Our AmeriCorps members chose to do a year of service for a variety of reasons.
Many are intrigued by the work that Playworks does and have a desire to work with kids in some capacity, or love youth development through sports. During their term of service they have a unique opportunity to not only work in their schools every day, but to volunteer with other local nonprofits for weekend projects to learn new skills, meet new people, and deepen their impact in the community. We’ve been so thankful for community partners who have allowed our AmeriCorps members to volunteer with them and sink roots into the Boston community in new and exciting ways. Check out a few projects highlighted below that our Corps Members have participated in this year!
“Out of the Park” with the Red Sox Foundation and Highland Street Foundation
While our new AmeriCorps Coaches were participating in our two week pre-service training, we had the privilege of partnering with two incredible organizations, the Red Sox Foundation and Highland Street Foundation, to assist at their annual “Out of the Park” event which was held at the Boston Commons on a warm Saturday in August. The event was full of food, baseball-related activities, and a blow-up screen streaming the Red Sox game with hundreds of Boston fans cheering them on. Playworks AmeriCorps members and staff set-up recess games and activities (the parachute was a big hit!) for kids in attendance who wanted to play, and it was an incredible opportunity for our Corps Members to learn about other nonprofits in the area and get to practice their recess skills, which would be put to good use once they entered schools the following week.
Supply packing with Cradles to Crayons
As part of the nationwide 9/11 Remembrance Day of Service, Playworks AmeriCorps members gathered at the Cradles to Crayons office in Newton, MA, to pack supply kits. Cradles to Crayons “provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play.” Their mission and service is one that impacts students in our community and our Playworks schools, so giving our Corps members the chance to serve the community in a new way was extra special!
5K race assistance and supply packing with Girls on the Run Greater Boston
On a chilly November morning right before Thanksgiving break, a whole crew of our AmeriCorps members gathered to assist with the Girls on the Run Greater Boston’s annual 5K. They made sure that all runners were warmed up for the race by playing games with them near the starting line, such as Switch and Spud, and unofficially earned the title of “World’s Most Enthusiastic Cheerleaders” as they cheered runners along on the course. Later in February, a group of our Playworks Coaches helped out at their office to create 1,000+ supply kits for their upcoming season, which provided a “full circle” experience for our Corps Members as they helped at both the end of season race and preparing for the upcoming season. Girls on the Run has been an incredible partner to us, and we’re so thankful we are able to give our Corps Members extra volunteer opportunities to experience the power of physical activity and mentorship with another organization.
Judges at a Boston Debate League Tournament
Unofficial debates happen at recess all the time: are lines in four-square in our out? What’s the better dodgeball game: Celebrity Dodgeball or Medic Dodgeball? Our coaches are used to these kinds of recess arguments all the time, and in December they got to put their skills into use by being volunteer judges at a Boston Debate League tournament. They listened to the scheduled debates, encouraged students between rounds, and offered advice to participants on how to improve for the following round, which was a very unique service opportunity for them and one that they thoroughly enjoyed.
Virtual flashcard creation with Boston Cares
The original plan for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend was a large, in-person service project but due to rising COVID-19 cases, our plans shifted out of caution for the community’s health and safety. Our AmeriCorps members were still ready to serve and completed a virtual service project with Boston Cares, making flashcards for ESOL and citizenship students. Not only was this an incredible service project that allowed our Corps Members to serve in a new capacity, but it also showed that service can be done almost anywhere, and there are still ways to positively impact your community virtually!
We’re so thankful for nonprofit partners who allow our AmeriCorps members to serve, learn from them, and deepen their impact during their year of service and beyond.
