Elham Y. Ali - Public Doctoral Dissertation Seminar

​Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

​Time: 1:00–2:00pm ET / 10:00–11:00am PT

​Location: Virtual via Zoom. Link provided after registration

​Attendees: Open to the public

​Agenda: 30–40 minute presentation, followed by discussion and Q&A

​What helps local government department teams implement structural parks and recreation equity into everyday practice—and what gets in the way?

​Parks, recreation, open and green spaces are essential public health and climate resilience infrastructure. Yet, their benefits remain inequitably distributed across U.S. communities. Structural forces—like histories of redlining, racial segregation, and the anti-tax movement—continue to drive park inequity.

​Join Elham Y. Ali, MPH, PMP, a doctoral candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, as she shares findings from her dissertation research on parks and green space equity in local government. Learn how department motivations, internal organizational readiness conditions, and external pressures shape what department teams can actually do, as well as how equity shows up in policy and practice.

​This research aims to help the helpers: local government department teams in parks and recreation, sustainability, climate, environment, and related departments working toward healthier, more resilient, and equitable communities.

​Whether you participated in the study, work in local government, or care about equitable access to parks and green spaces, you’re warmly invited to listen, ask questions, and join the conversation.

​Learn more about the study: www.elhamyali.com/johns-hopkins-study