Women in Leadership is curated by Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives in collaboration with The Savoy Group. Designed to bring women together to connect, learn, and lead with purpose. This series creates intentional space for dialogue, growth, and community among woman at every stage of their leadership journey.
This year’s Women in Leadership Series introduces Legacy in Motion, centering women who lead with intention, influence, and authenticity. The series invites participants to reflect deeply, embrace their lived experiences, and step fully into their identities as leaders—fostering wholeness, healing holistically, and building confidence and community.
Through intentional dialogue and shared growth, attendees will explore what it truly means to be whole as a leader—serving themselves and others with purpose while transforming personal insight into leadership that moves forward and leaves a lasting legacy.
In today’s world, women face unique challenges and opportunities, navigating complex professional and personal landscapes with resilience and courage. This series provides a space to honor those experiences, strengthen collective empowerment, and inspire each woman to lead boldly, with heart, and with a vision that uplifts both herself and her community.
Leadership growth doesn't stop at our sessions. Explore these resources to continue learning, reflecting, and leading with confidence.
II must tell you – I love being a woman! And I have long felt blessed to have been born in a time when women have so many opportunities and choices that even my own mother never had. Yet of all the barriers women still face, one of the biggest is a lack of self-confidence and belief in our own worth.
It is with genuine joy and deep pride that I share our continued commitment to “Professionalizing Play” — not just as a guiding principle for DPR, but as a reflection of who we are as women leading, serving, and shaping this agency every day.
As part of Deputy Director Ashley Williams’ Women in Leadership Series: Legacy In Motion, this conversation is more than a professional development opportunity. It is a space created intentionally for women who work hard, who show up with heart, and who may still be carving out their place in leadership. It is a reminder that your voice, your journey, and your growth matter.
Professionalizing play means honoring the truth that our work is powerful. It means leading with purpose, operating with excellence, and ensuring that every playground, program, and partnership reflects the highest standards of service, equity, and innovation. Through this series, we will highlight leadership practices that uplift women, strengthen our workforce, and reinforce DPR’s role as a national model in public service.
Legacy is not something we stumble into — it is something we build, step by step, choice by choice. Whether you are already leading teams or still discovering your leadership style, you are part of that legacy. I encourage you to lean into this dialogue, embrace your growth, and recognize the impact you bring to our department and the communities we serve.
Together, we are not only shaping programs — we are shaping futures, including our own.
Be Great,
Thennie M. Freeman
Director
Department of Parks and Recreation
