CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Marketing and Communications

  • Acevedo, J.C. (October 2025). Strategies to Improve Recreation Service Delivery to Underserved Populations. Webinar to be presented for the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C. (July, 2025). Local Trends in Marketing Public Leisure Services. Webinar presented for World Urban Parks, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C.(November 2024). Diversity Marketing in Parks and Recreation. Webinar presented for the Florida Recreation and Park Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C.(February, 2023). 8 Estrategias de Marketing para Promover tu Parque y Programas Recreativos. [8 Marketing Strategies to Promote Your Park and Recreation Programs]. Stra Podcast recorded for the Asociación Nacional de Parques y Recreación, Virtual, Yucatán, México.
  • Acevedo, J.C.(October, 2022). Diversity Marketing. Session presented for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C. ( October 2019). Social Media, Geofencing, & Digital Marketing. Session presented at Rotary Club of Wheeling
  • Acevedo, J.C. (September 2018). Diversity Marketing in Park and Recreation Session presented at the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Special Events Board Meeting.

Disability and Accessibility

  • Mishra., P., Pierre, P., Acevedo, J.C., & Labbe., D. (January 2026).  Everybody Moves. A Policy Scan of Disability and Diversity in Leisure. Session presented at the  IAPD/IPRA Souring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.Acevedo, J.C. & Stodolska, M., Herman, C., Mishra, P., &
  • Labbe, D. (October 2025). The Role of Recreation Agencies in Providing Leisure-Time Physical Activity Programs to African American and Latinx People with Disabilities. Session presented at the National Park and Recreation Association Conference, Orlando, Florida.
  • Labbé, D., Stodolska, M., Acevedo., J.C., Herman, C., Mishra P., & Macias-Martinez, J. (August 2025) “I sometimes feel like an outsider”: How Race, Ethnicity, and Disability Shape Leisure-Time Physical Activity. Session to be presented at the 18th World Leisure Congress, Breda, Netherlands.
  • Acevedo, J.C.  (October 2024). Web Accessibility and the American with Disabilities Act. Session presented at the National Park and Recreation Association Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Acevedo, J.C., Draper, T., Holan, K., & Stephenson, K. (January 2024). Web Accessibility and the American with Disabilities Act. Session presented at the  IAPD/IPRA Souring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
  • Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J. C., Herman, C., Mishra, P., Macias-Martinez, J, Labbe, D. (March 2025). Investigating Access to Leisure-Time Physical Activity for African American and Latinx People with Disabilities. Session presented at the Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS), Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Herman, C., Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J. C., Macias-Martinez, J, Labbe, D. (October 2024). Everybody Moves! Examining leisure time physical activity participation for people with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. Session presented at the Annual American Public Health Association Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Providing Services to Undeserved Populations

  • Stodolska, M., & Acevedo, J.C.  (October, 2024). Strategies to Improve and Expand Park and Recreation Service Delivery to Underserved Populations. Session presented at the National Park and Recreation Association Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. Rance, A., Perez, R., & Acevedo, J.C. (October 2023). Prosperar Juntos (Thrive Together) – Programing and Special Events for the Hispanic Community. Session presented at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference, Dallas, Texas.Acevedo, J.C. (February 2023). Park District’s Diversity Trainings to Improve Access to Underserved Populations. Session presented at the Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS), New Orleans, Louisiana.Stodolska, M., Anderson, T. K., Shinew, K. J., & Acevedo, J. C. (May, 2008). Differences in perceived access to and utilization of natural environments for recreation among Latino residents of two urban communities. Paper presented at the CCLR 12 – Canadian Congress on Leisure Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Acevedo, J.C. (April, 2008). Factors affecting the quality of life of Latino residents of urban immigrant gateway communities. Paper presented at the UIUC Undergraduate Research Symposium.Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., Acevedo, J. C., & Gobster, P. H. (April, 2008). In-depth examination of constraints on the use of urban parks for physical activity in Latino neighborhoods. Paper and poster presented at the Active Living Research Conference, Washington, D.C.Shinew, K. J., Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J. C., & Gobster, P. H. (April, 2008). The use of urban natural areas in Latino neighborhoods as spaces for physical activity. Poster presented at the Active Living Research Conference, Washington, D.C.Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., & Acevedo. J. C. (April, 2008). Factors affecting the quality of life of Latino residents of urban immigrant gateway communities. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers Conference in Boston, MA.

Professional Development

  • Biedenstein, M., & Acevedo, J.C. (January 2026). Career Development Bootcamp – How To Improve and Standout. Session to be presented at the  IAPD/IPRA Souring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.Biedenstein, M., Herzing, H., & Acevedo, J.C. (October 2023). Conference 101: A crash course for new attendees. Session presented at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference, Dallas, Texas.Rivera-Guzman, E., Lopez, E., Cepeda, M., & Acevedo, J.C. (October 2023). What Is the Hispanic Professionals in Parks and Recreation Network? Session presented at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference, Dallas, TexasAcevedo, J.C. (February 2023). Park District’s Diversity Trainings to Improve Access to Underserved Populations. Session presented at the Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS), New Orleans, Louisiana.

