Math Playground, National Flagway Tournament Events Invite Cambridge Families to Experience the Joy in Math on May 16

The Young People's Project (YPP), in partnership with the Cambridge STEAM Initiative and Cambridge Public Schools, invite Cambridge students, families, educators, and community partners to the 10th annual National Flagway Tournament and Math Playground on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the MIT Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center, 120 Vassar St.

The day-long math extravaganza will kick off with the Math Playground, a family-centered community experience where math becomes visible, social, and shared. Cambridge families are invited to explore the Math Playground, which will feature more than 30 interactive, math-centered games tailored to students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The event is free and open to the public.

Following a lunch hour where young people and families can enjoy a variety of food trucks, the National Flagway Tournament will be held from 1 - 4:30 p.m. The Flagway Tournament is a fast-paced, team-based competition rooted in number theory and led through YPP's near-peer model of youth leadership. Developed by civil rights activist and math educator Bob Moses, Flagway is a game played by 5th - 8th graders with the same elements as most sports. While competing to earn points, players navigate a Flagway, or course of radial "paths," derived from the Mobius Function mathematical equation.

This year marks the 10th annual National Flagway Tournament, and 15 teams from across the country will travel to Cambridge to compete at the event. Community members are encouraged to attend the tournament to support the Cambridge team, comprised of dozens of 5 - 8th graders across five Cambridge Public Schools.

"Flagway has always been about more than competition. It is about creating environments where young people can experience math as something they do together, lead publicly, and carry back into their communities," said Sam Freeman, Greater Boston Site Director. "We are thrilled to celebrate the 10th year of the Flagway Tournament in Cambridge, where the concept of Flagway was first created. We're also excited to partner with the Cambridge STEAM Initiative and Cambridge Public Schools on the Math Playground, which broadens this exploration of math to all Cambridge families."

"The Math Playground and Flagway Tournament events reflect a shared belief among YPP, the Cambridge STEAM Initiative, and Cambridge Public Schools that access to joyful, meaningful math experiences is a matter of equity," said Sharlene Yang, Director of the Cambridge STEAM Initiative. "This community-centered day of math also aligns with the work that our Math is a Civil Right Collective Action Group is leading. We hope caregivers and parents will leave with new ideas for exploring math with their kids at home and the understanding that math isn't just something that happens in school - it's everywhere, and it can be fun."

"Joy and play are not extras in mathematics-they are essential. When students experience math in spaces beyond the classroom, supported by educators, families, and community partners, they build confidence, curiosity, and a deep sense of belonging," said Siobahn Mulligan, Director of Mathematics, Cambridge Public Schools. "At Cambridge Public Schools, we know that it takes a village to make this possible, and we are committed to this shared work so that every student develops the mathematical understanding, identity, and agency to succeed without barriers and to contribute to a more just and equitable society."

Registration is recommended for the Math Playground portion of the event. For more information and to register, visit https://www.typp.org/10th_annual_flagway_tournament.

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About The Young People's Project

The Young People's Project is a youth development organization that uses math literacy as a tool to develop leadership, learning, and educational equity. Through a near-peer model, YPP trains young people as Math Literacy Workers who support younger students through engaging, community-centered math experiences. https://www.typp.org/

About the Cambridge STEAM Initiative

The Cambridge STEAM Initiative is a joint effort of the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Schools, and the Cambridge Public Library. The STEAM Initiative works with Cambridge K-12 schools and universities, community organizations, City departments, employers, and residents to open doors to opportunities and career pathways in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). The Cambridge STEAM Initiative is co-leading the Math is a Civil Right movement, with the goal of ensuring that all Cambridge families have the tools, support, and confidence to nurture their child's math thinking from the very beginning. Every child deserves a fair chance to learn math. www.cambridgema.gov/STEAM

About the Cambridge Public Schools Math Department

The mission of the Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) Math Department is that all CPS students will graduate with the mathematical literacy and confidence needed to be successful in any post-secondary pathway they choose, without the need for remediation. Their math identity will be built on a foundation of belonging, ignite joy, and support their ability to be agents of change, understanding that math is a civil right for all. https://www.cpsd.us/