King County Play Equity Coalition
King County Play Equity Coalition is a network of organizations dedicated to challenging and changing systems to shift power and center physical activity as a key part of health and youth development.
Earlier this month, the Coalition partnered with 14 member organizations to put on the 2nd annual Sports Sampling Camp! The Coalition was excited to partner with our pro-sports team members and with six of our youth-serving sports-based organization members. The Coalition couldn’t have done it without the help of each and every participating member! This…Continue reading SPORT SAMPLING CAMP 2022
Starting this year we will post quarterly updates on each active action team! Read below on what we’ve been up to so far in 2022….Continue reading Action Team Update – Q2 2022
The King County Play Equity Coalition was selected to support Seattle-King County as one of four new regions to be added to the Thrive Outside Communities project, supported by the Outdoor Foundation. King County is joining Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, D. C. as new communities in the already 12-city cohort. …Continue reading King County Play Equity Coalition to serve Seattle and King County as part of the new cohort of Thrive Outside Communities
Starting this year we will post quarterly updates on each active action team! Read below on what we’ve been up to so far in 2022….Continue reading Action Team Update – Q1 2022
New work from the coalition’s facilities access Action team The Facilities Access Action Team was formed in response to inequities of youth access to recreation facilities across our County. Building on feedback from community leaders, the State of Play: Seattle-King County report highlighted challenges of reserving facilities and how policies such as historic use disproportionately…Continue reading Recommendations: Making play and physical activity facilities more accessible
Earlier this summer, after a year and a half long process that included input from Coalition members, an equity-focused consultant, and many hours of work between Coalition leadership and staff, the Coalition has passed a strategic plan to drive its work through 2024….Continue reading Coalition Strategic Plan Completed
In development of a model JUA, the team learned about the spectrum of shared use, read policy briefs, and reviewed toolkits from the National Partnership on Safe Routes to School, Change Lab Solutions, and the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition of Washington. They evaluated 4 model Joint Use Agreements developed by Change Lab Solutions and the National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity and ultimately selected one to revise and integrate feedback into. The team clarified use of supplemental facilities such as lockers, restrooms, and storage, adjusted language to a collaborative approach, and recommended equity goals be noted in the agreement. This model can be applied to agreements between school district and local city government as well as third parties such as community-based organizations, youth leagues, and/or other recreation providers….Continue reading Equity in Facility Access: Model Joint Use Agreement
Last month, COALITION UW intern LAURIE WILLOUGHBY sat down with Fenix Basketball’s Victor Johnson to discuss his work and his vision for the youth basketball and AAU system. Enjoy! Connect With Fenix Basketball and Victor. Connect with Laurie and the Coalition. Transcript Laurie: Alrighty. Hello, my name is Laurie Willoughby. I am an intern with…Continue reading Audio Blog: Victor Johnson of Fenix Basketball
We’re proud to announce the King County Play Equity Coalition has been selected as a 2021 Seattle Mariners Community Impact Grant partner. With assistance from Mariners Care, this $20,000 grant will catalyze creation of a Youth Action Team to increase and amplify youth leadership and perspective as the King County Play Equity Coalition builds equitable…Continue reading Seattle Mariners Community Impact Grant Partnership Announcement
One challenge in advocating for play equity is the youth physical activity, sports, and outdoor recreation sector is decentralized. Youth physical activity happens across a broad range of other “sectors” including schools, parks and recreation, nature/environment, out of school time, youth development, and youth sports. Unfortunately, few of these other sectors view equitable access to and engagement in physical activity as a high priority. In fact, from a policy and funding standpoint, youth physical activity and education is often the lowest priority leaving it vulnerable to cuts from the very institutions – schools and municipalities – best positioned to provide access….Continue reading COVID Impacts on the Youth Sports and Outdoor Recreation Sector