Devin Young is a Playworks AmeriCorps member serving as a Playworks coach at Spring Valley Elementary School in Durham, North Carolina.
Each week Devin stays at her school long after the bell has rung. Not only does she help with the after-school program, but she also helps with a basketball clinic that is run at Spring Valley two nights a week. Helping with this basketball clinic makes for some long work days for Devin, but that is just more evidence of how seriously she takes the community-building aspect of her job.
Devin recently engaged the community near Spring Valley by planning and running a community event to increase family engagement at their children’s schools and connect more of the community to Playworks.
Many staff members and administration had expressed to Devin the need for more activities that provided a fun opportunity for parents and students to come together. Staff wanted to establish an activity at Spring Valley that encouraged parents to come to the school and see their children exposed to something beyond academics.
Hearing this, Devin decided to create a family fitness night centered around basketball. After much planning and preparation, Devin hosted her event with 20 families from her school in attendance.
Coach Devin welcomed everyone, then lead playful stretches to get everyone warmed up. Students and families were put up into groups based on grade level. The groups rotated through various basketball stations getting the chance to improve their skills and have fun with others from the school community. Some of the stations included shooting, dribbling, practicing the perfect lay-up, defense and passing. After the groups made it through all stations, Coach Devin lead each group in a fun game of Super Star Knock Out.
The event was a wonderful success! Participants left the family fitness night sweaty — having played and laughed hard. Everyone was extremely positive, which made Devin excited to plan another opportunity for her students' families to come together.
Coach Devin has been a wonderful addition to Playworks North Carolina AmeriCorps team and we are consistently proud of the work she does both inside and outside her school. Program Manager Janelle Averill, sums up Devin’s contributions wonderfully when she says, “I think the standout point with Devin is that she truly understands and believes in service. She views it as being very important and is always trying to make sure she is giving the best to her students and school community.”
Guest blogger Cameron Sims is a Playworks program associate in North Carolina. Cameron joined Playworks in 2011 as a program coordinator before transitioning behind-the-scenes. When she is not busy pushing papers in the office, Cameron enjoys having Netflix marathons with her husband Josh, getting into shenanigans with their cat Evie, and trying out crazy new group fitness classes at the gym!
