'It's Truly Something Special:' We PLAY Center Opens at East New Orleans Regional Library

A new community play center for families with children up to age three is now open at East New Orleans Regional Library. We PLAY East is the second early learning and resource center run by TrainingGrounds, a New Orleans-based nonprofit that provides evidence-informed programming for the first five years of life.

The Library and TrainingGrounds celebrated the milestone with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Dec. 8. We PLAY East will be open for drop-in play sessions from 10am-12pm every Wednesday and Friday, starting Dec. 13.

“We are so excited to forge this partnership with TrainingGrounds,” Emily Painton, the Library’s executive director said. “We believe the Library has an important duty to engage with young children and families to help inspire lifelong reading, and having a We PLAY Center at one of our locations is a fantastic opportunity for us to do so in a unique way.”

Beyond a mutual commitment to remove financial barriers in accessing resources, both the Library and TrainingGrounds are working to fill gaps in early childhood education. Two key parts of the Library’s 10-year strategic plan are to help children develop creative critical thinking skills and to open doors to reimagined spaces. By housing We PLAY East, Painton said the Library is hitting each of these targets.

Earlier this year, the State Department of Education reported that less than 40 percent of Louisiana kindergarteners are reading at grade level, and the Library is actively working to improve early literacy rates across the city. As the head of Early Literacy Programing at the Library, Christine McCourtney is implementing play-based programs at all Library locations and called the partnership a no-brainer. 

“It means so much on so many levels to me, personally and professionally, to partner with TrainingGrounds and to have the Center here at this Library in particular,” McCourtney said. “I grew up right around the corner and my parents brought me to this Library when I was little, so seeing this here genuinely warms my heart.” 

Training Grounds and the Library celebrate the opening of a new community play center inside East New Orleans Regional Library.

Play is one of the five building blocks of early literacy, and McCourtney said having such a robust play-based learning center in an often-overlooked neighborhood is a huge step forward.

“It demonstrates the commitment and the dedication that the Library and TrainingGrounds both have for families with early learners. We both understand the importance of play and that how children learn, and it’s also an opportunity for parents and caregivers to bond with their children during this critical time of development,” McCourtney said. “As a mother and as a librarian, I know how important that time is. To have this service in the Library and in the East – for free – is truly something special.”

Shaun Mena knows first-hand how impactful TrainingGrounds’ programming can be for young families. The recently elected state representative and his wife first connected with We PLAY at their 7th Ward location shortly after their son, Chatoyer, was born.

“We PLAY helped us to figure out how to find the best for our son,” Mena said. “They were an invaluable resource for us, and I truly believe that every family in this city, in this state, and in this nation deserves to have a center like this in their community.”

In addition to educating them about play-based learning, Mena said the center allowed their young family to connect with other parents and children and strengthen their community bonds.

“I truly believe that We PLAY helps to create strong families, and once we have strong families, we can have a stronger community,” Mena said. “The program helped us out immensely and we can see the evidence of that growth in our child today.”

Oliver Thomas is the City Council representative for New Orleans East and said resources like the We PLAY Center are deeply needed in his district

“After Katrina, most people who rely on public assistance and housing were pushed from the center of the city to the edges – particularly in Algiers and the East. But the services that kept them afloat didn’t follow suit,” Thomas said. “So, to see the Library and TrainingGrounds invest here, it’s hugely important. It says that y’all want to be where the people you serve are.”

Investing in the New Orleans East community was always the plan, according to TrainingGrounds co-founder Melanie Richardson, who said seeing their goal come to fruition is “nothing short of incredible.”

“When we started this journey in 2016, we had a vision to serve families from all socioeconomic backgrounds, because we know that everyone needs support during their parenting journey,” Richardson said. “Our 7th Ward center opened in 2018, and from there, we’ve been able to serve families from every zip code in Orleans Parish, including many who travel from the East. The new We PLAY Center signifies our commitment to this cause and we are so excited to be more accessible to the communities who need us most – regardless of socioeconomic background.”

Since the 7th Ward center opened in 2017, more than 3,000 children and their caregivers have participated in We PLAY programming. In 2023 alone, almost 800 new families joined We PLAY and Richardson said their expansion to the Library will double their capacity to serve new and existing members.

“We are so grateful to the Library’s leadership for seeing the value the We PLAY center will bring to the New Orleans East Regional Library and to the New Orleans East Community. This partnership will strengthen both organizations,” Richardson said. “We can no longer work insolation and we cannot wait to see where this milestone leads.”

The opening of the second We PLAY Center location was made possible through the generous support of donors, volunteers, and partners. TrainingGrounds would like to acknowledge GNOF Impact 100, Baptist Community Ministries, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Metropolitan Human Service District and the Louis Calder Foundation and extend its gratitude to all who have played a role in making this expansion a reality.

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