About Playworks Southern California
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 Southern California
Founded in 1996, Playworks expanded to Southern California in 2009. Playworks Southern California serves low-income schools through our year-round, on-site support services. We’re also reaching thousands more students across Southern California through professional development workshops for schools and youth organizations.
Our Core Values
Meet Our People


December 19, 2022
Yani Gomez ›
Yanira “Yani” Gomez, aka Coach Yani, joins the Playworks team as a Site Specialist, full of passion for education. Before joining Playworks, Yani was a kindergarten teacher, where she enjoyed…


August 31, 2021
John Walgamuth ›
John joins Playworks bringing his knowledge and skills of working with children as an elementary school math teacher on the South Side of Chicago. After finding Playworks, John decided to…


September 22, 2017
Michelle Serrano ›
Michelle joined Playworks as an AmeriCorps coach in NorCal back in 2006, and her love of kids, sports, and our impact has remained front and center throughout her career at…