MOLLY
“I do a lot of talking to strangers.”
This is how Molly Blake, 23, describes what she does when she’s not on the job as a Playworks Coach at Gardner Pilot Academy in Allston, MA. “I’m constantly talking about my job,” she says, “because it is so unique.” As a Playworks Coach Molly helps transform recess into a place where all kids get active, feel included, build confidence and learn how to resolve conflicts in a positive way. “From Day 1 I have seen changes in so many kids,” she says. “This ranges from 4th and 5th grade Jr Coaches who have grown out of their shells and into leadership roles, to little victories where younger kids resolve playground differences with rock/paper/scissors rather than with arguments.”
RACHEL
Rachel Starr is 10 years old and first learned about Playworks at a kid-oriented event on Boston Common in 2016. From that meeting, she and her family got interested in how Playworks helps kids be healthy through the physical, social and emotional benefits of recess. They decided to support the organization by running their annual Run for Recess 5K.
SPREADING THE WORD – MOLLY STYLE
As the Run for Recess approaches, the Jr Coaches are introduced to the Positive Tracks Sweat for Good Curriculum. It builds on the skills and the vocabulary they have learned, helps Jr. Coaches recruit for their cause and gives them ideas how to raise funds and awareness. “Sweat for Good translates really well with our mission. It helps them see the bigger picture and identify what they are doing,” says Karleen Herbst, Development Director and Positive Tracks Coordinator at Playworks.
As a Coach, Molly helps deliver the Positive Tracks mission of ‘getting active to make change’ through her position at Playworks. “I’m always telling people to come help volunteer, to see what we’re doing and how they can make a difference. It’s a great way for people my age to see how cool it is.” Molly understands that young people don’t always have much money, so she makes it her mission to spread the word about what Playworks does, and shows people the many ways they can help. Currently she is focused on raising awareness of the partnership between Positive Tracks and the Playworks’ annual Run for Recess, a 1k and 5k event for all ages. For the third year, Positive Tracks will support the youth involved and match all funds they raise through this event. To help her school reach its $500 goal before the big run, Molly volunteered, made posters, sent race entry forms home and sends weekly memos to parents in both Spanish and English. She also created a Facebook group, inviting her friends and encouraging them to invite their friends. “I do a lot through social media, posting on Facebook and Instagram, because people are constantly checking that.”
PUTTING IT OUT THERE – THE RACHEL WAY
One year after proudly running her first 5K, Rachel decided to recruit her classmates at the Advent School to join the Run for Recess. Her effort started with educating the entire school on the Playworks mission and how they accomplish it. With the support of a Positive Tracks Coordinator at Playworks, she learned everything she could about the organization, made brochures, rehearsed a presentation and then in the mornings traveled to every other classroom to make her pitch. “I explained what they do at Playworks and answered questions about it,” says Rachel, who was then in 4th grade. “Talking to the 5th and 6th grade made me nervous, but I told myself they were just like any other kids and nothing bad was going to happen.” Bolstered by her teacher, Jeanne Cannarella, who also helped her prepare, Rachel successfully recruited friends and classmates to join the run and the cause. “She spearheaded it and saw it through on her own,” says Cannarella.
BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT
Rachel Starr gets active by sweating it out during a 5K and also sweats it out speaking in front of a sixth-grade class. Molly Blake makes sure her students and peers know that being a part of change is accessible to everyone, regardless of money – it’s just about taking action.
How will you change the world for the better? To find a starting line, register for the Playworks Run for Recess 5K on May 20, here. To join a different event or create your own for a different cause, check out our Challenges page and apply now.