June 2025

June 2025 Newsletter 

Health Kids helps launch regional chapter of the International Play Association 

Just in time for the International Day of Play on June 11, Healthi Kids has partnered with the International Play Association (IPA) USA to bring a chapter of this play-focused organization to Western New York.

In 2024, Healthi Kids staff and parent leaders presented at the IPA USA's annual conference on the coalition’s work on pop-up play days. At the conference, local attendees learned about the opportunity to form regional chapters, with California being the first one.

Soon after, Health Kids members began talking with other IPA members from the region about creating a Western New York Chapter, covering the greater Rochester, Buffalo, and Finger Lakes areas. After a few months of working behind the scenes, the new chapter launched in May.

IPA brings together play scholars, advocates, and practitioners to ensure a child's right to play. Our region's chapter co-chairs are Sharon Peck, professor at SUNY Geneseo and Healthi Kids parent leader, and Lindsay Dzielski, IPA USA Board Member and parent from the Buffalo area, who hosts pop-up play days throughout the year. The Western New York Chapter can be reached at IPAWesternNY@Gmail.com.

To find out more about the IPA and join our regional chapter go to https://ipausa.org/. 

Infant and Toddler Play Days are a success, next event on Saturday, June 7

Healthi Kids accepting speaker proposals for Playful Learning Summit 2025

Attention educators, practitioners, and play advocates: Healthi Kids is inviting proposals from potential speakers at the third annual Playful Learning Summit on August 20. This event will celebrate the power of play and movement in learning, and explore how joyful, creative environments support children’s growth, achievement, and well-being.

We are looking for engaging sessions that connect with the theme of “Joy in Motion: Reimagining Learning Through Play, Creativity, and Recess.”

The deadline for speaker submissions is Friday, June 27. Learn more in our full Request for Proposals document. 

Submit a proposal here. For questions about the submission process, please contact william.rivera@commongroundhealth.org.

Play with Purpose event held April 9

Seventy-six educators participated in the Play with Purpose training event on April 9. This event was part of the professional development series presented by Healthi Kids in collaboration with PlayWorks! and the Rochester City School District. Play with Purpose included hands-on activities and research-backed techniques to help create inclusive, student-centered classrooms where all learners thrive.

Educators left feeling excited about sharing what they learned with others and eager to seek additional ways to support students in their classrooms and programs.

To learn more, connect with Hailey Cox, Healthy Schools Coordinator, at hailey.cox@commongroundhealth.org

Welcome to Hailey Cox!

Welcome to Hailey Cox, our new Healthy Schools Coordinator!

Cox helps make schools in the Rochester City School District healthier for kids through programs and planning. She supports Healthi Kids projects in local elementary schools. Before this, she was an education consultant for schools, nonprofits, and groups like the National Parent Leadership Institute. She is a math education policy apprentice with the National Parents Union.

Hailey earned her bachelor’s degree from Empire State College and is finishing her master’s in adult education with a certificate in child and family advocacy. She enjoys interior design, graphic design, and writing in her free time.

NYS budget includes big wins for children

The approved New York State budget agreed to by Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature includes funding for programs that benefit children. 
One major victory for children is NY PLAYS, which creates a statewide grant program to help communities invest in playgrounds. Healthi Kids staff met with the Governor and advocated for inclusion of this program in the budget. 
Other wins in the state budget include universal school meals, making every child eligible for free meals at school, the increase in the child tax credit, and the New York State BABY Benefit, which will provide a birth allowance to low-income parents on public assistance.

The coalition is also encouraged that the Farm to School program was sustained, although more work needs to be done to expand this program to school breakfasts.

June 11 is International Day of Play

Last year, the United Nations declared June 11 International Day of Play. This year's celebration theme is "Choose play – every day!” Make time on Wednesday, June 11 for play with your families and friends or to even host a play day for the whole neighborhood. 

PlayROCs members will be hosting play days at 121 Greeley Street (3 to 5 p.m.), Aberdeen Square (5 to 7 p.m.), and the Bronson Ave. Playground next to Phillis Wheatley Library (2 to 6 p.m.). Get play resources at https://www.unicef.org/parenting/day-of-play

Community Spotlight: Tyana Velazquez-Smith selected for Stanford Center on Early Childhood fellowship program

Congratulations to Tyana Velazquez-Smith, PhD—founder of Sensational Inclusion, director of early childhood for the Rochester Area Community Foundation and a Healthi Kids Coalition member—for being selected for the first cohort of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood’s Zaentz Community Fellowship Program.

This fellowship empowers leaders nominated from communities across the country who have worked with the RAPID Survey Project. RAPID uses survey data to understand the experiences of young children and their families and caregivers. Fellows will explore how family, child care, community services, and cultural values intersect to shape early childhood experiences. The one-year program has a strong focus on using parent and community voices to guide change and policy making.

Common Ground Health/Healthi Kids and ROC the Future Alliance nominated Velazquez-Smith for the program.

Mark Your Calendar

Complete Streets Makeover – June 7, 2025. Join Reconnect Rochester and Healthi Kids at Avenue D and Hollenbeck Street for a paint and installation day from noon to 4 p.m.

Infant & Toddler Play Day – June 7, 2025. Noon to 2 p.m. at the Maplewood Family YMCA, 25 Driving Park Ave. in Rochester. 

International Day of Play – June 11, 2025. PlayROCs members will be hosting play days at 121 Greeley Street (3 to 5 p.m.), Aberdeen Square (5 to 7 p.m.), and the Bronson Ave. Playground next to Phillis Wheatley Library (2 to 6 p.m.).

Painting Day for Phillis Wheatley’s Story Walk – June 21, 2025. Join artist Chloe Smith as the redesign of the Story Walk takes shape with the painting of this path to play. Phillis Wheatley Library is located at 33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way in Rochester.

Presenter submissions due for Playful Learning Summit – June 27, 2025. Learn more.

Healthi Kids Playful Learning Summit – Save the date of August 20, 2025, for the summit, which explores the transformative power of play in education.