About Playworks Minnesota

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.

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Meet Playworks Minnesota


Founded in 1996, Playworks expanded to Minnesota in 2010. Playworks Minnesota serves schools across Minnesota through our year-round, on-site support services. We’re also reaching thousands more students across Minnesota through professional development workshops for schools and youth organizations.

Meet our Service Partners

 

Our Mission


Playworks’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Our Vision


Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will have access to safe, fun, healthy play every day.

Every child deserves


• to learn how to be a good friend.

• to feel like a hero.

• a voice.

Playworks outcomes speak for themselves. Last year school principals and teacher reported:


96%more opportunities for inclusion of diverse groups of students.
96%increase in student participation in class activities.
90%decrease in bullying incidents.

Learn more about our Impact

Meet Our People


September 22, 2017

Brandon Elsner ›

Brandon Elsner (“Coach Brando” on the playground) is the Program Director for Playworks Minnesota. His passion for play, physical activity and social and emotional wellness comes from his B.S. in…

March 20, 2024

Tristan Fatula ›

Tristan is excited to begin his journey as a Site Coordinator. He grew up in Tucson, AZ and earned a bachelor’s degree in Education at Arizona State University. During the…

September 7, 2022

Raymi Choate ›

Raymi is originally from Iowa and attended Warburg College where she obtained a B.A. in Neuroscience with minors in Leadership and Psychology. During her time at Wartburg she was in…

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