3. Up, Down, Stop, Go, and Everything In Between: Promoting a Resident-Driven Play-based Agenda during a Global Pandemic in Rochester, New York

Jenn Beideman, MPA is the director of whole child advocacy at Common Ground Health in Rochester, New York. In her role, she oversees the Healthi Kids Coalition, a grassroots coalition advancing whole child health in the Finger Lakes region. Originally from Canada, and mom to an almost one-year-old, Jenn brings to the position over a decade of experience in government relations, public policy, built environment, play based learning, playful learning landscapes and health equity.

Beatriz LeBron is the PlayROCs project coordinator at Common Ground Health in Rochester, New York. She is responsible for executing Healthi Kids’ Play ROCs campaign, developing strategies and tactics that advance play as a cornerstone of whole child health in schools and in neighborhoods. She has three children, three grandchildren and a newly adopted puppy.

Shanielia Lewis is the mother of a vibrant and creative daughter. She is a parent leader, advocate and entrepreneur. Shanielia is passionate about community work and consistently seeks out opportunities to contribute to community initiatives. Her current interests include gardening, reading and soap making. Shanielia Lewis has been an active member of the Healthi Kids Coalition in Rochester, NewYork, for the past five years.

Emma Morrison has been active with PlayROCs since 2018 facilitating community driven days for children throughout her neighbourhood in Rochester, New York. She helps organize community play days, complete with games, food and fun activities for children in an environment that is safe for them to play. She organizes field trips to local parks and distributes books to children at her local Recreation Center. Emma hopes to get more parents involved in efforts to support play in their neighbourhoods.

Lydia Rivera is a mom, a small business owner and a passionate advocate for kids and family voice. She is vice president of the Edgerton Neighborhood Association and a member of the Healthi Kids Coalition in Rochester, NY. Lydia advances community play by organizing days of active play for children in her neighborhood through the PlayROCS Advocacy Committee. She recruits and organizes parents to participate in other initiatives as well, such as the Parent Leadership Training Institute, efforts to beautify the community of Edgerton, and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation’s learning collaborative and grant funding endeavors to support youth whole child health.

Dina Faticone is the chief programme officer at Common Ground Health in Rochester, New York, where she has worked collaboratively with community partners to advance whole child health and play for over a decade. Dina’s favourite memories of childhood play were riding bikes, playing pick-up games with neighbourhood friends and building forts by the creek in her neighbourhood. Her favourite way to play as an adult is dancing and playing with her eight-year-old son. Dina has a master’s degree in sustainable development from Brandeis University.