Baltimore Staff
The key to our success is the incredible enthusiasm and dedication of the Playworks staff. Please note: Our direct school programs are led by the efforts of our program coordinators in each school in each of the cities we serve. While they are too numerous to list here, they are essential to the success of the program.
Meet some of the people who are bringing play to Baltimore:
Jessica Kohnen Karaska
Jessica Kohnen Karaska has been part of the Playworks Baltimore team since October, 2009. Before joining Playworks, Jessica worked at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore's Safe and Sound Campaign, and the Family League of Baltimore. She is a proud citizen of Baltimore city and is committed to the vision that every child in Baltimore will have the opportunity to play safely every day. Jessica is a graduate of Vassar College and holds a Masters of Public Administration from NYU's Wagner School of Public Service. Jessica's son, Patrick, attends a Baltimore City School and reports that his favorite subject is recess!
Neetu Agrawal
Neetu “knee-2” Agrawal came to Playworks after completing one year of AmeriCorps as a Community Service Learning Fellow for youth and families with The Choice Program in Baltimore City. Before that, she spent a year spreading her love for games and languages to students in Costa Rica and France. Combining her passion for play and service, Neetu supports overall operations for Playworks Baltimore and assists its AmeriCorps members complete their year of service in Baltimore City elementary schools. Having thought playtime was over outside of camp and college, Neetu is grateful for Playworks and its movement to energize education on and off the playground. Favorite recess game: 4-square! Favorite game off the playground: Psychiatrist! Carpe Diem and GO TERPS!!!
Amanda Gambill
Amanda Gambill joined the Playworks team as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in April, 2010 . After her year of service, she moved into her current role as Baltimore's development associate. Her energy and enthusiasm for service and play is contagious, making it impossible for donors to not join the movement of play. Playworks vision of ensuring that every child in America will have a chance to play everyday is her daily driving force to support the Playworks program. The Baltimore staff is a part of her family, who she looks forward to supporting recess with everyday. Amanda is currently in the process of buying her first home in the Fells Point neighborhood. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, her book club, time with family and enjoys eating delicious Maryland crabs. Laughing, dancing and playing are essential parts of her daily life!
Sean Keelan
Sean Keelan began with Playworks in 2011 as a mid-year hire program coordinator in Baltimore. His commitment to Youth Development and love for the game have quickly propelled him into his current role as program manager. Sean is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art with a Masters in Community Arts and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting. Sean looks forward to sharing his creativity and innovation with the entire Playworks team.
Honour McClellan
Honour McClellan was a launch year program coordinator and program manager in Baltimore before moving into her current role. As program director, Honour manages three program managers, participates in curriculum development, and facilitates staff and teacher trainings. As a mother, Honour understands the power of play and is thrilled to be sharing it with all the kids in Baltimore City Public Schools.
Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy graduated from the University of Maryland - College Park in 2007. He is a Maryland native, growing up in Frederick, where he has coached a summer swim team for several years. After serving for two years as an AmeriCorps member he is now looking forward to assisting and supporting the program coordinators as a program manager. Ryan is also continuing his education at the graduate level at Goucher College in the field of Athletic Administration and Leadership. His favorite recess games are bridgeball and kickball. Along with being an avid Baltimore Orioles fan he closely follows the Maryland Terrapins and you can find him at all the home football games on Saturdays in the fall.
Angel "An(hel)" Torres
Angel Torres graduated from Temple University in 2008 with a Sports and Recreation Management degree. After he graduated, he knew he wanted to work with urban youth using sports as a tool to engage them, but he didn’t know where to start. He then found Playworks! He joined the Baltimore team as a Program Coordinator (Coach Torres!) in August 2008, and was promoted to Program Manager in June 2010. Angel is now fulfilling his dream of providing safe and healthy play to young people by helping 9 Program Coordinators in Baltimore run stellar programs at their schools. His favorite recess game is four square, and he has mad ping pong skills too!
