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Playworks’ Sam Mende-Wong, Myla Marks, Darcy Brown-Martin, and Quisqueya Rodriguez gather around to play a game of rock, paper, scissors.

November 7, 2012 – At the Playworks offices in Oakland, California, Jill Valet, the CEO and founder of Playworks, and her co-workers play a game of 4-square in the middle of the offices. Everyday from 3:15 pm-3:30 pm the staff has ‘recess.’

Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that transforms schools by providing play and physical activity at recess and throughout the school day. Through its on-site direct service and trainer-led professional development workshops, Playworks restores valuable teaching time, reduces bullying, increases physical activity and improves the school and learning environment.

Playworks’ mission is to improve the health and well-baeing of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Jill Vialet, the CEO and founder of Playworks, is a recipient of the 2013 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.