At PlayMakers Lab, the secret to success? A 4-teacher approach that brings creativity and personalized attention to every student. When desks are pushed aside, and the focus is on collaboration, magic happens!
PlayMakers Laboratory is a dynamic arts education partner empowering Chicago Public School students through the transformative power of storytelling and theater. Many CPS schools that received grants from Ingenuity’s Creative Schools Fund have partnered with PlayMakers Lab to bring impactful arts programming into their classrooms—programming that helps students build essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills like empathy, communication, and self-awareness.
The result? More confident, inspired, and connected students!
- 90% of students showed improvement in writing skills after participating in PlayMakers Lab’s creative writing workshops.
- 100% of teachers reported increased student confidence and writing abilities, with many requesting PlayMakers Lab back for future programs.
Brandon Cloyd, from PlayMakers Lab, shared how the funding from Ingenuity has allowed them to enhance their programs, including creative workshops that cater to diverse student needs. They’re able to reach new groups of students, including those who are deaf and hard of hearing, providing arts education for the first time and working with bilingual teachers to ensure accessibility.
In a world where access to extracurricular activities can be limited, theater in schools is more crucial than ever. PlayMakers Lab brings the arts directly to students during school hours, ensuring every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to experience the power of creativity.
