Stories of Play

With the advent of Playworks’ 20th Anniversary and our aim of reaching 3.5 million kids in 7,000 schools by 2020, I am launching a new blog that I am calling…

When Alicia, a Sports4Kids coach, came to Urban Promise Academy back in 2006, Jaziela was a quiet, reserved, and insecure sixth grader. She decided to become a junior coach because…

When Playworks—then Sports4Kids—coach Max Langaard arrived at Manzanita school, Matthew Bailey was a shy third-grader. At home, he’d try to stay out of everyone’s way, and at school, he rarely spoke up during…

It was May of 2011, and I sat across from my father in a French restaurant in Dupont Circle. “You know Abby,” he said carefully, “You don’t have to go…

Recently, Playworks Southern California Coach Janelle Matthews shared her story at Mercedes-Benz USA National Dealer Body. Attending the event was Edwin Moses, former track and field Olympian and chairman of Laureus Sport for Good…

There are many reasons why Playworks is important to me. I believe that it is important to have acts of kindness everywhere a person goes. Helping others is an important…

Recess is the most overlooked time of the school day. And at many low-income elementary schools across the country, teachers and principals see that conflict often starts on the playground,…

For the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, Playworks and AmeriCorps Alums honored three of our AmeriCorps alums. This award was given to outstanding AmeriCorps alums who continue to model the values…

For the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, Playworks and AmeriCorps Alums honored three of our AmeriCorps alums. This award was given to outstanding AmeriCorps alums who continue to model the values…