Founded in September 2025, Playfully Connected is a Southwest Louisiana nonprofit dedicated to strengthening families through meaningful connection and play. Our mission is to make enriching family experiences accessible to all by providing free, play-based programs, activities, and community events for children and their caregivers.

Through programs like Bonding & Brain Building, Sensory Playtime, and Coffees, Kiddos, & Connections, families are given welcoming opportunities to play, learn, and grow together. Our hands-on experiences support healthy child development while helping children build social, emotional, language, and motor skills and giving caregivers opportunities to connect with their children and their community.

At Playfully Connected, we believe every family deserves a place to play, connect, and belong.

Connect through learning. Bond through play.

About Playfully Connected.

Founding Board Members (2025-2026)

From left to right

Alyssa Devillier, Secretary

Téa Lafargue, Vice-President

Rachel Stevenson Sims, Founder & President

Mayita Rodriguez, Officer

Meet The Board of Directors.

Rachel Stevenson Sims

Founder & President

Rachel Sims lives in Lake Charles. LA. with her husband, Christopher, and her son, Reagan. She is a graduate of McNeese State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Studies and a Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Health Administration and Education from William Carey University. She is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst and currently works as an Instructor of Psychology at McNeese State University.

Rachel is passionate about ensuring all families have access to free opportunities to learn, play, and bond, while also getting more engaged with their community, which is why she established Playfully Connected.

Rachel is an Infant and Toddler Bonding and Brain Building Instructor and Sensory Playtime instructor for Playfully Connected.

Téa Lafargue

Vice-President

Born and raised in Lake Charles, Téa is a proud mom to one daughter and is deeply passionate about building spaces where families connect.

By profession. Téa is an Occupational Therapist, primarily working with adults and the geriatric population. Through her work. she sees firsthand how meaningful community engagement and accessible activities can positively impact quality of life. She is honored to use both her professional background and personal passion to help strengthen and serve the community.

Tea is a Sensory Playtime instructor for Playfully Connected.

Alyssa Devillier

Secretary

Alyssa is from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and attended McNeese State University, graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She lives in Crowley with her husband, Zach, and her 1-year-old son, Jansen, and her newborn son, John Taylor.

When her son was born, she knew she needed to find a community where she and her baby could have positive interactions with people in their community. She is thrilled to be a part of Playfully Connected to help bring more community-building resources to the SWLA.

Alyssa is a Sensory Playtime instructor for Playfully Connected.

Mayita Rodriguez

Officer

Mayita is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, and moved to Lake Charles with her husband and daughter in 2025 after previously living in New Orleans. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and brings seven years of experience as a pre-K and kindergarten teacher, along with a Master’s degree in Biology Education. Her graduate research focused on developing scientific observation skills in preschool children.

As a board member of Playfully Connected, Mayita is excited to contribute her experience as an educator, mother, and bilingual professional. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to share her native Spanish language through bilingual experiences that help make Playfully Connected programs welcoming and inclusive for families.

Mayita provides English-to-Spanish translation services to families enrolled in all Playfully Connected programs.

Making a difference. One family at a time.

102 families have participated in our programs

114 children have taken part in our Sensory Playtime or Infant Bonding and Brain Building Programs

Families from Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Beauregard, Acadia, and Allen Parishes have attended our programs

5 5-week sessions hosted in Lake Charles and Sulphur

33 families took part in the program

100% of participating families reported that their knowledge of developmentally appropriate activities to enhance their child’s communication skills increased after participating in the program.