King County Play Equity Coalition

Youth physical activity is a predictor of long-term health and wellbeing. Gaps in access to exercise at young ages become significant community health equity gaps in the future. The benefits of movement for youth are well-studied and facilitate healing, promote resiliency and mitigate the effects of trauma.The ability to move and play is essential for physical and mental health. Unfortunately, youth in King County are not moving nearly enough: pre-pandemic, only 19% of youth in the County were meeting the CDC’s recommended 60 minutes a day of physical activity.Youth of color, youth from lower income families, girls, youth with disabilities, and immigrant youth are even less likely to participate in physical activity and tend to be excluded from the systems and spaces where play happens.Dedicated to challenging and changing systems, shifting power to community organizations, and centering physical activity as a key part of health and youth development, the Coalition is grounded in the following values:1. Community centered. We work alongside communities to elevate the brilliance and expertise already there.2. Empowering play at all levels. We recognize the protective value of play and fun.3. Collaboration across sectors. We focus on systems-level solutions that require collaboration across public and private sectors.4. Disruption of traditional systems. We recognize and work to disrupt systematic racism and oppression that are upheld and perpetuated by the status quo.