Meet Coaches Aaron, Maria, & Savery!

  1. Updates
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Playworks started our partnership with AmeriCorps in 2004. Since then, we have received over $9 million dollars in funding support and 1,071 members have contributed almost 2 million hours of service.
 
This year, Playworks Pacific Northwest is proud to have 12 members serving with us at our partner school communities. They are committed to contributing more than 20,000 hours to service during the 2015-2016 school year.

Meet our AmeriCorps coaches! Coach Aaron, Coach Maria, and Coach Savery share with us the importance of service and what they have learned thus far.

Coach Aaron
Service is important to me because it is a chance for me to give back to the greater community. Service is also very important to me because of my parents. To me, being an AmeriCorps member means being part of a family. Through my service so far, I have loved the opportunity to work with very like-minded and dedicated individuals to create a stronger future for our society. I have also learned that the service we do helps many more than just the students we directly work with.
 
Coach Maria
I think that the service we provide really helps connect us to our various communities. As someone new to the Portland area, I came here not really knowing much about the people and the potential struggles they face. Through my current term, I've learned a lot about patience and understanding for young people who are going through a lot, as well as a greater appreciation for teachers as they are challenged with all sorts of behaviors and not enough funds to go around. 
 
Coach Savery
Service is important to me because it is an absolutely crucial component to one's personal growth and well-being. Without service, my soul would be longing for something that is otherwise unobtainable. What is great about AmeriCorps is that I am given the opportunity to serve communities in need.  I also get to build community with the many other talented individuals who have dedicated their time to help serve this great country.

Become a Playworks AmeriCorps Member:

 
 
 

More Updates


January 10, 2023

Understanding the Complex Simplicities of Play ›

Play is a behavior that is natural and has existed for thousands of years and across species. It combines a set of made-up rules or norms and a willingness to explore. Researchers, scientists, and doctors have studied the effects of play on kids–and adults–and understand that this natural behavior has tremendous benefits. As the American…

screenshot of video
screenshot of video

February 4, 2022

Believe in Me Foundation Visits with Playworks ›

Julie Wukelic, from the Believe in Me Foundation for Kids, visited with our ED Asia Wisecarver and SC Paige Evans last week. Playworks PacNW was recently rewarded with a $5,000 grant from the foundation. This grant will allow us to continue our work with schools in the Spokane area. We look forward to working with…

August 24, 2021

Playworks Founder Jill Vialet Publishes ‘Why Play Works’ ›

Play brings out the best in every kid. Over the course of 25 years since Jill Vialet founded Playworks, she and her colleagues, as well as researchers and play experts, have demonstrated precisely how and why play works to help kids learn and grow in the most positive and healthy ways. Jill gathered stories from people…