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Author: Denise McGeen

  • Expanding Opportunities for Youth with the Greater Detroit Tennis Alliance

    Michele Hurst Burton, Executive Director at USTA Southeast Michigan Tennis Association (SEMTA), came to her current role from banking and nonprofit management. She brought with her a deep appreciation of the impact of collaboration amongst organizations. In 2018 she worked to bring entities providing tennis programming across Detroit together under the umbrella of the Greater Detroit Tennis Alliance (GDTA), with a goal to expand opportunities for youth to learn and play tennis. The GDTA includes five additional teaching partners: Motor City Tennis Club, People for Palmer Park, Stoepel Park Tennis Academy, Clark Park Coalition, and Flat Out Tennis. They received a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds to help address each organization’s capacity or programming needs and ultimately change the dynamics of their programs.

    People for Palmer Park Tennis Academy has grown from serving 30 kids the summer it was founded 11 years ago to serving 200 kids in the summer of 2021. For Coach Leonora King, the grant support has a ripple effect on the program. Coaches are now paid through GDTA, which has opened up resources for increased programming. They have been able to serve more kids, acquire better equipment and continue to keep costs low and accessible for participants.

    Motor City Tennis Club, which is led by Coach Burrell Shields, has used grant funds to train instructors to teach tennis in Detroit Public Schools Community District elementary and middle schools. As a result of budget cuts, schools stopped offering tennis, and students could not benefit from the social, educational, and health impacts of playing. Now students can participate in programs during and after school and are also connected to summer tennis camps and programs.

    As tennis players, Michele, Leonora, and Burrell are passionate about the benefits of playing. Inspired by Billie Jean King, Leonora began playing tennis at age 15 on the tennis courts at Palmer Park and has played ever since. She received a college scholarship to play for Western Michigan University. “I love the sport. It was all mine, and it wasn’t until I started the [Palmer Park Tennis Academy] program that I learned that sharing with these kids is the biggest reward ever.” 

    Leonora loves to see how playing tennis helps kids build their confidence and develop a sense of pride and ownership in their capabilities. Kids who play team and tournament tennis are incredibly proud of their identity as tennis players. One player, 11-year-old Harmonie, was initially hesitant when she began playing at the Palmer Park Tennis Academy. As her confidence grew, Leonora said, “she became more personable and outgoing in relationships with me, other coaches and other kids.”

    Michele describes tennis as a sport for life: “It has taught me patience and tenacity and given me friendships that have lasted 30 years. And now it’s a career.” Yet, tennis is a sport that is often not accessible to kids of diverse backgrounds. Michele believes that it is important for kids to see people who look like them and who have had similar experiences as they want to have. She shared an example of a young Black man whose parents were disappointed in how he was received and treated at a predominantly white program in the metro Detroit area. “Your future performance is based on your foundation and your self-esteem,” explains Michele. Building confidence and good sportsmanship are as critical as learning the technical skills of the game. At Palmer Park Tennis Academy, the young man has felt welcomed and is growing on and off the courts. In her role at USTA, Michele is committed to promoting tennis across diverse communities and dedicating resources to organizations that serve all ages, from young kids to older adults.

    Burrell echoes the lifelong impact tennis can have on kids. “Tennis is a vehicle for kids to pursue other opportunities. Our programs impart not only physical skills but help develop life skills.” Kids who have participated in his program have gone on to pursue higher education and have successful careers as professionals and business owners. He sees tennis as a pathway for kids to access higher education. 20,000 tennis scholarships go unanswered every year by American players. Community programs like the ones that GDTA members lead help young people gain the exposure and skills to apply for these scholarship opportunities. 

    In March 2022, the USTA hosted the Junior Team Tennis District Championship at Deer Lake Athletic Club in Clarkston. Matches were played between JTT teams who won their district flights during the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 season. Burrell and Leonora both had teams competing in the championship. At the event, players shared the impact tennis has had on them and their ambitions for the future.

    Meet Addison

    “Tennis has taught me not to get stressed out over small things and to focus more.”

