This week in Kensington, a vibrant ceremony marked the kickoff of the Play Captain Initiative, as Fab Youth Philly celebrated a new class of young leaders with cheers, signs, and a red carpet.
The program, founded by Rebecca Fabiano, aims to enhance community engagement through playful learning, empowering local teens to take the lead in bringing joy and leadership to PlayStreets across Philadelphia.
Designed for teenagers aged 14-19, the initiative offers training in playful learning, facilitation, and leadership that participants will apply directly on local PlayStreets.
In this program, play captains are organized into teams, each mentored by an adult group leader.
“The adult staff is trained to support them, and we want the young people on their first day of work to know that we think they’re awesome,” Fabiano emphasized, as she stood next to the vibrant red carpet at St. Phillips Church in Kensington.
The celebration outside St. Phillips included Fabiano, adult staff, and community members who waved signs to welcome the play captains as they arrived.
“Communities like Kensington often focus on their challenges, but it’s essential that residents come together to support these teens who are navigating difficult situations,” Fabiano stated.
At the heart of the initiative are the PlayStreets, which are designated safe zones approved by the Philadelphia Police Department and Parks and Recreation, allowing children to play freely.
Each group of play captains fills carts with supplies before heading out. The carts include items such as books, a football, hula hoops, chalk, and various outdoor games.
Once prepared, the play captains follow a structured schedule, spending 45 minutes at each PlayStreet before rotating to the next location.
Equipped with “Bex Decks,” a planning tool that contains safety protocols, daily tips, game rules, and reflection exercises, each captain is prepared to lead activities effectively.
Fabiano notes that the program seeks to foster not only a playful environment for children but also to build a network of support among participants.
Many past participants, once children playing on the streets, have returned as play captains and some have even become adult staff members.
Mazzi Ingram, who participated in the play captain initiative in 2021 before attending Brandeis University and earning a degree in environmental sciences, reflects on her experience.
Ingram shared how she now guides a youth in her group who is exploring options for college: “I’m a person that believes in pipelines of change.
We often hear about the school-to-prison pipeline and other negative pathways, but to truly sustain positive movement, we must continue to invest in it,” she asserted.
The Play Captain Initiative not only empowers teens but also nurtures future leaders who can inspire others in their community.
image source from：metrophiladelphia
