The Secret IPS Proposal That Will Change Start/Dismissal Times For Your Kids

A few months ago, I heard rumblings about Indianapolis Public Schools proposing new hours for elementary school students beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. The premise was that recent studies have shown how middle and high school students perform better in school when they have a later start time. In order to accommodate the transportation needs of a later start time for these students, IPS would need to move up start times for elementary students. The new proposal would have school start at 8:00am and dismiss at 2:35pm.

Play BlogsAndrew NealFebruary 27, 2018advocacy, IPS, start times

Meet Our Staff: Elizabeth Nash, Socio-Emotional Learning Fellow

To round out our last two weeks of Play, we are bringing you the final "Meet Our Staff" post. Introducing Elizabeth Nash; our Socio-Emotional Learning Fellow and Play coordinator extraordinaire! Elizabeth joined the Brookside team in January 2017, and brings a vintage style and artistic flair that is all her own!

Play BlogsAndrew NealFebruary 19, 2018meet our staff, play works, power of play

Meet Our Staff: Kelli Webster, Community Coordinator

The next staff member up on the blog is Kelli Webster, our Community Coordinator for Brookside Elementary School IPS #54! Even though you may not see her every day at Play, Kelli fills an important role for our organization. Working primarily out of the school, Kelli serves as a connector between Brookside Elementary, the students, their parents, and the many after school programs offered in the neighborhood.

Play BlogsAndrew NealFebruary 5, 2018Brookside, community, coordinator, meet our staff

Meet Our Staff: Andrew Neal, Director

We are kicking off this session of Winter Play with a little something different. To all of our Play volunteers, parents, and kiddos, you might be surprised to find that, even though we act like big kids most of the time, we sometimes play the role of adults outside Brookside Community Church. So, let's get to know our staff!

Play BlogsAndrew NealJanuary 22, 2018meet our staff, play, play works, power of play

How MLK Jr. Shapes Play

Sometimes it feels like we have this idealistic picture of Martin Luther King Jr. in our heads. We remember him as the “Dream” guy. The hopeful guy. The sweet man who spoke out for equality and unity.

Unfortunately, we’ve whitewashed the memory of this man and what he stood for. We’ve made him safe and comfortable, but the thing about Martin Luther King Jr. is that he was never safe and comfortable. He was a boat rocker. He was a rabble rouser. He was hated and despised and he threatened the holders of power.

Play BlogsAndrew NealJanuary 15, 2018mlk jr, rebels, world changers

We Need You

The work that we started last year is not finished. There is more to be done. There are more children who need that one caring relationship in their lives. On August 7th, we will launch our second year of After School Play.

Will you join us?

Play BlogsAndrew NealJuly 13, 2017at-risk children, serve, show date, volunteer

The Effects of Childhood Trauma

There is a very real public health crisis ravaging our community and you may not even know about it. It is more pervasive than any communicable disease. Its reach is greater than public health concerns like cancer, heart disease, and mental illness and chances are that you have even been impacted by it.

Play BlogsAndrew NealOctober 26, 2016adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, play

Why Play Is Important To Me

As the mom of 8 children and the foster-mom to over 20 children, I have seen first-hand the power of play. When many of my children came to live with us, they didn’t know how to play. We placed toys in front of them but they sat and stared. We took them to the playground but the swings made them feel unsteady and afraid. We had one very special therapist come into our lives that worked diligently with our children. She relied solely on play.

Play BlogsKristin BerryAugust 31, 2016meet our staff, play, youth development