In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Sarah Lisiecki of Burke about how Burke’s product development is inspired by the “cans” -- what kids can do, not their limitations.
BIO:
Sarah Lisiecki is Communication & Education Manager at Burke. She combines a passion for play, the outdoors, and movement with more than ten years in the play industry and hundreds of presentations given on topics from Inclusive Design, Musical Play, and Trends in Play at Parks and Recreation Conferences, District Meetings, Landscape Architect Firms, and Representative Trainings. She studied Communications and Political Science at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). As an advocate for play as a critical part of development, she serves on the Steering Committee of the US Play Coalition, on the Parks & Recreation Editorial Advisory Board, as part of the IPEMA Marketing Committee, and as a member of multiple play research project teams and the Product Development Council, and she presents at a variety of conferences. She spends her spare time hiking, running, biking and climbing with her (many) rescue dogs.
Burke:
Burke helps create environments for children and communities to play, move, gather, learn, socialize and develop. It’s Burke's passion, mission and business to bring research-based products and designs to foster the best, most equitable outcomes in play and learning. Join the Movement and be moved by play!
LINKS:
https://www.bciburke.com/
About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
