KaBOOM! - it starts with a playground

I am the Vice President of Mass Action at KaBOOM! The Mass Action team foccuses on providing inspiration and tools to anyone, anyhwere who wants to take action for the cause of play--as an individual or as a leader who organizes their community to build or improve a playspace or advocate for the vital role of play in a child's life.

I remember when “unstructured play” wasn’t a concept, but how I lived much of my life. I vividly recall childhood summers, as dusk turned to dark each evening. Back doors opened throughout the neighborhood, spilling out light, as moms stuck their heads out and yelled their kids’ names. This chorus of beckoning calls, which gradually increased in volume, were ignored for a while, as all the kids, sweaty, dirty, exhausted and excited, continued to play to the last possible moment and beyond. I am excited to help make this childhood experience available to all of today’s children by making Americans more aware of the importance of creating safe and innovative places to play.

Prior to joining KaBOOM!, I headed up marketing at Animal Planet, was a brand strategy consultant, and worked as a creative director at a number of advertising agencies, including Leo Burnett in Chicago. I have a PhD in history, was a Fulbright scholar and still love a teeter-totter.

You can e-mail me at jhunn@kaboom.org. 

How many playspaces have you helped build?
17

What skills can you contribute to a playspace build or campaign for play?
I love mixing cement and hauling mulch. The Mass Action team provides online tools that enable anyone, anywhere to build or improve playgrounds.