Over February break, we hosted not one but TWO Junior Coach Leadership Conventions in Boston and New Bedford for our fourth and fifth-grade leaders. We had 225 Junior Coaches from more than 50 different schools come together to learn new games, make new friends, and discuss what it means to be an ‘Agent of Change’ in their community.
Our Boston JCLC was a two-day event on February 19-20 and Junior Coaches joined us from across Boston, Waltham, Malden, and Cambridge Public Schools at the English High School in Jamaica Plain. BPS Chief of Staff Rob Consalvo spoke to our students about the importance of being leaders and helpers in their community. We were also joined by volunteers from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts who served as role models during recess.
On February 21, we held our FIRST EVER Junior Coach Leadership Convention in New Bedford for students from our partner schools in New Bedford and Taunton. We kicked off the event with an inspiring talk from Bernadette Souza, a New Bedford native and executive director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited. She shared her journey as a leader reminded each of our Junior Coaches that they have a special gift they can use to change the world!
Highlights of the event included…
Team Building
Junior Coaches from elementary schools in Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Malden, Waltham, New Bedford, and Taunton were able to meet new friends through games and leadership training.
Leadership Development
AmeriCorps members led breakout sessions to engage Junior Coaches in conversations about what it means to be leaders and ‘Agents of Change’ in their communities.
Community Service
A highlight of the event was a service project led by Project Giving Kids. Junior Coaches wrote well-wish letters to recipients of products from Hope & Comfort and Gotta Have Sole.
Raffle Winners
Throughout the JCLC, students could earn Playworks ‘Agent of Change Tickets’ for demonstrating our core values of Respect, Inclusion, Healthy Play, and Community. Agents of Change tickets could be used to enter a raffle to win over 30 different prizes–museum passes, gift cards, tickets to local sporting events, and MORE–donated by local businesses.
RECESS!
Every day of our Junior Coach Leadership convention included two recess periods — one in the morning and one after lunch. Every kid was encouraged by our staff to get in the game!
Check out more highlights on our Facebook album!
