Summary

The Hispanic Professionals in Parks and Recreation (HPPR) program provides professional development opportunities through creating a one-on-one mentoring environment. The goal is to have each partner share knowledge and ideas, and less experienced participants gain expertise and build a professional network. Mentors are paired with mentees by association (college, experience), interests, and geographic region. The mentor and mentee determine the length of the formal relationship.

Timeline

  • February 18, 2025

    o Solicitation of interest for the 2025 Mentoring Program

    • March 17, 2025

    o Announcement of Mentor/Mentee Pairs made.

    • April 2, 2025

    o HPPR Mentorship Program begins

    • September 18, 2025

    o Mentorship ends

Eligibility

Mentees:

  • Should be members of HPPR.
  • Must be willing to commit time to the Mentorship Program.
  • Must be employed (or actively seeking employment) or be a student in the parks and recreation field.
  • Should participate in their local or state parks and recreation association.
  • Must complete and submit the online Mentee Application.

Mentors:

  • Should be members of HPPR
  • Must be willing to commit time to the Mentorship Program.
  • Must have significant experience in the parks and recreation field.
  • Should participate in their local or state parks and recreation association.
  • Must complete and submit the online Mentor Application.

Application process

  • Enrollment will occur during open recruitment for the program.
  • Applications will be available on the HPRR Website and announced on the official Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
  • After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed by the committee and Mentors/Mentees will be matched.

Matching Mentors with Mentees

  • Matching Mentors with Mentees may be based on such factors such as: mutual areas of professional interest, schedules, geographic location, etc.
  • Interviews or follow-up calls by the committee may occur with the Mentor/Mentee applicants to clarify areas of interest and the commitment level of participants.
  • Assignment will be made by the committee and information will be sent out to each Mentor/Mentee.
  • A date by which Mentors/Mentees should contact one another will be established annually.

Switching Mentors/Mentees

  • If a Mentor or a Mentee feels uncomfortable with their match, they should direct their comments to the Chair of the Mentoring Committee.
  • The Chair will first attempt to work with the respective Mentor/Mentee to identify how to make the match work.
  • If unsuccessful, the Chair will work to find a new Mentor for the Mentee and vice versa.

Please email all applications to [email protected].

Testimonials

“I had the pleasure of participating in Hispanic Professionals in Parks and Recreation Mentorship Program with my mentor, Chris Nunes. It has been an extremely rewarding experience during which I felt understood and supported by my Mentor. I was able to navigate both professional challenges and personal dilemmas with his wisdom and compassion. He provided invaluable guidance by listening to me and sharing his own experiences.”

Tam Castillo, CPRP, PMP, PMI-ACP
Project Manager
Information Technology Services Division
Department of Parks and Recreation

HPPR
Menu