    Meet Harmonie

    “I want to go professional, I have really good coaches – one of my coaches is a retired professional, one of them coaches at Cranbrook, and Coach Lee, she’s just the best coach ever.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Experiencing 94 ft of Possibility with Advancing Macomb

    Basketball courts are more than just a place to play a game. In Black communities. they are a place where kids learn life lessons and multigenerational community members gather. 

    A few years ago, Karl Hayes and Tommy Barnes started volunteering at a formerly defunct local community center along with other dads in the community. They helped manage the day-to-day operations indoors but soon realized the kids wanted an outdoor space to play in the summer. The nearby basketball court was not in good shape, and parents felt unsafe having their kids play there. 

    Karl and Tommy were inspired to develop an initiative called 94 Feet of Possibility, through which they organized over 100 volunteers to refurbish the courts. The courts became a point of pride for the local community, marking the beginning of a journey to make the space more functional for young people.

    Mt. Clemens has a higher concentration of African Americans than other cities in the predominantly white Macomb County. And like many cities in southeast Michigan, it was deeply impacted by the Great Recession in the late 2000s. Municipal resources were cut, and the city’s school and after-school programming and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities suffered. There are many long-lasting consequences. Schools and community centers that closed have not reopened or been repurposed. Karl, who is also a coach, artist, and musician, says that many parents choose to send their kids to other school districts so kids who live near each other do not grow up playing together, and this leads to a disjointed community. 

    Once the courts were in usable shape, they focused on ensuring equipment was ample and accessible. With support from Advancing Macomb, a nonprofit committed to connecting community challenges with high-impact solutions, and SportPort, an equipment-sharing pilot program led by Project Play: Southeast Michigan and made possible by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, 94 Feet has been able to install ball racks and supply basketballs at three locations in Macomb County: Shadyside Park in Mount Clemens, Prince Drewry Park in Clinton Township, and Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township. 

    During the Covid-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020, Advancing Macomb and TCB Youth Mentoring gave away 2,000 Project Play kits for at-home recreation. They partnered with the Mount Clemens Public Library and LK St. Clair Soccer to distribute the kits, which included basketballs, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and other equipment with local partners Mount Clemens Public Library and LK St. Clair Soccer.

    Once Covid-19 related mandates were lifted, 94 Feet programming returned bigger and better. They worked with the City to reopen the community center and expand their programming. They now offer entry-level sports programs to promote sports sampling and family “free play” opportunities. They have initiated a family kickball league that brings out parents, kids, and seniors to play and watch. SportPort equipment is available on-site for kids and families to use. Tommy and Karl describe the environment as family-centered, fun, and not overly competitive.

    “I like how they let kids of all ages come here. I like the adults that teach kids how to grow to be better people.”

    – Julian

    “I like everything about basketball. (As one of the few girls) it feels the same like I’m one of them. You gotta play like them or get off the court.”

    Leah

    “You can just relieve all your stress up here and play basketball and not get into no trouble.”

    – Ramere

    94 Feet is committed to engaging young people in the work of community building. During the lockdown, a local teen, Antonio, got equipment from SportPort for his little brother. Seeing how much he enjoyed it, Antonio began taking equipment to different community housing projects in the area. He was later hired through MiWorks to support SportPort, and once in-person programs returned, he helped engage his brother and other kids in the programming offered by 94 Feet. Antonio’s commitment has inspired the program to employ more high schoolers.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Building Champions in Life with Figure Skating in Detroit

    Like the figure skating industry as a whole, most figure skating clubs in metro Detroit are predominantly white. Figure Skating in Detroit (FSD) intentionally provides girls of color a space to grow and cultivates a sense of sisterhood.

    “We put women in front of them who are doing the things they could see themselves doing. We make sure they meet with and talk to women who look like them,” explains Executive Director Lori Ward. The program works with girls from 1st through 12th grade, a significant growth and transition period. It is well documented that in early adolescence, many girls participate less at school and fall behind academically, do not engage in play and sports as much, and develop unhealthy body images. Apart from these challenges, girls participating in FSD’s programming face systemic challenges like generational poverty and racism.

