Stephanie Cornejo

About Stephanie Cornejo

I believe parks and public spaces are the heart of every community — places where people connect and thrive. For over 15 years, I’ve built a career turning that belief into action through placemaking, strategic planning, policy development, and collaborative project delivery in Fairfax County, Virginia and Miami-Dade County, Florida.As Long Range Planning Section Supervisor for the Fairfax County Park Authority, I lead a talented team of planners and landscape architects shaping the next generation of parks and open spaces. Our work blends vision with practicality — developing equitable policies, engaging communities, and creating spaces that reflect the people they serve.My experience also includes service on the National Recreation and Park Association’s Climate and Health Advisory Panel and as a CAPRA Review Team Volunteer, The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge Grant Selection Committee, and recognition as an O, Miami Poetry Festival Project Winner.With degrees in Political Science from the University of Florida and Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, I’m motivated by collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to improving quality of life for people. You can find me in my element creating strategies, leading impactful civic engagement, improving project delivery, and balancing multi-faced collaboration to lay the groundwork for continued success.

Experience

1. Long Range Planning Section Supervisor

   Fairfax County Park Authority

   Dec 2021 — Present

   Leads a multi-disciplinary team of landscape architects and park planners; fosters a work environment where team members can provide their best work and grow, as well as execute the Park Authority’s planning work plan.• Project manager for the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access (PROSA) Strategy, which provides a framework for equitable access to parks including identifying the 10-miunte walk access, evaluating park experiences, analyzing habitat connectivity, and prioritizing recreation needs and projects with an equity lens.• Leads implementation of the PROSA Strategy including project recommendations for bond and capital improvement funding, increase tree canopy at park sites, identify key park acquisition areas, and increase walk access to parks.• Develops and implements consensus-building recommendations to improve processes and collaboration across the team, such as improvements the park planning process.• Enhances team meeting topics to create a collaborative environment, meet staff and project needs, and facilitates discussions which improved community outreach techniques and decrease the overall project timeline.• Coaches team members through weekly one-on-one meetings, biweekly staff-building team meetings, and charrette/collaboration sessions, and to inspire their best work.• Supported the CAPRA re-accreditation process for Chapters 2 and 10 pertaining to park planning.• Reviews, analyzes, and presents long range technical data to a variety of staff and stakeholders.• Advises on and implements public engagement strategies in line with One Fairfax and equity principles.• Prepares and presents presentations for senior leadership, stakeholders, and the Park Authority Board.

Skills

• Event Planning
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Non-Profits
• Microsoft Office
• Politics
• Constant Contact
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Strategic Planning
• Newsletters
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Volgisitcs
• Languages
• Sustainability
• Policy
• Environmental Awareness
• Youth Development
• Strategic Communications
• Program Management
• Research
• Public Policy
• Volunteering
• Grants
• Fundraising
• Editing
• Event Management
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Public Relations
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Education
• Public Speaking
• Facebook
• Volunteer Management