Play Cousins Collective

Strenghtened community wellness and sustainability - through fresh fridays, play cousins collective distributed 300 produce shares, helping families access fresh food and build interdependence. The organization also moved into a new west market street location with an outdoor play space and began the second phase of the sankofa sanctuary build-out, expanding nature-based learning opportunities. The new freedom play training, now eligible for ece tris credits, its equipping educators to engage marginalized childen in nature-based, culturally rooted play, a sustainable model of prevention and growth that is being shared regionally.

Deepened youth engagemenet and leadership development - across programs, 764 children were served through the play & lean labs, mizizi afterschool program and camp melanation, fostering creativity, curiosity, and cultural pride. The junior iya prgram and ctrl the narrative initiative with support from the office of violence, prevention, provides teenagers with paid employment, mentorship, and opportunities to reclaim community narratives. These programs have become pipelines for leadership and peer mentorship among youth in west louisville.