Founded in 2015, Backyard Players & Friends is an inclusive community organization located in Rockville Centre, New York . We work to give every person a space so that together we can share ideas and experience openness, joy and creativity.  We offer classes throughout the year for our participants to develop physically, emotionally and creatively in an environment where every individual is valued and celebrated for their unique gifts and point of view. Classes offered include art, yoga, theater, dance, music, creative writing and many more. For a full description of all of our classes click here.

 

In addition to our weekly classes, we offer a wide range of community outreach programs. Employment Connections supports the development of job readiness skills and employment opportunities with business partners in the local community. Love, Nana supports families in needs while providing service experiences in our donation center. "BYP on the Go!" is a traveling workshop which visits local schools while promoting emotional intelligence when navigating through tough social interactions that all individuals face daily. 

 

During the past several years, we have served over 200 participants with over 20 course offerings and dozens of community partners. In the fall of 2021, we proudly opened The Backyard, an inclusive community space located in the heart of Rockville Centre. This location serves as a central meeting point for our classes and outreach programs. From our founding, we have believed that inclusion makes our world a better place and that everyone is welcome in The Backyard.