Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/555971
photography courtesy of the boston marathon (marathon) at the earliest stages of planning. Now The Play Brigade is campaigning to raise $1 million for inclu- sive playground design in Greater Boston. It recently donated $45,000 to Boston's Parks & Recreation Department, allowing the city to purchase addi- tional equipment for an accessible picnic grove in Franklin Park—with specially designed swings, game tables, and other playground amenities that are suitable for kids of all physical abilities. The word "inclusion" is important to Oates, who believes that compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is not enough. "Inclusion isn't just curb cut s a nd wheelcha ir -accessible bat hroom stalls," she says. "It has to do with engaging a per- son in a space in a way that's fulfilling. You might have access to the party, but just because you're in the room doesn't mean you can participate." Oates's endeavor is la rgely sel f-f u nded, sup - por ted by a net work of volu nteers (she ha s one salaried employee) who raise funds through road races and other special events. (On November 4, she'l l boog ie on beha l f of T he Play Br igade at Dancing with the Brookline Stars, an annual fund- raiser for various nonprofits, where she hints that her choice of dance partner will "spotlight inclu- sion.") Oates's pa ssion a nd init iat ive caught t he attent ion of t he insura nce g ia nt John Ha ncock, which has sponsored a series of planning summits where The Play Brigade, in partnership with orga- nizations such as the National Inclusion Project, brings together city reps, community stakeholders, and disability activists, like Boston Marathon leg- end Dick Hoyt and former Boston University hockey player Trav is Roy. A mong t he sum m it s' accom- plishments is the Boston Compact for Community Inclusion, an agreement by organizations in a vari- ety of disciplines to perform a self-assessment of their inclusion practices. Oates a lso drew t he not ice of Ma rk Per rone, CEO of t he Gra nd P r i x of Boston, who ha m- mered out the high-profile multiyear deal to bring IndyCar, the prestigious auto-racing league behind the Indianapolis 500, to the Hub starting in 2016. Now IndyCa r Boston is in discussions w it h The Play Brigade to create a competitive, professionally ma naged f ive -k ilometer r unning race in which athletes of all abilities would compete side by side. Its track? The local IndyCar racetrack, of course. It's an opportunit y that thrills Oates, as it would demonst rate for people a ll over t he world t hat "Boston is a leader" in inclusion, she says, and give the issue a "national platform." High-performance auto racing is an apt meta- phor for the speed with which Oates's nonprofit has roared into action. But "I don't consider what I do work," she says. "Every single day, I have an excit- ing oppor tunit y to ma ke posit ive cha nge in t he world—and for my family." playbrigade.com BC below: Oates running the Boston Marathon with a team from The Play Brigade. right: Oates and Harper at their local playground. Charity register Opportunities to give. Dana-Farber CanCer InstItute What: An Evening with Champions, now in its 45th year of presenting performances by world-class fgure skaters, benefts the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Run entirely by Harvard University students, the event has raised more than $2.7 million and hopes to collect $60,000 this year to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research. In the past, the show has featured fve-time world champion and nine-time US champion Michelle Kwan and Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim. aneveningwithchampions.org When: September 18 and 19, 7 pm Where: Bright-Landry Hockey Arena, 79 N. Harvard St. boston ChIlDren's hospItal What: Join Milagros para Niños and host John Quiñones for a night of dinner and dancing to beneft Boston Children's Hospital. The gala, chaired this year by Carolina Alarco and Monica Neuman, celebrates the Latino community, its culture, and its compassionate leaders in raising money for a number of BCH programs that help Latino children and their families, among others. Over the past fve years, the gala has raised more than $2.7 million. giving.childrenshospital.org When: September 18, 6 pm Where: Westin Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St. esplanaDe assoCIatIon What: Sip seasonal cocktails, enjoy a live auction and a farm-to-table dinner, and dance under the stars on the Charles River Esplanade at the black- tie Moondance Gala. Last year's event raised more than $950,000 to fund the restoration of the Hatch Shell. This year's committee, cochaired by Cynthia Croatti, Allison Hirsch, and Sandra Steele, hopes to surpass that fgure to help protect the park's natural environment and to continue community programs such as Healthy Fit and Fun. esplanadeassociation.org When: September 26, 6:30 pm Where: Charles River Esplanade, Fiedler Field roDman rIDe For KIDs What: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rodman Ride for Kids by cheering on participants in 25-, 50-, and 100-mile bike rides to support at-risk children in the United States. Started by Don Rodman, the event raises funds for nearly 50 affliated youth-focused social-service charities in Greater Boston, such as the Boston Police Athletic League, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, and The Red Sox Foundation. rodmanforkids.org When: September 26, various starting times Where: 10 Lincoln Road, Foxboro "inclusion isn't just curb cuts. it has to do with engaging a person in a space in a way that's fulfilling." —dawn oates bostoncommon-magazine.com 71