The Children at Play Network received a $25,000 grant from the Brown-Forman Corporation to grow its Seeds for Urban Play initiative to provide accessible and culturally-relevant outdoor free play experiences for children in Louisville’s urban neighborhoods. This is the second grant from Brown-Forman, the first of which helped launch the initiative in 2018.
“We consider this grant an endorsement of our work in urban play and the need to address safe and equitable access to play,” said Claude Stephens, Director of Bernheim’s Children at Play Network.
CAPN is partnering with Play Cousins Collective (PCC), a non-profit providing family engagement, children’s programming and resources to empower African-American families to improve outcomes for young children.
“Our partnership emphasizes the importance of free play for liberated children,” said Kristen Williams, PCC Executive Director. “Outdoor time is vital for our children. This is also an ancestral method of healing, health and resilience.”
Neighborhood free play events, conversations in community, support for free play facilitators and an urban play conference in Louisville in November will be supported through the grant.
Last year, CAPN received a $25,000 grant from Brown-Forman to work with New Directions Housing Corporation and Choosewell Communities. This year CAPN received another $25,000 grant and a $25,000 grant from the Lift a Life Foundation to begin working with Play Cousins Collective. To date, CAPN has received $75,000 to support this urban outreach initiative.