Special Events

  • Rance, A., Perez, R., & Acevedo, J.C. (October 2023). Prosperar Juntos (Thrive Together) – Programing and Special Events for the Hispanic Community. Session presented at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference, Dallas, Texas.
  • Acevedo, JC., & Hamill, A. (January 2018). Event Exceeding Projected Attendance: How to Keep This From Happening to You. Session presented at the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts Soaring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Fear of Crime in Parks and Recreation

  • Roman, C., Stodolska, M., Yahner, J., Shinew, K.J., & Acevedo, J.C. (2012, October). Crime, physical activity, and outdoor recreation among Latino adolescents. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Anaheim, CA.
  • Stodolska, M., Roman, C., Shinew, K. J., Yahner, J., Acevedo, J.C. (2012, March). The effects of crime and victimization on physical activity and outdoor recreation among disadvantaged Latino youth. Poster presented at the Active Living Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Acevedo, J.C, Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., & Roman, C. (2011, November). Fear of crime and outdoor recreation among Latino urban youth. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Atlanta, GA.
  • Stodolska, M., Shinew, K.J., & Acevedo, J.C. (2011, April). Fear of crime and leisure experiences of adolescent Latino residents of urban communities. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers Conference in Seattle, WA.
  • Acevedo, J.C. (October, 2010). Cross-cultural examination of leisure among Mexicans in Guerrero and Midwest. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., Acevedo, J.C., & Roman, C. (September, 2010). Fear of crime and physical activity among Latino middle school students. Paper presented at the Salud America Scientific Summit, San Antonio, TX.
  • Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J.C., Shinew, K.J., & Izenstark, D. (October, 2009). Positive and negative aspects of parks in Latino neighborhoods. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J. C., & Shinew, K. J. (October, 2008). Fear of gang crime and recreation in Latino urban communities. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Baltimore, MA.

Other Topics

  • Phan, M., Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J.C. (2015, October). Health Eating and Leisure Among Mexican Immigrants in the U.S. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Acevedo, J.C., & Stodolska, M. (October, 2009). Empowerment, resistance and leisure among Latino student organizations. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT.

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Marketing and Communications

  • Acevedo, J.C. (March 2025) The Effectiveness of Marketing and Pricing Strategies in Park and Recreation to Increase Participation of Low-Income Ethnic and Racial Minorities. Session presented at the Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS), Pittsburgh, PA.Acevedo, J.C.  (October 2024). Multicultural Marketing – Strategies to Reach Ethnic and Racial Minorities. Session presented at the National Park and Recreation Association Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. Acevedo, J.C., & Cobbs, A. (April 2024). Marketing to a Diverse Community. Session presented at the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association Diversity Education Institute, Bolingbrook, Illinois.Acevedo, J.C., Holan, K., & Stephenson, K (January 2024).  Designing Marketing Strategies for Young Kids and “Younger” Seniors. Session presented at the IAPD/IPRA Souring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, IllinoisAcevedo, J.C. (September 2023). Diversity Marketing. Session presented at the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Conference, Plymouth, Minnesota.Acevedo, J.C. (February 2023). Diversity Marketing. Session presented at the Missouri Park and Recreation Association Conference, Lake Ozark, Missouri.Acevedo, J.C., Pasillas, J., Holan, K., Colucci, H., Ruiz, E., & Medina, L. (January, 2023). Diversity Marketing. Pre-Conference Workshop at the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts Soaring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.Acevedo, J.C., & Holan, K. (September 2022). Marketing a Diverse Community. Session presented Illinois Parks and Recreation Association Diversity Education Institute, Glenview, IllinoisAcevedo, J.C.(March, 2019). Marketing to and Serving Diverse Populations. Session presented at the Great Lakes Park Training Institute, Pokagon State Park, Angola, Indiana.Acevedo, J.C. (January 2019). Diversity Marketing in Parks and Recreation. Pre-Conference Workshop presented at the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts Soaring to New Heights Conference, Chicago, Illinois.Acevedo, J.C. (September 2018). Diversity Marketing in Park and Recreation Session presented at the National Recreation Park Association Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Accessibility and Equity

  • Acevedo, J.C., Stephenson, K., & Holan, K.  (March 2025). Web Accessibility and the American with Disabilities Act. Webinar presented for the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C.(January 2024). Strategies to Improve Recreation Service Delivery to Underserved Populations. Webinar presented for the Alabama Recreation and Park Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, J.C., (October 2023). The Many Faces of Hispanic Heritage.  Webinar presented for the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, Online Presentation.
  • Acevedo, JC. (July 2020) Park and Recreation Participation by Ethnic Minorities. Session presented at Rotary Club of Wheeling
  • Acevedo, J.C., & Stodolska, M. (October 2009). Empowerment, resistance, and leisure among Latino student organizations. Presentation at the Research Seminar, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois.
  • Stodolska, M., Acevedo, J.C., Shinew, K.J., & Izenstark, D. (April 2008). Perceptions of natural environments and park benefits among Latino residents of urban communities. Presentation at the Research Seminar, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois.

Professional Development

  • Acevedo, J.C.(November, 2022). Educación y Construcción de Capacidades en la Profesión de Parques. [Education and Capacity Building in the Parks Profession]. Podcast recorded for the World Urban Parks Conference, Monterrey, Mexico.
  • Acevedo, J.C. (October, 2021). Overcoming Language Barriers in the Workplace. Session presented at the Diversity Learning Institute, Wheaton, Illinois
  • Acevedo, JC. (November, 2020) Importance of networking in the professional world.  Online Panel Discussion presented to students at National Louis University.
  • Acevedo, JC. (August, 2020). Choosing communications as a career. Panel presentation. Online Panel Discussion presented to students at National Louis University.

Parks and Recreation Education

  • Acevedo, J.C.(November, 2022). Educación y Construcción de Capacidades en la Profesión de Parques. [Education and Capacity Building in the Parks Profession]. Podcast recorded for the World Urban Parks Conference, Monterrey, Mexico.
  • Acevedo, J.C. (October, 2021). Overcoming Language Barriers in the Workplace. Session presented at the Diversity Learning Institute, Wheaton, Illinois
  • Acevedo, JC. (November, 2020) Importance of networking in the professional world.  Online Panel Discussion presented to students at National Louis University.
  • Acevedo, JC. (August, 2020). Choosing communications as a career. Panel presentation. Online Panel Discussion presented to students at National Louis University.