How pretend play can impact kids’ literacy

“Around the Corner” is a PhillyCAM show that offers local social impact leaders the opportunity to share what impact their work is having on the Philadelphia area. 

Martha Cooney is in the business of play.

Cooney is the founder and director of StoryUP!, a social enterprise that aims to “inspire and connect with kids through comedy and storytelling to build their literacy skills.” She started the organization when she noticed a connection between her young students’ pretend play and their writing skills. An improviser in real life, she brought together her network of fellow improvisers and comedians to begin incorporating literacy workshops with live, interactive performances of children’s stories.

For our second “Around the Corner” interview, Community Manager Mo Manklang spoke with Cooney about StoryUP!’s partnership with the Free Library, how other youth-oriented organizations can best interact with parents and how StoryUP! measures its own impact.

PhillyCAM is Comcast channel 66/966HD/967 and Verizon FIOS channel 29/30 in Philadelphia.