playworks

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Corporate Recess Higher productivity. Better communication. More creativity. Let’s take your team to the next level. What is Corporate Recess? Corporate Recess is a way for companies to improve engagement and wellness within their organization by using the power of play. Through a selection of different targeted workshops, we infuse playfulness and fun into the…

Q&A with Samuel Follansbee In one word, how would your friends, family, or colleagues describe you? Sincere When, where, and what was the first place you ever participated as volunteer? When I was very young, I used to accompany my parents as they delivered meals to sick people in our parish. However, my first true…

“I use my service as a way to connect with children and let them know I am on their side.” I chose to become a Playworks Coach and an AmeriCorps Member because I wanted to make a difference. Every morning when I wake up, I am excited and eager because I know I can help…

“Two years ago, I started a journey.” A Baltimore, Maryland native, I’ve always dreamed of living in the city of Philadelphia. I have also always had a passion for helping the youth of America. Fortunately, as a result of AmeriCorps, these dreams were made possible. In the summer of 2015, Playworks was recruiting for the 2015-2016 school…

Volunteer Turned Coach “Even when times get hard, I find myself never giving up. Rather, I make the situation positive and make new friends in the process.” Beginning in 11th grade, I was inspired by several life experiences to become an elementary school teacher. As I grew older and gained experience coaching, working at summer camps, and…

This year more than 200 fourth and fifth graders across Philadelphia participated in Playworks' Junior Coach program. Our Junior Coaches train four days a week after school on topics such as conflict resolution, leading recess games, and public speaking. They receive homework help and participate in literacy projects and social/cognitive skills building. Junior Coaches play a leadership role in creating a safe and inclusive recess and learning environment…

  Organizations are working with city schools to make the most of playtime, which experts say leads to benefits in the classroom. The School District of Philadelphia doesn’t track which schools provide recess–it is recommended but not mandated as part of the elementary school schedule–and could not provide any information about the state of schoolyards.…

Playworks is proud to be a recipient of the 2015 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. “We are excited to be named a Top-Rated 2015 Nonprofit,” says Jill Vialet, Playworks’ CEO and Founder, “The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that Playworks…