FREEDOM to Play

Play and recreation are essential to the healthy development of children and the well-being of communities. Yet many neighborhoods lack safe, well-resourced spaces for youth, and Black youth in particular often face the criminalization of everyday play. Join Harrison Pinckney IV, Assistant Professor of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management at Pennsylvania State University, for a conversation on protecting the “souls of Black youth” and why equitable access to play matters. Drawing on his experience as a former city recreation supervisor, Dr. Pinckney explores how recreation spaces shape identity, belonging and opportunity. This event is part of the Cleveland Humanities Festival.