"My favorite thing about working in parks and recreation is the fact that I am in the business of fun..."
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Name
Danielle Lawry
Employer
Lombard Park District
Position
Graphic Designer
Educational Background
I graduated from Illinois State University last May with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication and minor in Graphic Communications.
How long a member of IPRA?
I’ve been a member for just about 5 months.
Why is IPRA membership important to you?
IPRA is important to me because I am able to belong to a community of people with similar interests and careers.
Best thing about working in the field of parks and recreation?
My favorite thing about working in parks and recreation is the fact that I am in the business of fun. I love that parks and recreation promotes positive ideals like health, fitness, community and family.
In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing parks and recreation?
A big issue that I see facing parks and recreation is a lack of branding. Marketing positions are still relatively new and there are still a few park districts without this position. Even newer are graphic design positions. It is important to create a cohesive brand for park districts and park district entities. This assures that the image of the district is cohesive and clear. The brand needs to be consistent among all marketing platforms (i.e. website, print collateral, social media, customer service etc.).
What advice would you give a recent college graduate?
Get involved! Whether you have a job right out of college or not, keep yourself busy. Find a part-time job, volunteer, join a sports league, or organization and network with people. Be open to meeting people and putting yourself in situations that may not be comfortable to you. They say that finding a job is more about who you know than what you know!
Tell us a little known fact about you!
While working as the graphic designer for Illinois State Athletics, I had the chance to be Reggie Redbird at an event.
What was your path to a career in Parks & Recreation?
I started working for parks and recreation as a teenager. Almost 10 years ago I was hired as a lifeguard for my hometown Parks Department in Elgin. After four years as a lifeguard I switched to a summer camp counselor during my summer breaks. I stayed involved in recreation in college by working as the graphic designer for Illinois State Campus Recreation.
What is your favorite Parks and Recreation program you’ve been a part of?
My favorite experience in a parks and recreation program was being a camp counselor for four years. I enjoyed being in a role that allowed me to be a positive influence in kids’ lives. My favorite part of this program was meeting a camper named Cameron with a mild form of autism. We became very close and he inspired me more than I’ll ever be able to explain. Working with kids teaches you patience and acceptance.
Who do you admire, and why?
I can’t answer this question with a specific name because there are so many people that I admire. I’ll keep it broad and say that the people I admire are people who go out of their way to make someone’s life better. Kindness is a huge legacy to leave behind. I feel that I chose the right career path, because I have the opportunity to work with parks and recreation individuals that spend their careers and time trying to help other people enjoy life a little more.
Danielle Lawry
Employer
Lombard Park District
Position
Graphic Designer
Educational Background
I graduated from Illinois State University last May with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication and minor in Graphic Communications.
How long a member of IPRA?
I’ve been a member for just about 5 months.
Why is IPRA membership important to you?
IPRA is important to me because I am able to belong to a community of people with similar interests and careers.
Best thing about working in the field of parks and recreation?
My favorite thing about working in parks and recreation is the fact that I am in the business of fun. I love that parks and recreation promotes positive ideals like health, fitness, community and family.
In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing parks and recreation?
A big issue that I see facing parks and recreation is a lack of branding. Marketing positions are still relatively new and there are still a few park districts without this position. Even newer are graphic design positions. It is important to create a cohesive brand for park districts and park district entities. This assures that the image of the district is cohesive and clear. The brand needs to be consistent among all marketing platforms (i.e. website, print collateral, social media, customer service etc.).
What advice would you give a recent college graduate?
Get involved! Whether you have a job right out of college or not, keep yourself busy. Find a part-time job, volunteer, join a sports league, or organization and network with people. Be open to meeting people and putting yourself in situations that may not be comfortable to you. They say that finding a job is more about who you know than what you know!
Tell us a little known fact about you!
While working as the graphic designer for Illinois State Athletics, I had the chance to be Reggie Redbird at an event.
What was your path to a career in Parks & Recreation?
I started working for parks and recreation as a teenager. Almost 10 years ago I was hired as a lifeguard for my hometown Parks Department in Elgin. After four years as a lifeguard I switched to a summer camp counselor during my summer breaks. I stayed involved in recreation in college by working as the graphic designer for Illinois State Campus Recreation.
What is your favorite Parks and Recreation program you’ve been a part of?
My favorite experience in a parks and recreation program was being a camp counselor for four years. I enjoyed being in a role that allowed me to be a positive influence in kids’ lives. My favorite part of this program was meeting a camper named Cameron with a mild form of autism. We became very close and he inspired me more than I’ll ever be able to explain. Working with kids teaches you patience and acceptance.
Who do you admire, and why?
I can’t answer this question with a specific name because there are so many people that I admire. I’ll keep it broad and say that the people I admire are people who go out of their way to make someone’s life better. Kindness is a huge legacy to leave behind. I feel that I chose the right career path, because I have the opportunity to work with parks and recreation individuals that spend their careers and time trying to help other people enjoy life a little more.
