Press

Homeless Children's Playtime Project

For D.C. shelter's 600 homeless children, a crucial source of fun and escape
Mon Feb 18 2013, The Washington Post  
"Larson is a stickler for quality. Everything is donated but in great condition...most of her operation is run by 100 volunteers..."

D.C., advocates at odds over homeless families; 900 people still in shelter
Mon Feb 11 2013, The Washington Post  
This winter, DC's shelter for homeless families is crammed full - 372 adults and nearly 600 children living in small, converted rooms...

Washingtonians of the Year 2012: Jamila Larson
Mon Jan 14 2013, Washingtonian  
The Playtime Project assembles and staffs playrooms in DC homeless shelters, aiming to create the brain chemistry kids thrive on.

Shrinking the Play Deficit in Washington, D.C.
Tue Jun 7 2011, Americancity.org  
"A lot of these kids have been traumatized emotionally -- all sorts of ways. Through play, a lot of times you can get them to express them...

A Safe Place to Play
Wed Mar 16 2011, Washington D.C.'s Street Sense  
"We went through the stress of being homeless, losing everything we had, but at least this gave my youngest son a sense of hope"

The Grinding Reality of Growing Up Poor
Thu Sep 30 2010, Washington Post  
When kids are poor, they are little adults, weighed down by a world of no.

Jamila's Corner: "Dear D.C. Councilmember, Step Up to the Plate!"
Wed May 19 2010, Children's Defense Fund  
"Dear DC Councilmember," the child carefully wrote on yellow lined paper. "I am 10 1/2 years old. I live with my family at the shelter..."