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!