Updates

On May 15th, Portland voters have the chance to vote to renew the Portland Children’s Levy (Measure 26–197) and continue our funding for this important program. The Portland Children’s Levy was created by voters in 2002 and overwhelmingly renewed in both 2008 and 2013. In the 15 years since voters first approved the levy, over…

Her name is Chloe. She’s new here, just moved to Portland from Tampa. Her clothes don’t fit. Her hair is dirty and tangled. For lunch she carries around a long tube of Pringles or a bag of Hot Cheetos. She has a precious smile, a contagious laugh, and no friends. During recess on her first…

This is for you, the student who chose never to play. It is for you, the student who stood under his tree instead of kick a ball or run around the playground, who chose to be alone every recess, who chose never to speak. This is for you, the student who wouldn’t even go into…

It is raining outside, as it usually is in Oregon. Ella, a fifth grader, sits by herself against the wall at recess. She refuses to make eye contact with any of the kids running past her. She tells me she had to give a speech in class today, and it did not go well. She…

This is my third year as a Playworks AmeriCorps Coach. In my first two years as a coach I worked with over 1,000 students, and this year it will be even more. Most of the schools I have served have been in the neighborhood where I grew up. My first Playworks school was one that…

On Saturday, December 2, over 120 girls played at Playworks Pacific Northwest’s Basketball Jamboree—a tournament-style all-day basketball event that gives girls who have never played basketball the opportunity to participate. Blaze from the Portland Trail Blazers stopped by to get in on the action! View more photos here  

A Playworks Office In a Year of Service by PacNW AmeriCorps coaches   My punch card is 100 high-fives. My dress code is muddy shoes, stretchy pants, a whistle,  a smile, and this Playworks shirt. People shout in my office & you’re encouraged to throw things. My office changes with the weather. My office supplies…

Playworks, KGW and OnPoint Community Credit Union are Stepping up for Education in the Pacific Northwest.

Playworks was invited to celebrate and kickoff the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships with Vin Lanana and KGW’s Drew Carney. Playworks students had a once in a lifetime opportunity at the recent IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships here in Portland, Oregon. Fifty students from across the Portland metro area got to represent…