Laurence Hogg is the first person to hold the "program manager of community equity and inclusion" title in the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
The position was created in fall 2020, and Hogg filled it in November.
Hogg has been a Jefferson City resident since 2007 and most recently worked for Scholastic Inc. as a shift supervisor. Prior to that, he spent 12 years working for Lincoln University as a football coach, academic advisor, and employer and internship developer in the Career Center.
The position is intended to focus on making sure JC Parks programming is equitable and inclusive for the whole community.
Hogg said so far he has been working with the other program managers and department Director Todd Spalding to identify what's being done and what can be done.
"My job is to bridge the gaps between the programs and our community," he said.
That will mean a mixture of adjusting current programs as well as developing new ones. The position will to evolve as time goes on, Hogg said.
His time at LU introduced him to the Parks Department and Spalding, which is how he learned of the position. He said he wants to use the role to help the community by making programming accessible.
"I have a passion for helping youth and helping people in general," Hogg said. "That was one of the biggest things. I keep saying 'bridge the gaps,' but that's really what it's about - building bridges and bridging the gaps to let people know that they have opportunities here that they probably wouldn't even know exist."
Hogg wants to use the new position to make sure all residents, regardless of their circumstances, are aware of the opportunities within the Parks Department.
"I want to be one of the ambassadors for parks and rec within the community to let them know they are welcome here," he said. "We're going to be inclusive and engaging to all walks of life."
One of the first steps Hogg hopes to take is equipping the other program managers - who oversee areas including adult sports, youth sports, outdoor recreation and special events - and parks staff with the tools they need to make equitable and inclusive programming.
"So while each one is working independently, we're standing on the same foundation," Hogg said. "That would increase our reach in the community and who we're serving."
Hogg said he doesn't look at the effort as something he will do alone.
"I don't want this to be an independent thing, like this is all my idea," he said. "When you talk about diversity, equity and inclusion and how massive that could be - it's very overwhelming, and you kind of get discouraged."
The Parks Department is already on a good track, he said, but he hopes to help improve and grow. He said Spalding has encourage him to think outside the box and be creative to make sure all programming reflects the diversity of Jefferson City.
Hogg has also started developing relationships with community resources such as Building Community Bridges and the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City.
"We start with us first and be the change we want to see, then we can model the behavior to our children and our colleagues that we want to see going forward," Hogg said. "We are on par to incite a shift and a change for everyone, equally across the board. We're looking to be a staple within the community."