Our team of 15 dedicated and inspiring Massachusetts Service Alliance AmeriCorps members are committed to making a difference in the community. Each day our members serve in 13 Boston and Lawrence public schools, ensuring that all students are given the opportunity to engage in safe, healthy, and inclusive play during the school day. To date, this year’s members have served almost 14,000 hours and worked with 10,250 children in 13 low-income urban elementary schools. We are proud that our community looks up to our members as coaches, leaders, and friends.
Over this past weekend, Playworks AmeriCorps members celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by leading two service projects across the Commonwealth: The Project 351 Service Launch and Boston Cares’ large-scale service event. Our AmeriCorps members helped plan and implement both service events, reaching approximately 1,200 people.
At the Project 351 Service Launch, members led ice-breaker activities and projects at various stations at the Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) in the South End. Members served alongside 8th grade students from across the Commonwelath to paint cultural murals at the Teen Center, to brighten and repaint the Visual Arts and Movement Studios, and to create an inspirational art mural for the outdoor playground. Additionally, members helped assemble Winter Care Kits for the elderly at the IBA. These kits included nutritious ingredients for a traditional Puerto Rican vegetable stew, scarves, and a personalized note.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Playworks AmeriCorps members partnered with Boston Cares at their annual service day event. Playworks AmeriCorps members served alongside volunteers as they created reading for success kits for students across Boston. These kits included books, literacy notecards, and lap desks. Additionally, members helped build and paint bookcases for classrooms. See pictures from the event.
Playworks Massachusetts AmeriCorps members are champions in the community and making a difference in the lives of many. In addition to the incredible work this past weekend, members continue to drive impact across the Commonwealth by running a four-component physical activity and play program for thousands of children daily. Thank you to the Massachusetts Service Alliance for their partnership in this important work.
About the Massachusetts Service Alliance
The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA), established in 1991, is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on community service. Its mission is to catalyze the innovation and growth of service and volunteerism by creating partnerships that maximize resources, expertise, capacity, and impact.
MSA fulfills its mission by investing public and private funds to cultivate and strengthen a state-wide network of high-quality service and volunteer programs, especially those that demonstrate innovative program models or that engage underserved and diverse communities, individuals, and networks; and by building and strengthening strategic partnerships and alliances with private, public and nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth.
