Live and Learn Honored at Philadelphia City Council and June 11th Recognized as International Day of Play in Philadelphia

On Thursday, June 5, President Kenyatta Johnson and Councilmembers Dr. Anthony Phillips, Jeffery Young Jr., Mark Squilla, Nicolas O’Rourke, Michael Driscoll, Jim Harrity, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Quetzy Lozada, Kendra Brooks, and Nina Ahmad co-sponsored a resolution recognizing June 11 as the International Day of Play in the City of Philadelphia. The resolution also honors the Live and Learn initiative for its groundbreaking work in bringing Playful Learning environments to affordable housing communities.

On hand for this momentous occasion were (left to right): Linda To (Community Ventures), Winfield Thomas (Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition), Deirdre Hyman (Tree House Books), Shelly Kessler (Playful Learning Landscapes), Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple University Professor and Brookings Institution Sr. Fellow), Heidi Segall Levy (Watchdog Project Management), Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips, Lisa Weinberger (Masters Group Design), Maxayn Gooden (Community Ventures), Julia Miller (Playful Learning Landscapes). Not pictured: Amanda Charles (William Penn Foundation), Herman Arce (Lower North Philadelphia CDC).

CITATION

Honoring and Recognizing

The Live and Learn Initiative on the International Day of Play

The Council of the City of Philadelphia is proud to recognize June 11th as the International Day of Play and to honor the Live and Learn initiative for its groundbreaking efforts to bring Playful Learning environments to affordable housing communities.

Whereas, The United Nations General Assembly established June 11th as the International Day of Play to affirm every child's right to play as vital to their development, learning, and well-being; and

Whereas, Playful Learning integrates joyful, purposeful play with intentional design, supporting literacy, problem-solving, emotional growth, and deeper engagement between children and caregivers; and

Whereas, On June 11, 2025, Philadelphia will unveil the first Playful Learning installations in affordable housing communities-located in North Central and Sharswood—as part of the Live and Learn initiative, a collaborative project supported by the William Penn Foundation and led by Watchdog Real Estate Project Management, Playful Learning Landscapes, and Masters Group Design; and

Whereas, These installations creatively transform everyday spaces into brain-building environments that reflect neighborhood culture and foster meaningful educational experiences; and

Whereas, Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips and the City of Philadelphia recognize that equitable access to innovative learning spaces particularly in underserved communities is key to advancing educational equity and community development.

Therefore, By virtue of this Citation, the Council of the City of Philadelphia does hereby recognize June 11th as International Day of Play and proudly honors the Live and Learn Initiative for its leadership in centering children and families in neighborhood revitalization through the power of play.

We commend the Live and Learn Initiative for their work in enhancing the lives of youth in the City of Philadelphia and extend to all involved the sincere respect, admiration and appreciation of this legislative body.

Thank You!

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TESTIMONIAL

We were thrilled to have Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek Founder of Playful Learning Landscapes testify on behalf of our initiative. Click the video below to watch her testimony here and read the impassioned written testimony below.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY

Councilmembers, thank you for your time.

We are deeply honored that President Kenyatta Johnson, Councilmembers Jeffery Young, Jr., Mark Squilla, Nicolas O’Rourke, Michael Driscoll, Jim Harrity, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Quetzy Lozada, Kendra Brooks and Nina Ahmad, are introducing a resolution recognizing June 11th as the International Day of Play in the City of Philadelphia and honoring Playful Learning Landscape’s Live and Learn initiative for its groundbreaking work in affordable housing communities.

This is a statement about who we are as a city and what we believe every child deserves.

In 2013, Philadelphia was the first City to sign a Declaration of Play. Since then, Philadelphia has become an international capital of play. First developed and tested in Philadelphia, Playful Learning Landscapes is now in 22 cities and 13 countries around the world. With neighbors and community organizations, we have capitalized on the 80% of waking time children are not in school by building learning opportunities into everyday spaces like bus stops, libraries, parks, subways stations, hospital waiting rooms, and now — affordable housing with Live and Learn. No matter their zip code, every child deserves to wake up each day surrounded by opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

Live and Learn — reimagines affordable housing as a place not only for shelter, but for opportunity — as infrastructure for equity. In Sharswood and North Central Philadelphia, hallways, sidewalks, community rooms, and green areas have been transformed into spaces that spark curiosity and caregiver connection while laying the foundation for school readiness, social-emotional growth, social cohesion and community pride.

We stand at the precipice of something truly powerful. Philadelphia is the first city in the nation to embed Playful Learning Landscapes into affordable housing. With your leadership, we can scale it and again lead the country by example.

This won’t take more money. It won’t take more time. It just takes YOUR vision — and leadership. 

Mayor Parker’s HOME plan is built on a bold promise: that every Philadelphian deserves a stable home and a real pathway to opportunity. Live and Learn is that promise in action.  Let’s make it the standard.