A dream, a question results in playground for all children
By Laura McKenzie
The People-Sentinel
Talyah Washington, 6, and King Rivera, 7, may not have understood what the blue ribbon was for to officially open an “all-inclusive” playground last week. They just wanted to have fun.
They also may not have realized that the person who was the instigator for the playground is an 8-year-old little girl with big dreams.
Talyah was born with Down Syndrome. King suffered a traumatic brain injury four years ago in a car accident. Despite cognitive and motor skill challenges, both are children who love to play.
The playground located at Lemon Park in Barnwell started with a question raised by Izzy Brandt to her parents, Stephanie and Shaun Brandt. “I took her to a Buddy Walk about two years ago. It’s a fundraising walk for kids with special needs,” Stephanie said. That experience made an impression on young Izzy who also has made friends with one special needs child.
Then, one day about a year ago they were at Lemon Park and Izzy noted that there wasn’t any playground equipment for kids with special needs. “They want to play too,” she told her mom.
Izzy and Stephanie contacted Pam Davis, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Barnwell. Davis thought about the idea and decided to write a grant proposal to the S.C. Parks and Recreation Department (PARD).
She was notified that a grant for $12,000 was approved “but that was not enough for this type of playground.”
Axis 1 came to the rescue with a $10,000 grant through the Eat Smart, Move More Program.
The partnership resulted in the purchase and installation of a multi-level climber, “Cozy Cocoon”, seesaw, congos, and cabassa.
“The multi-level climber is where kids of all abilities can play,” explained Davis. “It helps improve motor skills, coordination, strength, and dexterity. This leads to self-achievement and greater self-esteem.”
Present at Working Well’s upcoming Fall training
Working Well invites proposals for presentation during the upcoming Working Well Fall Training, which will be Wednesday, November 7 at the William L. Yates Conference Center in Columbia, S.C. This year’s training will focus on “A New Era of Employee Wellbeing: Exploring how culture, operations, and purpose can build a resilient, thriving, and fulfilled workforce.”
Presentations are designed to provide evidence-based resources and best practices to attendees that spark action in their own worksite wellbeing programs. Working Well is looking for employers, both Working Well and non-Working Well employers. who have demonstrated success in integrating comprehensive elements (i.e. policy, systems, operations, built environment, benefits, communication, etc.) through a collaborative approach.
Presentations should be no more than 60 minutes, and should address one or more of the following topics:
• Fostering Employee Resiliency
• Workforce Development
• Recruitment and Retention
• Professional Fulfillment
• The Future Workforce
• Integration of Safety & Wellbeing
• Integrating any of the above topics
Visit the Working Well website to see more details about the presentation categories and to submit your proposal. The deadline to submit your proposal is Friday, August 17. Proposals will be received from anyone, regardless of Working Well engagement.
Registration is open to all as well. Non-Working Well attendees will have a $25 fee for attendance, while Working Well employers are free. Non-Working Well presenters will have a free registration. Register for the training here.
If you have any questions or issues, contact Sara Grace Bailey at sbailey@scha.org.
Leadership Summit RFP application is open!
Application Open for Let’s Go! 3.0 Mini-Grant
South Carolina’s communities have the first of many opportunities to apply for mini-grants to fund small-scale projects that are needed to help catapult their healthy eating and active living initiatives. Eat Smart Move More South Carolina will award Let’s Go! 3.0 mini-grants over the next three years that will increase the capacity of community coalitions in South Carolina to identify and address barriers to healthy eating and active living.
Applications are being accepted now for the first round of mini-grants until July 15. The application process is open to community coalitions and organizations that need assistance in implementing policy, systems, and environmental changes that will increase access to healthy, affordable foods and safe places to be physically active. The mini-grants, up to $5,000, can be used to implement projects, such as adding bike racks downtown, beautifying neighborhood parks or trails, or supporting local farmers’ markets.
For more information about the Let’s Go! 3.0 initiative and to submit an application, visit www.eatsmartmovemoresc.org.
These opportunities are funded through a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
