About Playworks New England
All kids deserve the social, emotional, and physical benefits of play. We help schools and youth programs create healthy play environments where every child can join in.
Meet Playworks New England
Founded in 1996, Playworks expanded to New England in 2006. Playworks New England serves low-income schools across the Boston, Lawrence, Salem, and Somerville area through our year-round, on-site support services. We’re also reaching thousands more students across New England through professional development workshops for schools and youth organizations.
Meet Our People


September 22, 2017
Jon Gay ›
Jonathan Gay has worked with Playworks since 2006 and is continually inspired by the power of play in education. Beginning as a program coordinator at an elementary school in East Boston, he has grown within the organization serving in such…


May 28, 2019
Rebeca Pazo ›
Rebeca Pazo is a veteran Playworker. Prior to becoming a program director, Rebeca was a program manager for four years. Before that, she worked as a program coordinator for three years at a bilingual school in the Boston area. One…


September 22, 2017
Stephon Lilly ›
Stephon Lilly has over ten years of experience working with children and adults who care for children. Stephon Joined Playworks in 2015 as an AmeriCorps coach and launched programming at the Sarah Greenwood Elementary School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was born and…