Playmaker University Graduation: The Life is Good Playmaker Project + Riverside Industries

Tuesday was graduation day here at Riverside. Our first cohort of Playmaker University students received their diplomas - and Life is Good Playmaker University swag - officially earning the title of Playmaker alumni.

Steve Gross, MSW, Founder and Chief Playmaker at the The Life is Good Playmaker Project, grounded everyone before the commencement ceremony with the words of Mary Oliver. His challenge to our team… “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Rainbow Merola, Riverside’s Administrative Assistant and a new Playmaker alumna, reflected on the ceremony, "Those words nearly brought me to tears. We all chose to use our one big beautiful life for the sole purpose of learning how to bring joy and beauty into the world for others."

The days are full, and the work may seem very hard sometimes. We may not always feel like we have permission to play but guess what... we do. Members of our staff across all programs and levels of employment participated in this program and are now finding new ways to make space for joy and play in both their personal lives and here at work. Ultimately, that elevates everything we do.

Thanks again to the team at The Life is Good Playmaker Project for providing this opportunity, and congratulations to our Playmaker University graduates!