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Project Play Harlem was a multiyear initiative focused on five-square-mile area of New York City. With the support of Harris Philanthropies, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and Mount Sinai Health System, the Aspen Institute assessed the state of play in the largely Latino community and helped to mobilize civic, youth and sport groups.

Project Play Harlem
Advisory Group
  • Gilberto Agosto, Union Settlement
  • Richard Berlin, DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI)
  • David Giordano, Community Board 11/ Children's Aid Society
  • Jeremy Goldberg, LeagueApps
  • Luis Fernando Llosa, Whole Child Sports
  • Stephanie Myers, New York Road Runners
  • Lewis Zuchman, SCAN NY

Since the release of the State of Play Harlem report in 2018, the initiative made significant progress in the following ways: 

Project Play Harlem announcement at 2017 Project Play Summit

  • Inspired Madison Square Garden to conceptualize a hockey program in East Harlem that introduces students to floor and street hockey through schools. MSG acted in 2019 after reading the State of Play Harlem report, in which hockey was identified as one of the top five sports that kids want to try. NHL and Madison Square Garden worked with the Department of Education and Columbia University to design, pilot and evaluate a hockey PE curriculum for East Harlem schools in 2019.

  • Garnered support from Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who called for collective investment to grow the quality and quantity of youth sports in East Harlem to improve community health outcomes.

  • Connected community partners to educate children and families on ways to get kids active in a variety of sports at the New York Road Runners 2018 Summer Jamboree.

  • Supported DREAM in their Project Play Champion commitment to expand sport options for children based on their expressed interests. A new, full-time staff member has been dedicated to programs for elementary-school age children and will introduce up to five programs that are not currently offered.

  • Facilitated the creation and outreach support of an East Harlem Community Sport Program Portal with NYC Sports Connection, a citywide sports listing platform.

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