Garden Revitalization with Teens 4 Good

For our December service project, we decided to get our hands dirty-literally.  The project we were involved with was working to revitalize a community garden located on 8th Street and Poplar, an area otherwise known as Northern Liberties.  The list of tasks we were put in charge of were as follows:

• Raking
• Weeding
• Picking up trash
• Compost turn over
• Overall maintenance of the garden    

Coaches Alexa and PJ weeding the beds.

     During our service we were teamed up with an organization called Teens 4 Good. "Teens 4 Good, a program of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers,  is a youth entrepreneurship produce and nutrition business that transforms vacant lots into urban gardens/farms, improving access to healthy food for communities, creating meaningful jobs for at-risk youth and empowering youth to become healthy responsible young adults and leaders who give back to their communities" (excerpt taken from Teens 4 Good Website).  

Coach Lisa raking leaves with volunteers.

The project leader, Jamie, supplied us with tools, water, and some delicious soft pretzels.  After exchanging greetings, we all got to work.  The coaches were divided up and given different tasks to perform for the day.  Coach Ben and I were assigned to trimming a pair of rose bushes, or rather, trying not to get poked to death by thorns.  The work was tedious, but well worth the effort.

Coach Alex (me) trimming the rose bushes!

     After the project was completed and I had time to reflect, I realized that a garden in an urban setting such as Philadelphia is vital to showing and introducing people to healthy food choices.  In addition, it can also be used as an educational tool for schools throughout the area to inform children about the importance of fresh, whole foods.  Besides that though, it is simply always fun to have the opportunity to get your hands a little dirty.

Garden beds post-weeding.  Ready for planting!

-Written from Playworks Philly by Program Coordinator Alex Correa

Girls Basketball Night at Drexel

Participants with Mario the Dragon

On November 23rd, Playworks participated in a fun filled basketball night at Drexel University! All twelve of the Playworks Philadelphia Girls Basketball Teams were present. The night started off with interactive workshops and games. This portion of the event included various tips and strategies, like teamwork and cooperation, which were relevant to the girls both on and off of the court. After the girls had a pizza party and were showered with prizes, they headed to the basketball game with their families. 

Basketball Players Ready to Answer!

The Playwroks Girls Basketball Team had front row seats to a Drexel Dragons Women's Basketball game! The girls cheered on the Drexel team while observing a basketball in action. Having exposure to a collegiate level basketball game allowed the girls to build their own self-esteem. This event was extremely rewarding for the Playworks Girls Basketball League!

-Written for Playworks Philly by Program Coordinator Felicia Mott

Check out the Drexel University  Press Release Here:

Find more information on the event after the jump break!

Veteran’s Day Service Project with The Mission Continues

In order to pay tribute to those who currently serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces, Playworks Philadelphia partnered with The Mission Continues and Target to beautify and restore the playground at the Kenderton School in Philadelphia.  The event was attended by volunteers from the local community, Target, Playworks, The Mission Continues, and local veterans.  It was a very successful and fulfilling service project that was made even more meaningful because the volunteers had the opportunity to work side by side with the men and women that keep us safe.  We were able to connect with these veterans through the wonderful folks at The Mission Continues.  The Mission Continues believes the best way to honor those who have served and continue to serve is to live their beliefs, and serve as they have.  As you will see below a lot of people have heard the call.

With our amazing team assembled we got right to work!

As always, Philly PM Colby is the man with the plan.

Coach Ben recruiting future Junior Coaches.

A freshly refurbished playground? Check.  A couple balls lying around? Yup.  Local kids willing to play with some old timers? Ok.  The Playworks Philadelphia Staff couldn’t help themselves and jumped right in. 

Coach Alex kickin’ it with some neighborhood kids and Coach Makeda dropping some shots in 4 square.

Coach Robert giving a shooter his change.

 

By the end of the day the number of people on the yard doubled in size.  There was a buzz in the air that pulled in local residents and really made it a special event.

Pictures of this event are courtesy of  Audrey Kerchner.  Check out her website!

More information on The Mission Continues. 

More information on Target’s charitable contributions.

-Written from Playworks Philly by Program Coordinator PJ Dever 

Make a Difference Day Service Project at Rose Playground

This year’s Make a Difference Day 2010 took place on October 23. Make a Difference Day is “a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors” and is the nation’s largest day of service! * For our project, the Playworks Philly crew traveled to the Overbrook section of the city – one of Philadelphia’s westernmost neighborhoods.

