PTNY Partner Spotlight: Yolanda Bostic Williams, Special Assistant for Legislative and Community Affairs at NYS Parks
“The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is committed to telling the complete story of our state’s history. We need to reexamine, uncover and affirm the role that people of color played in creating our iconic park and historic site system. By telling the full story—including those of indigenous peoples and the LGBTQIA community - we can foster an environment that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone.”
Yolanda’s passion for the outdoors, community engagement, and our park system is palpable because it is at the core of who she is and reflective of the positive experiences she had as a child with her family in nature. She grew up in Peekskill, N.Y. and has vivid memories of enjoying the outdoors.Whether it was learning to ice skate with her grandfather or celebrating Mother’s Day with her extended family, time at Bear Mountain State Park was always well spent. Her grandparents were both from West Virginia and she grew up experiencing the phenomenal beauty of the mountains, rapids and farmlands of “Almost Heaven, West Virginia.”
She also has fond memories of Niagara Falls State Park, where she would spend time while earning her degree from Niagara University.“The power of the water is awe-inspiring. No matter where you are in the park you can hear the Falls and connect with nature. It helps to put life in perspective and strengthens the idea that we need to protect our natural places for the future,” she reminisces.
These formative experiences set the stage for a career in environmental conservation, enabling her to share her joy in nature.
After college and some brief forays into hospitality management, Yolanda secured a position at the New York State Assembly where she was a policy analyst for a variety of committees, including parks and tourism. After 20 years of deep dives into the State’s environmental policies, Yolanda was appointed to her current position nearly a year ago.Her experience, combined with her passion for the outdoors, knowledge of environmental justice concerns, and, perhaps most importantly, life experiences as a person of color, make her an ideal candidate for connecting with various communities and advancing the agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goals.
One of the methods Yolanda is pursuing to increase diversity within the park system is working with several of her colleagues to recruit more young people of color into seasonal and full-time staffing positions. She also wants to expand the opportunities youth have to engage with the outdoors and hopes to build upon the already successful Connect Kids to Parks Program. “Exposing children to the beauty and excitement of nature and historic sites will enrich their lives and hopefully instill a desire for stewardship. It was formative for me, and I know it will be for others too,” says Yolanda.
Like many of us, the Coronavirus pandemic interrupted many of Yolanda’s initial community engagement plans. However, that has not stopped her from adapting and moving forward to inform residents about the amenities and inherent value of our public spaces. This summer she focused on making connections with faith-based organizations, predominantly in local Black and Brown communities, to educate and encourage people to take advantage of the benefits of the State’s green spaces and cultural sites.
“As a key mission of OPRHP, I want to encourage folks to get outdoors and experience the ways it fortifies you. It is good for the soul, promotes better health, provides solace, relaxation, and beauty. But, most importantly, I want to convey that parks and historic sites are for all of us and to improve access to those who identify as Black, indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and all people of color. The world, like our park system, is a diverse place, and we all have a right to access.”
Yolanda knows that this is a monumental task, but she is not deterred, partly because she knows she has the support of OPRHP, Friends Groups, and partners like PTNY, but also because she has a personal connection to and passion for the work. “I want to do well and make people proud. I have to be exceptional in what I do and be a beacon for other people of color to know they are welcome outdoors and to not be afraid.”
Yolanda’s transformative goals will require expanding educational resources and connecting with local communities, which is why she is looking to Friends Groups to share their “boots on the ground” expertise. As the state continues to gain control of the Coronavirus, she is looking forward to meeting more Friends in person when the time allows.
“I look forward to working with the Parks team to build further relationships with the Friends Groups. We need to examine what is working and what can be improved regarding diversity and inclusion, their program efforts, and what aligns with Commissioner’s DEI goals. They have such an important perspective to share, and I’m listening,” notes Yolanda.
She recognizes the important role Friends play in supporting parks and executing critical tasks with limited budgets. According to Yolanda, as environmental and historic stewards, Friends groups provide “phenomenal programming,” champion local sites, support OPRHP’s goals and, perhaps most importantly, “engage their communities in ways that others cannot, promoting their sites and fostering engagement and excitement. Friends are an extremely important asset that are greatly appreciated.”
Yolanda describes Friends groups as brilliant idea generators, fundraisers, and energizers in their community. “The park and historic system would simply not be the same without them and I want to do my part to increase awareness around the crucial work they do.”
PTNY is committed to supporting Yolanda and ensuring that she achieves both her personal and professional goals, as they dovetail perfectly with our core mission of making the outdoors accessible for all. With Yolanda and the Parks team championing this work, and those of Friends across the state, we are more hopeful than ever that the future of New York State Parks is inclusive and bright.