ST. PAUL, Minn. - s4story -- As Minnesota school leaders report rising concerns around student mental health, absenteeism, and school climate, Playworks Minnesota and a growing coalition of partners are demonstrating a practical, community-driven response focused on sustained investment in student belonging, leadership, and play during the school day.

The coalition, which includes Saint Paul Public Schools, the Ecolab Foundation, the Minnesota Twins, and several local and statewide organizations, came together on May 15 for a Play Day at Mississippi Creative Arts School in St. Paul. The event brought students, educators, corporate volunteers, and district leadership onto the same playground to celebrate a year of student-led work. The event was the public expression of a larger districtwide partnership that this year reached 3,905 students and developed 230 Junior Coach youth leaders across 10 SPPS schools.

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"Creating a culture of support for students requires more than funding or good intentions," said Shauna McDonald, Executive Director of Playworks Minnesota. "It requires presence. What we're building across Saint Paul is proof that coordinated community investment is possible and that it works."

This partnership emerged from a shared belief among schools, community organizations, and corporate partners that play, belonging, and youth leadership are not extras, but essential ingredients for helping students thrive.

Ecolab, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in St. Paul, sought to move beyond traditional sponsorship and give employees meaningful ways to invest locally. Through Ecolab's existing brand partnership with the Minnesota Twins, a connection to Playworks Minnesota was formed. "Partnership is at its strongest when it combines support with hands-on involvement to create meaningful experiences for organizations and the communities they are investing in," said Cole Vande Vegte, who helps manage the partnership between Ecolab and Playworks on behalf of the Twins. "Being out of the office for a couple of hours to run around with children and see the smiles on their faces was special."

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Alongside Ecolab and the Twins, this work is sustained by Ramsey County's Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), the Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, the Sauer Family Foundation, the Lillian Wright & C. Emil Berglund Foundation, and the St. Paul Saints.

Playworks Minnesota is partnering with more than 50 schools and out-of-school time programs statewide, reaching over 25,000 students annually. The Junior Coach model trains 4th and 5th-grade students to lead at recess and is one part of a broader approach to building school culture from the ground up.

For more information and to explore corporate and community partnership opportunities with Playworks Minnesota, visit playworks.org/minnesota/partnerships