Who doesn’t like to play? The Blogalicious 2012 conference was held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas the last weekend in September. I was really looking forward to networking with bloggers I have come to know over the past several years and to meeting a new crew of social media entrepreneurs. Because the size of this conference is small by comparison say to BlogHer, there are several unique opportunities to forge connections and to enjoy intimate beginnings. You learn in unexpected places (poolside in a cabana) and circumstances (30 seconds with a speaker) at Blogalicious.
Stacey Ferguson aka Justice Fergie, creator of Blogalicious, included social good in the conference programming last year. But this year, that aspect of the programming was expanded in such a way that even someone for whom this was not a focus could now envision ways to use their powers for good.
I signed up before the conference to join a spruce-up team that was to visit Walter Bracken Elementary School on the final conference Sunday morning from 7:30am – 10:30 am. I am generally an early riser. But many of us were partying the night before to Dougie Fresh throwing down old school (thank you Gain sponsors). I pushed myself to grab a cup of joe, then was given a morning bar by a fellow traveler.
I had no idea what we’d be doing. We were to join the Let’s Play community initiative. Consistent with what FLOTUS has been doing to get America’s children moving, Dr. Pepper Snapple (DPS) Group established the Let’s Play initiative to get kids and their families active.
We joined the principal of the school on the playground and were charged with refreshing the murals and repainting the hopscotch boxes and line items on the playground. I had expected to garden or clean but not paint a mural. After all, my small motor skills are best on a computer. I did not feel confident with a small paint brush. But on a beautiful sunny,crisp morning, in the spirit of cooperation, the group began work.
I learned that In 2011, more than 1.3 million children in North America were given access to a safe place to play through Let’s Play. And that DPS and KaBOOM! built 20 new playgrounds and improved 508 playgrounds through 484 Let’s Play grants – reaching 43 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. According to background information, the Let’s Play initiative has committed $15 million over three years to KaBOOM!, the national non-profit that’s saving play by ensuring there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child.
I loved elementary school. Okay I loved school. But I remember how my environment fueled my imagination. Growing up in Seattle, Washington, we played outside no matter the weather. As we were finishing up I began to imagine the squeals and laughter of the children when they saw what we’d done. That gave me joy.
To learn more about the Let’s Play initiative Visit LetsPlay.com or like their Facebook page at Facebook.com/LetsPlay for information about how you can get involved. Share if this is consistent with your values.
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