Washington, DC—September 1, 2016—Today, Let’s Move! Active Schools—part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative—announced that Playworks is one of nine new partners joining this national collaborative, which is dedicated to ensuring that 60 minutes of physical activity a day is the norm in K-12 schools across the country.
“The Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative serves as a powerful voice and catalyst for physical education and physical activity in America’s schools,” said Charlene Burgeson, Let’s Move! Active Schools Executive Director. “These nine new partners will strengthen our collective ability to influence leaders and champions to create and sustain Active School environments for our nation’s children.”
The Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative, which has grown from an initial 10 partners in 2013 to a current 43, is using the collective impact framework, which is designed to address major social problems that cannot be solved by any single organization because they require large-scale social change. All partners work together to help K-12 schools create an Active School environment where students participate in at least 60 minutes of before, during, and after school physical activity each day, thus gaining significant health and academic benefits.
Partners contribute expertise, resources, services and financial support to the cause. Playworks will administer a new grant program to deliver its Power of Play training, with a goal of bringing safe and healthy play to more children across the country. The Power of Play training is a half-day workshop that lays the foundation for creating a safe, healthy, and respectful environment in schools. Playworks will train schools enrolled in Let’s Move! Active Schools that have completed a baseline assessment of physical education and physical activity best practices.
“Playworks improves the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, healthy play,” said Elizabeth Cushing, Playworks President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re honored to join Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative, and look forward to jointly helping more kids develop social and emotional skills through play so they can be the citizens of tomorrow,”
In addition to adding nine new partners, Let’s Move! Active Schools will team up with the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition through their #0to60 Campaign. This school year, the Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative will help students go from #0to60 every day by providing schools with information, resources, and inspiration needed to build healthier lives for future generations.
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About Let’s Move
Since its February 2013 launch, more than 20,000 schools in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have enrolled in Let’s Move! Active Schools, reaching more than 11 million students. Find out more at www.letsmoveschools.org.
About Playworks
Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional health. Playworks currently serves more than 1,200 schools in 23 U.S. cities and reaches more than 700,000 students directly and through professional training services. Learn more about Playworks and the power of play at playworks.org.
