Our Village

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
​- James Baldwin

Nicole McGill (she, her)
​Director of Learning and Development

In addition to her role at PLAAY South, Nicole serves as an Invited Lecturer at Tulane University and a Faculty Affiliate at the University of Pennsylvania. A proud native of New Orleans, Nicole has been dedicated to working with youth in local public schools since 2008. She has been training and facilitating PLAAY programs since 2018. Nicole is deeply skilled in racial literacy, crisis intervention, violence prevention, student engagement, relationship building, stress management, and understanding identity intersectionality. A powerful advocate for the wellbeing of youth in New Orleans, PLAAY South New Orleans would not be the same without her expertise, experience, and compassion. Personally and professionally, Ms. McGill is passionate about empowering students to discover and develop their authentic voice, agency, and identity.
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Howard Stevenson Ph.D. (he, him)
Senior Advisor

​In addition to his invaluable support and guidance for PLAAY South, Dr. Stevenson is the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education and Professor of Africana Studies in the Human Development & Quantitative Methods Division at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. He is also the Executive Director of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative, a center dedicated to research, program development, and training that brings together community leaders, researchers, authority figures, families, and youth to promote racial literacy and health in schools and neighborhoods. From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Stevenson co-directed Forward Promise, a national philanthropy initiative that funds community-based organizations helping families of color heal, grow, and thrive despite the trauma of historical and present-day dehumanization.
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Brendan Turner, LCSW (he, him)
Executive Director

In addition to his work with PLAAY South, Brendan is a licensed clinical social worker originally from Northern California, now based in New Orleans, LA. He is a storyteller, racial literacy trainer, equity facilitator, Awa by Beloved Certified Consultant, Weikart Youth Methods trainer, Tulane University Invited Lecturer, and a University of Pennsylvania Faculty Affiliate. Trained by Dr. Stevenson, Brendan has been facilitating PLAAY groups and training PLAAY facilitators for the past seven years. He is deeply passionate about supporting the development of self-awareness, agency, voice, and racial and gender identity, all while creating healthy, joyful environments for both adults and young people.

Our Journey

After training in PLAAY with Dr. Stevenson in 2017, we implemented the program at the Center for Resilience (CfR), a day treatment program that serves children with significant behavioral and emotional challenges. Observing the positive responses from students at CfR, we expanded PLAAY into the New Orleans community in 2021. First, we facilitated groups across the city. Then when schools and youth organizations observed the same positive responses, we knew something special had begun. After parting ways with our original home, we founded PLAAY South New Orleans to ensure continued access for children and young people in New Orleans. See our partners below who have already invested in PLAAY.
PLAAY South New Orleans is sponsored by the Sims-Fayola Foundation,
​a registered 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 47-5349323. 

FAQs

What age children does PLAAY serve, and is PLAAY only for BIPOC-identifying children?
PLAAY serves children ages 5 to 19 from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Why does PLAAY focus on race?
We focus on race because it is often one of the most challenging, stressful, and significant identities to discuss for both children and adults. While race is a primary focus, we also address other identities, including gender, sexuality, ability, religion, immigration status, and more.
Are younger children able to understand topics like race and religion?
Children are often more aware of their identities, stereotypes, and biases than we may realize. We tailor our conversations to meet children where they are developmentally, ensuring they can understand and engage with the topics in an age-appropriate way.
Where is PLAAY implemented?
We primarily work with community-based organizations and schools in New Orleans, but we also serve clients across Louisiana and nationwide. Our partners implement PLAAY in a variety of settings, including Tier 2 and 3 programming for children with social, emotional, or behavioral needs, PE classes, after-school programs, sports teams, and community centers.
How many children are in each group?
PLAAY groups typically consist of 4 to 15 children.
What happens in PLAAY?
Each session is divided into two parts:
  1. Storytelling and skill-building: We start by engaging children in storytelling about their identities and stressful experiences. During this time, we practice stress reduction, conflict resolution, emotional awareness, and assertiveness.
  2. Active practice: In the second half of the session, we play sports, board games, card games, or video games, where children practice the skills they've learned in real-life moments of stress and conflict.
Do I need a clinical license to become a PLAAY facilitator?
No, you do not need a clinical license to facilitate PLAAY. We welcome a range of individuals who are passionate about working with children.
Will PLAAY South staff facilitate the groups at my school or community-based organization?
While we can facilitate groups ourselves, we believe it is more cost-effective and sustainable to train local staff who are already embedded within their communities. This allows for long-term success and greater impact.
What children should be in PLAAY groups?
PLAAY is highly effective for children who exhibit behaviors like physical and verbal aggression, property destruction, and elopement. It is also a valuable preventive tool for teaching all children the skills they need to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially, reducing future behavioral problems and potential interactions with the youth justice system.
How many children have been in your PLAAY groups?
Since 2017, we have served over 200 children and trained more than 70 adults at over 25 schools. This year alone, we anticipate training 40 adults who will facilitate groups for over 250 children across 20 schools and community-based organizations.