Earlier this year, I attended a conference that covers interactive and online media. During one of many panels I attended about improving the KaBOOM! website and having a robust online community, I had an amazing moment.
I was asking a question to the speakers of a panel, and in the interest of time, had identified myself as someone who worked for a non-profit called KaBOOM!, but didn't say what our work is about. I was mid-sentence when one of the panel folks interrupted me asked me what KaBOOM! is all about. So I dropped the KaBOOM! vision on them.
I was shocked by what happened next. The room started applauding. The entire room was clapping for what KaBOOM! strives to accomplish. It wasn't a courtesy clap or being polite. How many people can say that their work drives people to applause? The moment, to say the least, had me on cloud nine for weeks.
Its hard work, building these playspaces and educating people on why play is so important, but its important, its necessary, and luckily for all of us that have dedicated ourselves to the movement, incredible rewarding.
I've made a short clip of my moment that you can listen to by clicking the link below. I'm very proud it-- it’s not everyday someone who works on a website gets applauded. I would love to hear some of our mighty Forum user’s stories of how people reacted when explained to them about the work your doing in the name of play. Please share them by replying to this post.
Jason, thanks for including that audio clip! I wish I had a clip from a KaBOOM!-led build that took place last November (2007). This build was outside of Austin. It was my first KaBOOM! build (I was not an employee yet), and I remember being moved by everyone's sense of teamwork and joy over the project. Every volunteer was asked to place their hand in paint and make a hand print on the wall to show all the hands that all made it possible.
The kids at this location did not have a very easy life, and were in a state of transition. The volunteers recognized how worthwhile it was to create a place where they could play, exercise, have fun, and have a chance to be kids. When the closing ceremony took place, a very composed elected official began to say a few words, and suddenly was unable to speak, choking back tears. How meaningful a day it was, combined with how moving the act of hundreds of people taking a day to build a playground, hit him and every person at that site at that moment.
Another proud moment I've had was more recent, following a build in Chicago. The school with which KaBOOM! built had lots of special-needs students that used wheelchairs. That playground was ADA accessible and had plenty of play activities that were at ground level and easy to access. The principal sent me a photo after the build in which one of the students was clearly having a blast on an accessible swing seat on the playground. The joy on this child's face was clearly visible from this photo!
Knowing that KaBOOM! is bringing play to kids everywhere that need it makes me proud on a constant basis.