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Denver 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 Denver:

 

Andrea Woolley

Denver Executive Director
Playworks Denver

Andrea began her nonprofit career in 1999 going door to door raising funds and increasing awareness for the Rape Assistance and Awareness program. Falling in love with the nonprofit sector she realized that being an Executive Director was her highest professional aspiration. While working for The Gathering Place as the Assistant Director of Volunteers she began her master’s program in Nonprofit Management. Before graduating she became the Executive Director of a small nonprofit aimed at children’s health and education. She successfully managed that organization for over 3 years and continued her commitment to health as the ED of the Parkinson Association of the Rockies. Being Canadian Andrea loves hockey, is a huge kickball fan (coaches and plays), a marathon runner, and got 1st place in the 2009 Colorado Salsa State Open (after getting 2nd place in 08).

Zabeth Chacon

Program Manager
Playworks Denver

Zabeth Chacon is in her second year as program manager following two years at Playworks as a program coordinator. She has had the unique opportunity to implement the Playworks program in four states and in four different cities. Zabeth has over ten years of youth development experience and over five years of conflict resolution and group management experience. She will be learning the art of Wing Chun and trying to follow in the footsteps of the great Bruce Lee by being like water.

Angela Garcia-Alfaro

Program Associate
Playworks Denver

Angela is a graduate of Denver Public Schools and a reformed law student.  She serves as a representative on the Statewide Policy Council for her daughter's Headstart Program and is holistically passionate about education.  She is also in the process of being formless, shapeless, like water- and considers herself to be under the posthumous tutelage of Bruce Lee (along with Zabeth). WING CHUN- 'nuff said. Be water my friends, Ninjala.

Brad Riley

Program Manager
Playworks Denver
Brad "Coach B" Riley started working with youth as a middle school youth basketball coach in East Lansing, MI where he also spent his time running "little buddy basketball" camps for 3-6 yr olds. Brad joined Playworks as a Program Coordinator in 2007. During his 2 years as an AmeriCorps, he became an alum and sat on the Americorps Leadership Council. He lead various projects such as "beautification days" and the 2008 National All Corps Service day project in DC. Brad used his passion for working with youth to take it from the black top of the playground all the way to the White House (meeting Barack Obama twice), to the Edward Kennedy Serve America Act Bill Signing 2009, and a Washington Post article. More importantly, during his time in DC he was able to bring his passion for working with youth to the recess yard and into the schools and make a difference in the community as well as in the lives of parents, teachers, students, and families. He plans to continue to inspire youth as well as adults with Playworks and take play across the universe. Brad can honestly wake up every day say what some people may think: I LOVE THIS JOB!

 

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