Mia Intagliata, Sophia Web and Nicholas Copeland | Kirkwood Senior High School
Natural smiles lift the faces of athletes, parents and volunteers who enter the Center of Clayton, a city-school district shared recreational facility. Thanks to KEEN St. Louis, mothers like Peggy Vineyard have an outlet where both parent and child can let loose, leaving all burdens of the real world behind as they enter a space where boundaries know no names.
In the past 30 years, KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) St. Louis has become a staple institution for families of children with special needs, creating a safe space where they feel empowered to play without limitations. Vineyard and her daughter have attended KEEN athletic sessions for 10 years.
"She enjoys the peers she wouldn't have otherwise unless she's in the classroom or at school. Kids with special needs, even leading up into adulthood, don't have the same access that you would." Vineyard explained that neurotypical kids find their own friends whereas it isn't a natural trait of neurodivergent kids.
Vineyard said a favorite thing about KEEN is the committed volunteers, who never fail to make her daughter feel welcome and active. At KEEN, kids are matched one-on-one with a volunteer, creating an environment that Elizabeth Novak, program manager for KEEN St. Louis, said helps all kids feel included. It gives parents a break and is part of the program philosophy as well.
Colin Bruns, KEEN coaching committee member, started volunteering with his mom when he was in high school. He continued volunteering into college and currently is in his seventh year with the organization.
"In high school I did this thing called Young Men's Service League, an organization (where) you volunteer with your mom," Bruns said. "This is one of our philanthropies that we did and (I) fell in love with it."
Novak said parents should know the program happens in the enclosed environment. "We want to let the parents know that (their) kid is safe," she added.
At KEEN, Novak said that while safety is a top priority, so is ensuring that all participants, families included, feel like they are in an environment where they can be comfortable and feel accepted. As the parent of a son with autism, Novak said it's hard for many special needs families to find a place where their child belongs. She appreciates that KEEN makes a point of accepting everyone, meaning the staff requires no IEP (individual education plan) or medical and school diagnosis.
"We take everybody, so we have some kids that are dyslexic or they might be a little bit socially awkward, and it goes all the way through the gamma," Novak said. "We take them all and let them play."
KEEN emphasizes being noncompetitive, which is important in maintaining an environment where kids can avoid competing for titles and roles. Playing, laughing, having a good time and just being themselves is of the utmost importance.
"No matter who you are, KEEN is a place where everyone is accepted and everyone has fun," Novak added.