    FSD’s program is designed to help girls build leadership and life skills and strengthen their academic achievement while partaking in fitness and figure skating training. It is modeled after Figure Skating in Harlem, an organization that has served girls for the past 25 years. The Harlem team wanted to develop a new chapter and, after a nationwide search, selected Detroit. FSD provides an after-school program titled I Can Excel (ICE), a summer day camp, and community workshops.

    ICE includes on-ice instruction and off-ice educational programming. Girls are provided with ice skating equipment and practice 3-5 days a week. Everyone performs during the end-of-season show, and girls can audition for one of three synchronized skating teams. Another program called Girls Off-Ice Fitness Investment Training (GO-Fit) teaches them nutrition, fitness, balance, and body awareness through different fitness classes. To improve academic achievement, girls receive tutoring for homework and tests, and their math and reading proficiency is tracked to identify performance below grade level. Through hands-on activities, workshops, and field trips, they explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts, are exposed to various college options and career pathways, and learn life skills such as financial literacy and communication.

    FSD leads workshops on topics including financial literacy, STEM, and entrepreneurship. The emphasis on entrepreneurship is unique to the Detroit chapter. Speakers share their businesses, what it is like to start a business, how to develop business plans, and how to market your business. FSD’s summer camp mirrors its after-school program. Girls work on STEM projects, learn from inspirational guest speakers, and engage in fitness activities alongside daily instruction on ice. The camp culminates in an ice skating performance. 

    By providing different types of programming, FSD can reach many girls across the city. In 2021, more than 50 girls participated in their after-school programming, their workshops targeted 100-150 girls, and the summer camp reached 75 girls. The organization offers tuition based on income for its capstone after-school program and provides scholarships for anyone who needs it. They never turn any family away based on affordability. Support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds have also been instrumental in ensuring participants have what they need to access and use ice rinks. With the funds, FSD has been able to secure time at metro Detroit ice rinks to host their programs and purchase high-quality skating equipment, including guards, bags, uniforms, and custom-fit, comfortable skates. 

    When FSD began in 2017, skater Carrington Conley came to the organization from a synchronized skating team at a predominantly white club, where she felt siloed. At FSD, Carrington found a sense of belonging and was able to express herself through ice skating without feeling discriminated against. Apart from ice skating, she also had an interest in teaching. FSD facilitated opportunities for her to shadow people working in the field and helped her find an internship. Shortly after her high school graduation in 2020, she applied and was interviewed to be a counselor at FSD. She has since graduated from esthetician school and continues to work as a counselor with the organization. 

    In March 2022, FSD held its second annual fundraising event, “Skating with the Stars,” at Campus Martius Park. Girls performed three numbers with Olympic gold medalist Meryl Davis, figure-skating champion Starr Andrews, and Miss Michigan Teen 2020 Aneesa Sheik. A few of them shared their experience with the program and plans for the future:

    “My favorite part about figure skating is learning how to do new things like jumps and spins. The program helps me with my confidence on ice and helps me become a better skater.” – Anaiya

    “Figure skating helps me build self courage and makes me feel empowered just to know that Black girls can do anything and everything. It’s a very uplifting group.” – Karrington

    “I’m going to try my darnedest get a figure skating scholarship in college. This program has taught me so much and has given me so many opportunities that I couldn’t not use it.” – Ty’Lynn

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Sports Sampling with Soar Detroit

    “I focus on using sports to teach kids lessons that will translate for the rest of their lives,” says Nate Schwarze, Director of Soar Detroit Eagle Sports Club (ESC). ESC provides sports programming for kids ages 4-14 on Detroit’s east side. Kids play baseball in the summer, soccer in the spring and fall, flag football in the spring, and ice hockey and basketball in the winter. 

    ESC is a program of Soar Detroit, a faith-based organization that also implements a literacy tutoring program. When Nate joined the organization in 2018, most of Soar Detroit’s resources were directed towards the literacy program, and ESC had fallen to the side. Nate applied his experience in finance, business development, and as a former basketball player to help turn the program around. He has worked to build trust in the community and develop partnerships with nearby church communities in Detroit and Grosse Pointe, as well as organizations such as Eastside FC and the Eastside Hockey Foundation. Through ESC’s partnership with Project Play: Southeast Michigan and support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, they have also implemented a coaches training initiative.

