Greater Newark / Greater New York Staff
The key to our success is the incredible enthusiasm and dedication of the Playworks staff. Meet some of the people who are bringing play to Newark. 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.
Adeola "Ola" Whitney
As the executive director or Playworks in the Greater Newark area, Ola is the senior staff person responsible for managing all aspect of our programs. This includes hiring and managing a dynamic team, program delivery in schools, and identifying and attracting various funding sources to support our programs. Prior to joining the Playworks team, Ola managed educational centers with Kaplan, worked as dean of students for a charter school in Harlem and worked as a program manager with McGraw Hill to help provide students with tools to succeed. Ola is committed to impacting the lives of children in Greater Newark. In her spare time, you can find Ola playing four square with her two sons.
Lucie Carlino
This is Lucie’s second year with Playworks! Prior to this role Lucie was the AmeriCorps VISTA community engagement coordinator with Playworks Newark. Lucie has worked extensively with other nonprofit organizations and is thrilled to be working at Playworks. Lucie is happy to work with an organization that focuses on children’s physical activity because she is also passionate about active play. Throughout this year, Lucie will continue to organize and coordinate fundraising activities. In Lucie's spare time, you can find her on the tennis court, collecting vinyl records and playing practical jokes.
Melba Colino
As program associate for Playworks in the Greater Newark area, Melba is responsible for managing all aspects the AmeriCorps program. This includes identifying local volunteer projects for our program coordinators, as well as acclimating the program coordinators to Playworks, during their onboarding process. She is also responsible for managing day to day administrative tasks in the Newark office. In the past, Melba has worked as an office manager for a major development company in Newark, and has also supported and managed employees as an assistant manager of a bank. In her off time, Melba enjoys playing football. Watch out because she can throw!
LaQuin Lay
LaQuin Lay currently works as a program manager in Newark, New Jersey. Prior to this position, LaQuin spent two years as a program coordinator (PC) acting as a facilitator of play in Newark. In this position, LaQuin helped expand play in Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, and Newark. LaQuin has also taken an interest in coordinating special events to not only involve the children he coached, but parents and educators as well. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. LaQuin previously taught music in Boston Public Schools and the Boy’s Club of New York. He is also a musician and recording artist performing in New York and New Jersey as well as performing on local New York TV. As a program manager, LaQuin is excited to share knowledge obtained during his time as a PC and to expand the power of play in Newark and beyond.
Calvet Liburd Jr.
Calvet Liburd Jr. spent a year as a program coordinator in Baltimore and then two years as a program manager and one year as a program director in
Thai Luong
As Playworks program manager, Thai will be working to both manage and support the program coordinators wthin Newark and Roselle to ensure our programs are running smoothly. His previous experiences has been mostly in China as a teacher and a business development manager. Having been an athlete throughout high school and college, Thai knows first hand the importance of play and how it can impacts one's life. Some favorite pastimes include, football, snowboarding, biking, and the list goes on and on.
