Hingham Professional Plays at Work and Inspires Youth as a Playworks Corporate Coach

For Hingham resident James Burns, playing at recess was one of his most cherished childhood memories. But, in too many elementary schools, recess can be one of the most problematic parts of the day because of staffing, space constraints, student bullying, and discipline issues. As a result, recess is often undervalued. Nearly half of all school districts in the region have either completely eliminated or reduced allocated time for recess in the last decade.

Playworks Massachusetts is working to flip the system on its head, integrating play into the education system by making recess a valuable part of the learning day. The nonprofit, which is part of a national organization, brings play and youth development programming into schools during recess as a means to improve the health and well-being of children and to enhance learning through the power of play.

As a long-time volunteer Playworks Corporate Coach, Burns, 35, a Vice President at Brown Brothers Harriman, is helping youth develop leadership skills on the playground that are transferrable to the classroom and workplace. As chair of the nonprofit’s Young Professionals Board, he works to recruit more adult volunteers to serve as role models and lead recess and blacktop beautification projects to ensure that all children have access to safe and healthy play. Entering its 11th year, Playworks Massachusetts reaches 35,000 students in 75 elementary schools across the Commonwealth. To date, the nonprofit has served 160,000 youth.

The Playworks Corporate Coach program takes groups of professionals and matches them with ow-income elementary students to serve as role models during after school programming. In tandem with Playworks Junior Coaches, select fourth- and fifth-grade students who receive more than 100 hours of leadership training, and paid staff members, Corporate Coaches work to integrate conflict resolution, time management and collaboration skills into activities that are fun, safe, and inclusive of everyone.

Going beyond the playground, Junior Coaches are invited to shadow Corporate Coaches at work, helping to further develop meaningful relationships while modeling positive leadership behaviors and showing the value of skills learned during recess in the “real world.”

As a Corporate Coach, Burns welcomes the opportunity to play at work in between managing investments for clients. Brown Brothers Harriman is one of Playworks flagship sponsors. Since 2010, employees have been volunteering on a monthly basis. Burns is one of ~20 colleagues who volunteer their time for the program coaching recess in schools and leading games in the office. They hold four-square competitions in the company cafeteria, complete Madagascar-themed personality quizzes to determine preferred leadership and management styles at the conference table, and host other activities - all designed to be skill-building, playful activities that have proven just as valuable to the team of bankers as they are for the students they serve.

“It’s such a cool concept to be a Playworks Corporate Coach,” says Burns. “When adults aren’t adjusted to their jobs, they tend to not perform as well. The same can be said for students who have a hard time during recess and with their academics. We are adults brought into schools who aren’t their teachers or parents who are there for one specific purpose: to energize learning through the power of play. I’ve seen kids start the school year who are undisciplined, wild even, then participate in this leadership program and end the school year more respectful, more collaborative, and more confident. Seeing the results keeps you coming back. I learn as much or more from the students than the kids do from me.”

Corporate Coaches also provide counsel to Playworks staff members through professional development trainings. Volunteers help staff to cultivate new donors and Coaches, expand networks, and plan and participate in fundraising campaigns and events.

“Corporate Coaches are an essential part of the Playworks team,” says Jonathan Gay, Executive Director of Playworks Massachusetts. “Year after year, volunteers like James do an excellent job of engaging and building personal connections with our students and staff, making recess a safe, fun, and healthy experience for all. Without the support of companies, such as Brown Brothers Harriman, our work in Massachusetts would not be possible.”

For 10 years, the New Balance Foundation has helped to energize education alongside Playworks Massachusetts. The organization is the nonprofit’s premier movement building partner. For more information, or to become a volunteer Playworks Corporate Coach, visit: http://www.playworks.org/communities/massachusetts.