    ESC recruits, trains, and engages volunteer coaches from the local area to help them develop meaningful relationships with the kids who participate. As a former Division 1 basketball player, Nate cannot stress enough the impact coaches have on each kid they interact with. ESC’s coaching initiative is focused on training volunteers to coach in an age and developmentally appropriate and positive manner that fosters a lifelong love of the sport. Some potential volunteers who come to the organization are former players, while others know little or nothing about the sport but are committed to mentoring young people. Nate meets with potential coaches over coffee to get to know them and determine if they are a good fit. He tailors coaches’ training to fill in the gaps in their experience or approach. “Some need support with positive coaching and character development. Others need support with the rules and game,” he says. ESC puts its faith values into practice by fostering an environment of love and support towards the kids and their families. Additionally, encouraging an “attitude of gratitude” towards one another and life.

    ESC has earned its place as a community resource. Its standing became evident to Nate during the Covid-19 pandemic when caregivers reached out directly to him seeking help to keep their kids active and occupied. ESC was able to step up by initiating socially distanced workouts and soccer clinics with safety protocols. 

    Nate is grateful that ESC can serve the community and proud of how it has more recently grown to serve 1,400 kids and offer five different sports programs. The program encourages kids to play as many sports as they can and offers a variety of play options to facilitate sports sampling. While Nate describes ESC’s league as recreational, he also works to help connect kids with solid skills to more competitive opportunities. For example, he has been able to secure scholarships for three kids to play on travel teams to prepare them for college soccer.  

    Parents and grandparents are grateful for ESC too. One parent whose sons attended ESC basketball clinics said, “The boys learned so much and truly had a blast. Our family is so thankful for Eagle Sports!” 

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Providing Everyone Opportunities to Play with City of Port Huron Parks & Recreation

    In southeast Michigan, a family’s household income usually determines their kids’ access to sports and recreation facilities and opportunities. Kids that live in Dulhut Village, Port Huron’s largest low-income housing community, have few places to play within walking distance and limited transportation access. COVID related measures have further restricted their options.

    Port Huron’s Parks & Recreation department recognized the challenging circumstances low income families in the city face and decided to do something about it. They are one of fifteen SportPort partners in southeast Michigan. With support from Project Play Southeast Michigan, they acquire and lend out sporting equipment and other recreational games for free to kids and adults. While Port Huron’s Palmer Park Recreation Center is typically where families come to borrow equipment, the Parks & Recreation department set up a mobile unit to take equipment directly to the kids in Dulhut Village. 

    According to Emily May, Recreation Coordinator for the department, the response has been positive. “We would pull up in our van, and they would run out to play. Kids talked about practicing so they could try out for a team or compete with friends. When we came back the following week, they would tell us what they learned.”

    One particular kid left a lasting impression on Emily. “CJ was just the cutest guy. He always made sure that if he borrowed a basketball the week before, he had it the next week to return. He wanted to practice to try out for a team, and he wanted to play with his older brother.” CJ’s mom expressed how grateful she was that the city was bringing equipment to them because she did not have the means to get to the park to borrow equipment. She shared that it made CJ’s day when Parks & Recreation came out.

    Many Port Huron residents have misconceptions about the city department. “People think we are just the ones who mow the grass or fix equipment, but we are also invested and involved in our community.” Emily describes SportPort as just one of Port Huron Parks & Recreation’s many program offerings. The department provides classes and/or organizes teams in basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, archery, soccer, rugby, and other less common sports. They also offer art and theater classes and a summer day camp with creative exploration and outdoor activities. And since Port Huron is located on the water, swimming is a critical offering to ensure kids stay safe while playing.

