Building More Than a Playground: The Power of Play at Stokes
Guest Blog by Erika Bryant, Chief Development Officer at E.W. Stokes PCS
At Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, we believe that play isn’t just recreational—it’s essential. It sparks creativity, fosters social-emotional growth, strengthens our community, and supports academic success. That's why we were thrilled to team up with Kaboom! and Sidley Austin along with more than 100 volunteers to build a brand-new playground at our Brookland Campus.
This marked our third collaboration with Kaboom!, a partnership rooted in joy, service, and community. Our first build took place in 2008, when we moved into our Brookland home. A decade later, in 2018, we created a vibrant new play space at our East End campus. And on May 14, 2025, Kaboom! returned to Brookland to create a reimagined playground for the next generation of Stokes Scholars.
Designed with input from our students, staff, and families, this new space reflects the creativity, energy, and spirit of our entire school community. It’s a place where imaginations soar, friendships grow, and children are free to move, explore, and thrive.
"What makes this playground so special is that it truly represents our school community's vision," said Bobby Caballero, Head of School at E.W. Stokes. "From the inclusive design elements to the vibrant colors, every aspect of this playground embodied our commitment to creating spaces where all children feel they belong."
We are deeply grateful to Kaboom! and Sidley for helping make this vision a reality. Kaboom!'s community-build model brings people together to create meaningful, joyful spaces for children—and on build day, volunteers transformed an empty space into something full of life and possibility.
"There's something special about coming together as strangers and helping to ensure today’s students have opportunities for safe, joyful play," said Kristin Graham Koehler, Managing Partner of Sidley’s Washington DC Office and member of the firm’s Management Committee and Executive Committee. "In just one day, we went from concrete plans to a completed playground. The sense of accomplishment and community spirit during the build was extraordinary."
This playground build is part of E.W. Stokes’ broader commitment to whole-child wellness, hands-on learning, and building strong community connections. Play supports children in developing resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence. And projects like this remind us that when we invest in joyful, inclusive spaces for children, we are also investing in their future.
Because at E.W. Stokes School, we aren’t just building a playground—we are nurturing growth, celebrating community, and creating spaces where children can thrive.
