This summer, we are kicking off our 2023 Play Date Tour in Philadelphia, with hosts Studio Ludo and Smith Memorial Playground. The Philly Play Date will tackle topics that lay the foundation for the whole 2023 Play Date Tour.
Friday, July 14, 8am-6pm
Preserving & Promoting
the Right to PLAY
Smith Memorial Playground
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Topics include:
- Why Play – How Play Impacts Social, Emotional, Physical and Mental Health Throughout Life
- Who Gets to Play? How Race, Income and Class Impacts Access to Play and Quality of Play
- Places to Play – Exploring Spatial Justice, Urban Design and Access to Play Spaces
- Play as Solution – Examining Play as It Relates to Public Policy and Advocacy & Play as a Source for Community Health Solutions
Session One: Why Play? – How Play Impacts Social, Emotional, Physical and Mental Health Throughout Life
Deb Green, Executive Director, Parent Infant Center (Philadelphia)
Ivy Olesh, Vice President, Field Operations, Playworks (Philadelphia)
Peg Oliveira, PhD, Director, Gesell Program in Early Childhood, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University
Suzanne Flannery Quinn, PhD, Manager, KOMPAN Play Institute, Americas
Moderator: Danielle Scott, Founding Executive Director, Pincus Family Foundation (Philadelphia)
Session Two: Who Gets to Play? How Race, Income and Class Impacts Access to Play and Quality of Play
Zero Jones, Director, Smith Urban Nature Preschool (Philadelphia)
Danielle Marshall, CDP, ACC, Founder of Culture Principals (Baltimore)
Tia Mathisen, Executive Director, Playworks Pennsylvania and co-founder of the Philly Children’s Movement (Philadelphia)
Deb Shine Valentine, PhD, Life and Leadership Coach & Independent Historian of Play, Thriving 4 Equity (Baltimore)
Moderator: Harrison Pinckney, PhD, Assistant Professor, Penn State University
Session Three: Places to Play – Exploring Spatial Justice, Urban Design and Access to Play Spaces
Jen De Melo, Vice President, Organizational Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, KABOOM!
Patrick Morgan, First Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Engagement, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (Philadelphia)
Kira Strong, Executive Director, Rebuild (Philadelphia)
Reilly Bergin Wilson, Cofounder and Board Vice Chair, play:groundNYC (Philadelphia)
Moderator: Meghan Talarowski, PLA, ASLA, CPSI, Founder and Executive Director of Studio Ludo (Philadelphia)
Session Four: Play as Solution – Examining Play as It Relates to Public Policy and Advocacy & Play as a Source for Community Health Solutions
Rebecca Fabiano, Founder and Executive Director, Fab Youth Philly (Philadelphia)
Alex Gilliam, Co-Founder and Director of Design + Learning, Tiny WPA (Philadelphia)
Daniel Hatcher, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Washington, DC)
Harrison Pinckney, PhD, Assistant Professor, Penn State University
Moderator: Michael Nutter, Former Mayor of Philadelphia
Schedule Overview
8:00-9:00am – Check-In with Coffee & Light Refreshments
9:00-9:45am – Opening Keynote: “Democracy is Built in the Sandbox” – Meghan Talarowski, Founder and Executive Director of Studio Ludo + US Play Coalition Steering Committee Chair
9:45-10:15am – PLAY Break & Snack Time
10:15-11:15am – Session One: Why Play? – How Play Impacts Social, Emotional, Physical and Mental Health Throughout Life
11:15-11:45am – PLAY Break & Snack Time
11:45-12:45pm – Session Two: Who Gets to Play? How Race, Income and Class Impacts Access to Play and Quality of Play
12:45-2:00pm – Lunch + Networking
2:00-3:00pm – Session Three: Places to Play – Exploring Spatial Justice, Urban Design and Access to Play Spaces
3:00-3:30pm – PLAY Break & Snack Time
3:30-4:30pm – Session Four: Play as Solution – Examining Play as It Relates to Public Policy and Advocacy & Play as a Source for Community Health Solutions
4:30-6:00pm – Grab Your Permission Slip & Head Out to Recess! Time to DO the Serious WORK of PLAY!
6:00-8:00pm Optional: No-Host Happy Hour and Dinner (Yards Brewery)
