OUR CORE PRINCIPLES ARE
SERVICE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
STRENGTH
OUR MISSION
Youth Boxing for Change utilizes boxing as a vehicle to empower young people from under-resourced communities to develop their sense of social responsibility.
We believe in the power of our teens to create change in their communities.
In order to build a more equitable world, we believe that it is crucial to strengthen youth for them to reach their full potential. Our core values central to our work with youth are service and social responsibility, and we take a unique, multi-faceted approach to achieve this by providing: boxing for its physical and mental health benefits; a dedicated mentor for individualized support; and service and leadership opportunities to empower our youth to be facilitators of change in their communities. We create an intentional space of acceptance, inclusivity, and understanding.
OUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING
BOXING
Boxing classes provide discipline, physical and mental strength. Boxing is a unique sport that empowers participants, yet also allows them to embrace their vulnerabilities. When our youth feel physically strong, it can help positively affect other aspects of their lives as well.
MENTORSHIP
We match each youth participant with a rigorously screened mentor to give them support and guidance both inside and outside the boxing ring. Mentors can make a lasting impact on the lives of youth – the guidance of a caring and experienced individual can contribute in the development of a young person's personal strengths and abilities.
SERVICE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We provide service and leadership opportunities to empower our youth to make change in their communities and develop a sense of social responsibility. These opportunities enable youth to participate in civic engagement while developing empathy about the world around them. Experiences like these have a lasting, positive impact for youth, as well as for the community being served.
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
We coordinate various enrichment activities to expose our youth to unique experiences, people, and ideas beyond their everyday interactions. This includes workshops, field visits, and more, based on the interest of our current participants. Our aim is to inspire them to reach their full potential and dream big about their futures.
OUR APPROACH
One of the most formative times in a person’s life is when they transition into adulthood. This is when teenagers develop their sense of the future, identity and how to contribute to society. This time can pose challenges such as not having a nurturing and safe environment where they can fully develop their identities; not having a strong support system; and not feeling like they have a voice in building a just and equitable society - and therefore their own futures. Teenagers today suffer more than ever before from depression, stress, anxiety, drug and alcohol use, low self-esteem, bullying, and peer pressure. Addressing these challenges must be approached from many angles.
Our model draws upon various elements - boxing, service, social justice - along with the fundamental approach of the Positive Youth Development Model’s key outcomes - competence, confidence, connection, character, compassion. This has resulted in our unique, transdisciplinary program which reaches a diverse group of youth to address their challenges. We ultimately want our youth to experience a beneficial change in their attitudes and behaviors, as well as increase their commitment to social change.
SOME OF OUR SUPPORTERS
