: Founded in 2013, our work began in partnership with the Egleston Square YMCA where we offered martial arts classes once per week to teenagers living in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. We gradually expanded beyond athletics and developed our College Access and Workforce Development offerings to ensure youth achieve their ambitions off of the mat. In 2017, we opened our 6,500 square foot Training Center that is managed by our youth staff, called Student Trainers.
Our 2-year Student Trainer Workforce Development & Academic Enrichment program:
-Trains and certifies youth as Fitness Professionals through hands-on skills development
-Develops youth as our principal Gym Managers, equipping them with expertise in operations, administration, and client management
-Provides 1:1 personalized mentorship and career coaching
-Supports academic achievement through tutoring and post-secondary preparation
-Connects youth to internship opportunities that relate to their career interests
-Ensures every youth graduates from high school and transitions to a meaningful post-secondary or career pathway
-Promotes healthy living through ongoing nutrition and social-emotional development workshops
We offer 25 weekly athletic classes Monday-Saturday that remain free to youth/affordable for adults. During the 2022-2023 school year, we served 614 youth and adults through athletics. This social enterprise model bolsters financial sustainability and scales impact by increasing access to engaging physical activity options to community residents of all ages.
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