April 15, 2026
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When you walk into the grocery store and buy a banana, you might not think about Tulane University, Lil Wayne, Honduran immigrants, or New Orleans’ cruise terminal. But you should.
WePLAY Center Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary at East New Orleans Regional Library
Last December, the Library and TrainingGrounds cut the ribbon on a free, play-based learning center at East New Orleans Regional Library. The opening marked the second We PLAY Center run by TrainingGrounds, a local non-profit focused on sustainable, effective, child-centered early learning experiences.
In the past year, the We PLAY Center at the Library served a total of 381 families, providing them with support while helping to foster nurturing bonds and healthy social and emotional growth.
The We PLAY Center is a free and welcoming neighborhood learning space focused on play. The center is equipped with developmentally appropriate toys and play stations staffed by a team of dedicated and skilled parenting educators passionate about supporting parents with young children. We PLAY families also have access to free, in-person and virtual programs and connections to community resources.
Very few places in New Orleans East provide free learning opportunities for children from birth to age three, and the We PLAY Center aims to fill that void. For We PLAY members Kamaria Mason and Amani Randall, having the center at the Library combines two vital development tools, books and play, in a convenient location.
“Having the center in the Library is a great way to introduce your child to books, [while] they can learn and play,” Mason said.
“The WePlay Center is a great place to have fun with the kids and a great resource to have in the community,” Randall said. “It’s a fun, safe place to learn, it’s free and you don’t have to travel far because it is in the Library.”
For TrainingGrounds, partnering with the Library allowed them to connect with families in New Orleans East who may find it difficult to get to the Treme location. Melanie Richardson, co-founder and executive director of TrainingGrounds, said she is proud to celebrate their 1-year anniversary at East New Orleans Regional Library.
“Our partnership with the Library has helped bring essential support services to the community, ensuring children from birth to three meet developmental milestones and caregivers are supported in their parenting journey. Together, we’re creating a space where families can play, learn, and grow, building a brighter future that reflects our community’s strength and resilience,” Richardson said.
The partnership goes beyond sharing a space with the Library, according to Ashley Butler, TrainingGrounds’ director of programming and operations, and Arrian Tate, a parent educator and breastfeeding specialist at We PLAY Center East.
“Being located inside the Library has been a great asset to increasing community participation and membership,” Tate said. “When families come to the Library for resources with their small kids, they are happy to direct them to the We PLAY Center.”
Butler said Library staff frequently refer families to the We PLAY Center. Having the center inside the building removes transportation barriers and makes it easier than ever for new families to stop by to check out the spaces.
“If a parent has a baby or walks in with a stroller, we can always count on the Library staff to inform the families about who we are, what we do for parents and caregivers and their children from birth to [age] 3, and share where we are located, pointing down the hallway,” Butler said. “Their help is greatly appreciated as we [work together] to support families in the East.”
Play is one of the foundational skills that helps prepare a child to read, and Christine McCourtney, head of early childhood literacy for the New Orleans Public Library said the partnership is a natural one.
“We could not be happier about this partnership with TrainingGrounds. Their mission aligns perfectly with our strategic goals to strengthen early childhood literacy,” McCourntey said. “The Library believes in helping parents and caregivers raise readers together, and we are committed to providing support from the very beginning of children’s early learning years. Through this partnership, we’re increasing access to quality programs, services, and resources that support the early literacy practices and the development of pre-reading skills.”
In addition to sharing a space, TrainingGrounds and the Library work together to host free programs and events, including family dance parties, infant massages, and more. Every week, WePLAY East offers free play sessions, breastfeeding help, and a support group for fathers.
After a year of working together, TrainingGrounds staff said they are looking forward to expanding play sessions at the Library to three days a week, offering weekly programming for dads, and furthering We Connect Family Resource services.
To learn more about TrainingGrounds and its mission, please visit mytraininggrounds.org. For inquiries, please contact weplay@mytraininggrounds.org, or visit WePLAY Center East on Wednesdays or Fridays from 10am – 12pm, located inside East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Boulevard.
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