    As a Port Huron native, Emily has built connections with kids and families in the community through the Parks and Recreation Department, where she learned how to swim as a kid, worked as a seasonal lifeguard during high school, and as a sports coordinator during college. In her current role as a recreation coordinator, she has also found an inspiring and supportive community within the Parks and Recreation Department. Emily describes Parks & Recreation director Nancy Winzer as a trailblazer in the community. “She has started so many programs, whether a volunteer program or a Disney grant to build a tike track for kids to learn how to ride…she has some kind of magic power.” Emily fondly recalls the pep talk Nancy gave her and the other lifeguards on their first day, wishing them good luck and encouraging them to show the community what they are all about.

    Emily has learned about the power of collaboration too. “I have always been a more independent person. I want to do everything myself, and I want it to be done my way, and that is how I thought I could come into this. It took me about a week to realize that I was wrong — that I needed support, the team, and my supervisors and co-workers. Working together as one fluid machine has helped our community more than anything that I could have done on my own.”

    As a testament to what can be achieved by working together to benefit the community, Parks & Recreation hosted their first-ever SledFest in late January. The event included sledding and sledding competitions, hot cocoa and s’mores, and ice skating.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Learning On the Trail with Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association

    Mountain biking teaches kids life lessons. Biking trails are purpose-built with obstacles like rocks, roots, sharp turns, and steep inclines for kids to face and overcome. The choose your own adventure model that mountain biking offers encourages kids to set their own goals and compete against themselves. A kid could opt to take an easier route one time and then try a more challenging one the next time. As kids grow in age and skill, they can continue to challenge themselves to go faster and tackle obstacles with greater agility. “Kids are practicing three days a week, building friendships, endurance, strength, and growing both an adventurous and competitive spirit,” says Sean Warren, the Executive Director and Race Director of Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association (MISCA).

    MISCA supports K-12 youth mountain biking clubs across the state. To date, they have helped develop 15, of which 12 are located in Southeast Michigan. Southeast Michigan boasts twenty mountain biking trails that they practice and race on. “While a lot of racing sports are adult-focused with a youth category, MISCA is 100% youth-focused,” notes Sean. That means the race trails are designed to match the skill levels of the young participants. 

    MISCA provides coaching curriculum and guidance and works directly with coaches to offer training and certification for clubs. The mountain biking clubs usually form at community organizations and then transition to school-based teams once there is a concentration of kids from one school. MISCA also produces a mountain bike race series and offers skills camps and clinics. Sean is proud of how the organization has grown from serving 100 kids in 2012 when he first joined to now engaging 1,100 kids and nearly 500 coaches.

    Girls make up a quarter of MISCA club riders. While girls and boys of the same age groups do the same courses, they do not compete against each other. MISCA recently initiated a girls’ adventure ride program: BRAVE (Bold, Resilient, Adventurous, Vibrant, Empowered), to establish a female-focused community. They involve female coaches in the program who offer mentorship and set an example. The girls’ program has a special focus on fostering positive social interactions and growing community amongst the girls, and developing mountain biking skills.

    The impact of MISCA’s work is evident in this testimonial from eighth-grader Charlotte R:

    “Competing in MISCA has given me some of the best memories of my life. It has made me realize my growth and true potential in racing. MISCA has also helped me find friends who I know I’ll have for life. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t race for MISCA, and I definitely would not be competing at the level I do now.”

    Support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr Foundation Legacy Funds and Project Play Southeast Michigan allowed MISCA to invest in a new trailer, a critical logistical tool for implementing their race series. During the mountain biking season, MISCA sets up for races at different trails each weekend from late spring to late fall.

    “We have to be super organized to have a safe event,” Sean says. The trailer has equipment, including arches to mark the start and finish, stakes to guide youth onto and off the start and finish, and snow fencing to block off the trail about the length of two soccer fields. Staff and volunteers can walk into the organized trailer and get right to work setting up and hosting the event. 

