordoba Castillo
Abby N. Boland
Brian Antonio Villegas
Omar Rodriguez
Everett G. Gibson
Diego J. Trejo Santoyo
Elena G. Azcuy Cardenas
Aaron L. Franklin
De Cameron L. Wilson-Henderson
Robert S. Hussey
Liliana K. Perez
Anahi M. Lutt |
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 Las Vegas Book Festival This Weekend!
Date and Time: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. 4th Street
The Las Vegas Book Festival, celebrating its 25th year, is the largest literary event in Nevada, produced by the city of Las Vegas along with many sponsors and supporters. This festival includes a plethora of events and activities, including a day-long bazaar of books, authors, readings and workshops that are free and open to everyone in an effort to foster the growth and development of the literary community in the Las Vegas valley.
More details including full schedule is available https://lasvegasbookfestival.com/
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Barktober Fest was a Blast
Barktober Fest was a blast for pets and people alike! Dozens of four‑legged friends and their companions soaked up the sunshine at Veterans Memorial Community Center on Saturday, October 10. The festival buzzed with energy as pups strutted in costume, families enjoyed the crisp fall weather, and staff connected with community members. Becker Tech’s Kidcaster participants were on-site capturing candid moments and big smiles, helping document all the tail‑wagging fun.
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Cimarron Rose holds 1st Touch-A-Vehicle Event
Kudos to the team at Cimarron Rose for successfully partnering with the fire department to host their very first Touch‑A‑Vehicle event. Held on Thursday, October 8, the center welcomed community members of all ages to get an up‑close look at a wide range of service vehicles. From fire trucks and ambulances to cranes and dump trucks, attendees had a blast exploring the equipment, meeting the crews, and learning about the vital work these teams do every day.
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Trades Crew Refreshes Gazebos at Children’s Memorial Park
Shout out to the Trades Crew for recently repairing and repainting the gazebos at Children’s Memorial Park along Rainbow Road! Their work helps keep these spaces looking their best and ready for the community to enjoy.
Routine maintenance and repairs play an important role in preserving our park amenities and extending their useful life. Thanks to the crew’s hard work, these gazebos have a refreshed look and can continue to serve as welcoming spaces for park visitors.
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From Vision to Action:
A Creative Recreation Approach to Wellbeing and Goal Setting
Date: November 4, 2026
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm
Location: TBA
Description: "From Vision to Action" introduces a creative, low-cost programming approach that helps participants identify what matters to them, visualize their goals and translate ideas into meaningful next steps.
Participants will leave with a practical framework, sample goal-setting prompts, and ideas for adapting the experience to community programming, wellness, professional development, and other recreation settings.
For more information, contact Lakeisha Dickens at ldickens@lasvegasnevada.gov.
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Multigenerational magic is real! When people of all ages share the same spaces, our centers see bigger crowds, stronger community vibes, and a major lift in how folks experience our services. It’s proof that programming for every generation doesn’t just work — it sparks connection.
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We did it! We’re CAPRA accredited! 🏆
We loved seeing all the creative ways you chose to celebrate crossing the finish line together!
The celebration continues! Each site will receive CAPRA Accreditation pins for all full-time staff if you haven’t received yours already. Wear your pin with pride — you helped make this achievement possible!
Spread the word! Our Marketing team is working on accreditation signage for each of our facilities so we can proudly showcase this accomplishment throughout our department.
Relive the excitement! Check out our CAPRA celebration below to see how our team celebrated this major milestone.
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From left: Recreation Coordinator Kristen Carducci and Aquatics Coordinator Dave Lund with Mayor Shelley Berkley.
Celebrating PRC Employee Service Anniversaries
Congratulations to our PRC team members celebrating service anniversaries this year! Thank you for your dedication and the important role you play in Building Community to Make Life Better. We appreciate the time, talent, and care you bring to our department and the community we serve.
Photos from last week’s Employee Service Awards ceremonies are available to view and download for free at the link below. To download a photo, hover over the image, click the arrow in the lower-right corner, and open and save the downloaded file.
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 Adaptive Recreation Shines at Dula Community Center
Shout out to Jordyn Duncan and the Dula Community Center adaptive recreation team for creating an inclusive, welcoming environment through Beyond Recreation! From creative activities to fitness and eSports, the team helps participants build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. Recently, participants celebrated World Gratitude Day by creating a gratitude tree and sharing what brings them joy. Thank you to our adaptive recreation staff for making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve!
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If you've come across an article that you'd like to share with your peers or media coverage that features your facility or team, please send the link to PRCInitiatives@LasVegasNevada.GOV so we can share it with the department. |
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A special thank-you was received from Carolyn Levering, Emergency Manager with the Office of Emergency Management, recognizing PRC and PW for their participation in the Neon Wash EOC Activation exercise on October 5 and Shelter Activation exercise on October 6:
"I wanted to express my thanks to you both for your support of the Neon Wash EOC Activation exercise on Monday followed up by the Neon Wash Shelter Activation exercise yesterday.
Given the scenario, these exercises were about more than our traditional emergency response capabilities. In the EOC, your departments were called upon to request resources and fill those requests while keeping the Policy Group apprised of key operational details. In the field, we took over Chuck Minker Sports Complex and ran a very successful shelter exercise. Maggie, the exceptional customer service demonstrated by your team to the “victim” actors was noted by all participants as the key strength of the entire day...
Exercises like these are important to practice our preparedness and response capabilities internally. Equally important is the confidence it builds within our community as partner agencies and volunteer participants observe our progress. Thank you for your leadership and support."
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Our employees are iconic and the public agrees! See these messages we've received commending staff on a job well done. Names of the public have been omitted to respect privacy. |
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Quote that is Meaningful to Me |
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"Just be good and kind to your children. Not only are they the future of the world, they’re the ones who can sign you into a home." - Dennis Miller |
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