Why did I name our game-based learning program Playmaker?
Before I officially formed Jubileague, I spent years observing the gaming industry and studying its history. It was a pastime, but I was fascinated by it. Then I came across a statistic that stuck with me: people who look like me make up about 20% of video game consumers but less than 2% of game producers. That disparity bothered me. It’s not even on par with the demographics of this country. Digging deeper, I found that access to education and resources in game design and development was disproportionate. And without access, the idea of being a person who makes games (not just a person who plays games) never even enters the minds of many young people.
At the same time, I saw firsthand how much potential was being left untapped. Over the years, I’ve mentored and tutored students, introducing them to computer science through games using tools like Scratch, Code.org, and Google’s CS First. Some of them completed those programs hungry for more, eager to build their own games and apps.
I wanted to create something that provided real value to young creatives. Something I would have loved as a kid. When brainstorming a name, I knew I wanted the word ‘play’ to be inside of it. Taking a page from Malcolm X’s learning routine, I geeked out on wordplay—grabbed the dictionary, sprawled out on the floor, and jotted down every word I could find that started with or contained ‘play.’
Then I found it: Playmaker.
A playmaker is someone who executes plays designed to put their teammates in a position to score. Someone who moves offensively and strategically. That definition resonated instantly. That’s exactly what I want this program to do: make plays that put young people in a position to score…in life, in school, in career, in entrepreneurship.
Playmaker, for the win!