(upbeat music) - Playworks Utah helps kids stay active and build valuable social and emotional skills through play.

And here to tell us more about the program and the race to reduce bullying is Executive Director Desi Arends.

Desi, hi, welcome.

- Thank you.

- This is a great program you have and you've been doing it for 12 years.

How many schools are you working with?

- Yeah, so we're at about 60 schools across the Wasatch Front, which is about 35,000 kids in Utah.

- Wow that's a lot of kids to reach.

And they're all elementary age?

- All elementary aged.

Yes.

So we focus on building those pro-social valuable skills that kids need.

And we optimize on the time that they have the biggest opportunity for play, which is recess.

- Okay, and I know what sorts of things do you try and instill in them?

I know kindness is huge.

But what else?

- Yeah, so we're teaching inclusion really opportunities to cooperate, teamwork, really those things that can build character for kids.

A lot of conflict resolution skills as well can go a long way.

- Ah, it's great.

And if you get them that young, it lasts a long time.

- Yes, we are building the future leaders.

- Yeah, which is great.

And you do have a junior coach leadership program?

Tell me about that.

- Yeah, so it's my favorite part of the program where it's the oldest kids in the school.

They get an opportunity to be leaders inside and outside of the classroom.

So they're teaching games and strategies and proactive social skills and teamwork and kindness all to their peers and younger students.

- Which is great.

- Yes.

- And then you're bullying race to reduce bullying that comes up on May 4th.

Tell me how that works.

- Yeah, so it's an awesome community event where we get to celebrate those junior coaches and as well as the other coaches and the great work that they're doing in our schools.

And so you can come and join in and get to celebrate and really focus on what Playworks does best.

- Ah, that's great.

And then where's the race?

- Yeah, so it's at Wheeler Farms and it's on May 4th.

So, it's coming up soon.

- It is coming up soon.

But really, you're doing such a great thing for these kids.

Thanks so much for what you do and thanks for being here.

- Thank you so much.

- And if you'd like to know more about Playworks, their race to reduce bullying by the way, is May 4th.

You should arrive at 08:50 in the morning.

The race will start at 9.

It's at Wheeler Historic Farm.

But to find out more and to find out more about the organization, playworks.org/utah, that's playworks.org/utah.

I'm Mary Dickson, thanks for watching Contact.

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.