The purpose of the Youth Sports Initiative is to create, coordinate, and organize a structure/framework within Minneapolis schools, parks and community for youth sports in Minneapolis and to fundraise for this initiative.
Scroll further down this page to find more info on Who we are, our goals and Updates on this initiative.
Background
Adolescent Time Use, Risky Behavior and Outcomes, Department of Health and Human Services, 1995, found that students who do not participate in extracurricular activities are:
++57% more likely to drop out of school by the time they are seniors;
++49% more likely to use drugs;
++37% more likely to become teen parents;
++35% more likely to smoke cigarettes; and
++27% more likely to have been arrested.
Why is Afterschool So Critical?, Research by Heart House:
++Children have four times greater risk of being the victim of a violent crime during the hours after school;
++35% of twelve-year-olds are left alone regularly while their parents are at work;
++Juvenile crime triples when the school bell rings at the end of the day;
++Studies around the nation have proven that young people in after school programs:
++Are two time less likely to use drugs;
++Are one-third less likely to become teen parents;
++Have improved school attendance and do their homework more often and better;
++Give kids opportunities to expand their friends and build relationships with caring adults/mentors;
++Involve entire communities in the enrichment of young people;
++Increase parental involvement.
Who
++ Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board (YCB)—The initiative is led by Youth Development Consultant McKinley Boston, Ed.D. The YCB is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the healthy and comprehensive development of all Minneapolis children and youth through collaborative action. Its priorities are to expand youth development opportunities, including athletics, coordinate early childhood and school readiness efforts, and increase academic achievement in Minneapolis.
++ The YCB has built a reputation as a key capacity-building organization that facilitates relevant, effective, and groundbreaking activities on behalf of youth, families, and communities. The YCB believes that the total healthy development of children and youth requires strong family and educational support combined with essential youth leadership and youth development opportunities.
++ The YCB is collaborating with Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, corporate partners, community-based organizations, and community members to develop this comprehensive youth sports framework.
Goals
1. Increase participation of middle school aged youth in high-quality sports programs in the City of Minneapolis
2. Ensure that coordination among the Minneapolis Public Schools, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Community occurs in order to increase participation and quality.
3. Undertake a major fundraising campaign to support an increase in participation and quality programming in middle-school aged sports in the City of Minneapolis.
4. Promote healthy youth development.
Updates
The Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board together with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Minneapolis Public Schools formed a work group to examine youth sports and to carry out the above four goals.
The workgroup is chaired by McKinley Boston, Ed. D, YCB Youth Development Consultant.
The workgroup decided to tackle softball and baseball as its first sport. It developed a workplan that included a list of priorities and actions that partners can take to ensure the four overarching goals. A community summit was held to bring together members from the community who are involved in softball and baseball in the City of Minneapolis on several levels.
++ On February 25, 2003 the Minneapolis Public Schools passed a resolution in support of the initiative and Workplan
++ On February 26, 2003 the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board passed a resolution in support of the initiative and Workplan.