The day took place at Rose Playground, an expansive open space with a lovely playground structure located just off 75^th Street. We worked under the welcoming leadership and guidance of the Overbrook Civic Association, a neighborhood organization seeking to keep their surroundings “safe, clean and attractive.”

“Avoid the Ouch!” were some of the first words uttered by our project leader for the day. Keeping this important safety motto in mind, we geared up for the day’s tasks. The objective? To lend a hand in providing this neighborhood-cherished green space with a physical rejuvenation! We got down to business pretty quickly, dividing up into smaller AC/PC squads to accomplish everything from trash pick-up, sweeping, weed-whacking, branch-cutting, and, sadly, the removal of a fallen squirrel.

Though the park’s vast space necessitated us to spread out for the majority of the day, the event concluded with a heartfelt group wrap-up lead by one of the neighborhood members spearheading the project. We felt the love as gratitude and recognition were given to all of the day’s helpers – a merger of service-oriented citizens looking to Make a Difference!

*taken from http://www.usaweekend.com/section/MDDAY

-Written from Playworks Philly by Program Coordinator Lisa Frank 

AmeriCorps Launch Day

The Philly Playworks AC members were out in full-force on Columbus Day at the National Constitution Center. The event was an interesting tour through American history. Through exhibits that detailed the long, difficult process of drafting and creating the Constitution, to the struggles our country has persevered through, the Playworks AC members were given an opportunity to see how their service fits into the history of America's birth at the hands of men and women who were passionate about seeing real change occur. Our members were also given an opportunity to view the amazing "Art of the American Soldier" exhibit, which highlights paintings done by men and women in the service from World War 1 to our modern day conflicts in the Middle East.

The event was attended by AC members from all parts of Philadelphia, and it was inspiring to see how many people volunteer and sacrifice their time to make a difference in under-served and needy populations.

The day also included an impromptu field trip, led by the fearless Emily Lyons, to the Reading Terminal market, where (most) everyone enjoyed the popular Dinic's pulled pork sandwiches.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Philly, whether for vacation or to come play with us, a trip to the National Constitution Center is a must. It's an amazing, if not a bit imperfect, look at the process our founding citizens started to create a more perfect government for and by the people, that is still, for better or worse, a work in progress.

9/11 Service Project with CWEP

To honor those who were lost during the 9/11 attacks, Playworks-Philadelphia participated in the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.  We hope that our service along with the service of volunteers across the country was able to create some good from such a tragedy.

Robert utilizing one of his many positive attributes

We teamed up with the Community Women's Education Project or CWEP (http://www.cwep.org/about.asp) to help with its "Building Communities 2010" event.  The community day was complete with a moonbounce, face painting, music, food, dancing, and a sidewalk chalk station.  There were many vendors present as well as representatives from CWEP who provided members of the community with valuable information and resources.

Ben draws a panda

Felicia spreading the love with sidewalk chalk



Playworks coaches spent the day interacting with students, exchanging high-fives, and teaching new games.  Big shout-out to Robert who supervised the moonbounce for the duration of the day, ensuring that it was a safe place for all of the children to enjoy themselves.  We were honored that CWEP invited us to be a part of their special day and we had a great time participating.  I know many of us enjoyed the water ice as well!   

Switch!

Coaches demonstrating 4-square



Playground Beautification

For a couple of days earlier this month we traded in our whistles and kickballs for shovels and paint cans.  We gathered the team and set out to four of our partnership schools; Drew, Fulton, Gideon, and Kelly.  Armed with tools lent to us by the West Philly Tool Library, (http://www.westphillytools.org/) we painted lines, pulled weeds, and collected trash.  We created football and kickball fields, hopscotch patterns, 4-square and wallball courts, and homebases.  We hope that our efforts created playground environments that will support a year of safe and healthy play!


Here are some pictures from the projects:

Alexa and Lilly painting a hopscotch pattern

Makeda and Emily taking down trash

Doug, Alex, and Robert removing weeds

The team with their tools

Playworks in Philly and on a blog!

Playworks in Philadelphia has hit the ground playing!  Our office staff and coaches are in place and have already started transforming recess on playgrounds all across Philly.  Speaking of our coaches, we are lucky to have 12 amazingly talented program coordinators that will provide direct service to our partnership schools.  I can not wait to see the enormous impact that Makeda, Ben, Robert, Lisa, Felicia, Doug, Lilly, PJ, Kari, Emily, Alex, and Alexa will have on the schools that they work in and the students and staff that they work with. 


This blog has been created to chronicle our inaugural year in Philadelphia.  Feel free to invite your family and friends to follow us on the blog as a way to follow us on our journey.  I hope you enjoy this space!