Our Team
Susan Caruso-B&P Founder
Susan is the Director and Founder of Sunflower Creative Arts. In June 2018, Susan started Build and Play as a community outreach program that strives to give all children access to child-directed free play. She is a specialist in guiding children and adults to discover their passions, realize their potential and develop a strong personal voice. She has been an educator, master player, parenting mentor, musician and compassionate voice and advocate for children for over 30 years.
Michele Service-B&P Director
Michele is an artist, tree-hugger and educator who enjoys putting smiles on students’ faces, and being an encouragement to exceed expectations at every opportunity. Originally from Barbados, Michele earned her B.A. in Commercial Art from Stockton State University and M.A. in Education from Fielding Graduate University. She has pursued many opportunities as a Sales Administrator, Director of a private school, Paraprofessional, art instructor, teacher at a Charter School and co-founder of a community garden before joining Sunflower Creative Arts as a teacher in 2015 and then Director of Build and Play in 2021.
Marissa Manister - B&P Admin
Marissa is a passionate mother, teacher, friend and play advocate who joined Sunflower Creative Arts in the spring of 2024. She holds a dual state certification and M.A in General and Exceptional Students Early Childhood Education, a certificate in Social & Emotional Intelligence Coaching. Marissa taught in a variety of settings over the course of her 20+ year career in childcare and education.
Since her son was born in August of 2020, her desire to keep freedom and child led play in early childhood settings expanded greatly. So it was only fitting that after learning about Build & Play Marissa immediately knew she wanted to join the team and began working as a Play Counselor. She has since become our Build & Play administrator. Marissa is honored to be a part of both Sunflower and B&P where she can use her skills and talents to help BRING BACK PLAY TO EVERY CHILD'S LIFE.
Play Clounselors
Our Play Counselors consists of playful community members who share the belief that all children need time, space and freedom to play.
Role of a Play Counselor
- Oversee the children playing but do not interfere in children’s play. ex: place a soon-to-be need item or object near the student where they can miraculously find what they need
- Set up and clean up playful spaces
- Provide basic materials such as loose parts or boxes and organize special project boxes.
- Assess risks and modify the physical environment to meet the needs of the children
- Support children’s ideas
- Promote child-directed play
. You too can BRING BACK PLAY TO EVERY CHILD'S LIFE.
Volunteers & Interns
Our volunteers & teen interns share the belief that all children need time, space and freedom to play. If you would like to volunteer or intern, please click below.
We would love to hear from you!
Build & Play is a community program of Sunflower Creative Arts, a Delray Beach based 501c3 nonprofit empowering children to be confident, creative and compassionate through Play, Nature and the Arts. We are funded by donors, grants, Sunflower Creative Arts, The Jim Moran Foundation, The Coalition and Prime Time Palm Beach County.