I grew up in a non-traditional household and remember being a 10-year-old girl who frequented my local recreation center every day. We didn’t have many recreation programming opportunities. It seemed like everything was geared towards the “boys,” especially sports. I wasn’t the most popular, my family didn’t have much, and because of my weight, I was teased a lot. Little did I know that the woman who became my mentor would persuade me to join an all-girls club.

Initially, I hated going to the weekly meetings because I was the new girl. There were only six of us, and we participated in everything the center offered. We were the pom-poms, cheerleaders, basketball, and powder puff football players. We went through various levels of bullying, teasing, and crying. It was at those trying times that my mentor instilled the values of self-esteem, moral support, and encouragement into all of us. Some of us would have never learned how to cook, learn formal table etiquette, or how to fill out any type of application. It was a needed intervention in the lives of young ladies who were at risk and may have lacked other sources of empowerment. Today, I am proud to say that our participation in that recreation program played a significant role in getting us where we are today as doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, educators, and park and recreation professionals. We beat the odds, and my passion for this profession derived from such a rewarding experience.

After the completion of undergraduate studies, I was eager to learn how I could put theory into practice and use all of the information learned to help me excel at the next level. My mentor was one of the co-founders of the girls’ initiative and offered me a leadership position within that program because it needed innovation, fresh energy, and young professional creativity. Initially, the most challenging task was getting people to buy in to change and move past how things were always done. As a leader, I had to set a clear vision, engage the team, and drive for high performance.

I encourage all young professionals to be role models for young program participants and be willing to encourage change. As young professionals, we can help promote the longevity of programs that have benefited us in the past. Great programs such as Young Ladies on the Rise can happen if you are willing to take a fresh perspective and step up to a leadership role. This is our role as young professionals in the field, to be innovative and encourage change in others. The Young Ladies on the Rise program is just one example of this.

In 2005, the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DCDPR) Young Ladies on the Rise program was created to implement quality programming for girls in our community. The program concentrates on social development, community service, health and nutrition, environmental conservation, and career development. Full-time staff and volunteers implement this program at their recreation centers daily. This is one of the most successful programs in the department. The purpose of the Young Ladies on the Rise program is to increase the participants’ self-esteem, promote their character development, and enhance their reasoning and coping skills. We provide experiences for peer interaction and social development with an emphasis on personal development through relevant workshops, socially stimulating field trips, conferences, and special events.

Our participants come from diverse communities, ethnicities, and social statuses throughout all eight wards of the District of Columbia. Participation is marketed through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as print marketing in recreation centers and schools. There is a strong focus on teens because research has proven that they are the most at risk. It is critical for park and recreation professionals and lawmakers to understand the interrelationship of program participation and decreased rates of at-risk activity. By encouraging participation in gender-based programs, we initiate a chain of positive outcomes for our young ladies. Several evaluation tools have been used, and according to our participants, these programs have improved school performance, as well as decreased levels of stress and depression. Many of them say they “need love and mentorship from positive female role models.”

The DCDPR has adopted the NRPA initiatives of Parks Build Communities and Conservation and has begun its Move, Grow, and Be Green Citywide Project. In compliance with this project, the Young Ladies on the Rise program has incorporated these themes in all of the programming.

■Move: The move component focuses on health and physical fitness. We encourage healthy lifestyles through healthy eating and lots of physical activity. Through this initiative, we also stress the importance of physical fitness, teamwork, fair play, and adherence to rules.

■Grow: The grow component is geared toward personal growth and development. Our workshops allow young ladies to talk about their feelings, fears, strengths, and weaknesses as well as their accomplishments in a safe environment. We encourage them to be proactive and take responsibility of their lives. The workshops expose them to life skills, conflict resolution, heritage, and cultural enrichment.

■Be Green: The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation has a robust role in sustainability and the environment. In an effort to save the earth and be more substantial, participants are encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We also incorporate eco-friendly concepts into workshops, activities, and field trips.

Tiffany Johnson, MPA, is Supervisory Recreation Specialist with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, Chair of the YLOR Girls’ Initiative, 2007 NRPA Mid-Atlantic Network Young Professional, 2010 American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration’s Ernest T. Atwell Young Professional Diversity Extern, 2011 Mid- Atlantic Network and National Recreation and Park Association New Professional Award recipient, and Chair-Elect of the National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society.