    The grant funds also enabled MISCA to purchase its own race timing equipment. They had been working with a third party to time races at a substantial annual cost. Having their own equipment has allowed MISCA to begin hosting races on both Saturday and Sunday, and in 2021 there were about 750 participants per weekend, a huge jump from previous years even when accounting for social distancing measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Racing is just one aspect of mountain biking. For most participants, it is more about the fun of participating and being in a community with others who are passionate about the sport than about winning. Typically, riders all cheer for each other and check in on anyone who stops or gets stuck. A recent incident led to MISCA changing one of its rules to support good sportsmanship. When a lower elementary rider dropped his chain on a hill which caused him to fall, three upper elementary girls from a different team who had already finished their race went to help him. They calmed him down and got an adult to help. The incident was such a great example of the good sportsmanship and camaraderie that participants learn, which prompted MSICA to change its race rules. Previously, only adults were allowed to help riders during a race, but now non-varsity riders are allowed outside help from anyone – including fellow riders. 

    As a responsive youth-centered organization, MISCA will continue to grow and adapt its programming to better serve youth in Southeast Michigan and across the state.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Access Diverse Learning Resources with Hartland’s Cromaine Library

    “There’s still that traditional notion that libraries are only about books, but we’re more than that,” explains Marta-Kate Jackson, Youth and Teen Services Manager at Hartland’s Cromaine Library in Livingston County. “Our programming supports a variety of interests and ways to learn.”  Apart from reader services, the library has a range of offerings including storytime with babies and toddlers, themed camps for middle-schoolers, art, nature, and STEM take home kits, community wide events, and sports equipment lending. 

    As one of 15 SportPort community partners in southeast Michigan, Cromaine Library has been able to purchase sports equipment and make borrowing them as easy as borrowing books. SportPort is an equipment sharing pilot program led by Project Play: Southeast Michigan and made possible by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds.

    While SportPort provided traditional equipment such as soccer balls, basketballs, and footballs from the get-go, Hartland community members expressed an interest in a variety of additional activities including golfing, fishing, and fitness training, as well as family yard games like bocce ball, volleyball, pickleball, and yard Yahtzee. Through SportPort, the library has helped provide specialty and often costly equipment to community members in order to facilitate all sorts of play. For the winter season, the library is stocked with ice fishing kits, snowshoes, snow scooters, snowboards, and cross country skis for toddlers.

    Library staff were surprised by what captured the community’s interest. “Bocce ball is one of the most popular things, and … oddly enough, the agility ladders are very, very popular. People are using them to make fun obstacle courses in their backyards and a lot of local coaches are using them too,” Marta shared.

    Conversations with community members about their needs and interests are a daily occurrence at Cromaine Library, and have directly informed the types of equipment they carry. Parents with young children have expressed their hesitation to buy pricey equipment their kids will continually grow out of. Many families have highlighted their interest in activities they can do together as a respite from being cooped up during the pandemic. When one parent shared that their child would be attending a lacrosse camp, but they were concerned about equipment costs the library was able to acquire and lend the family lacrosse sticks. 

    Cromaine Library’s sports lending service has also helped introduce kids and families to new activities. One family specifically shared that they never would have gone snowshoeing together, and that Cromaine Library made that possible for them. “Of course it’s nice to see kids enjoying and learning about new sports, but we didn’t expect to see families coming together around sports equipment and enjoying it together.” noted Marta. 

    Library staff have intentionally made the sports equipment more accessible, especially for those kids who may not be inclined to try something new, by setting up equipment inside and on the library grounds. When it’s there and ready to be played with, kids usually give it a try.  

    While sports lending might not be something that comes to mind immediately or at all when you think of a library, it does further the library’s efforts to foster lifelong learning. The library has seen greater demand for books in their collection on specific sports. And, another bonus of being a SportPort partner is that it has snowballed into new partnerships for the library with area parks and a local aquatic center. They’ve co-produced events where the library brings sports equipment to their locations for community members to lend and use. 

    For Marta, Hartland’s close-knit, rural and creative community is her inspiration. She feels a sense of achievement from facilitating the community to come together as organizers, sponsors, and participants for their annual Polar Express Day that celebrates and brings to life the popular children’s book. Seeing a kid light up when they realize the library has a certain book or type of sports equipment is a joy she experiences everyday. 

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Building Character, Strength, and Confidence with Girls on the Run Southeastern Michigan

    Youth who participate in sports and regular physical activity experience physical, social, emotional, and cognitive health benefits that help to shape positive life experiences. But data shows that girls participate in sports 10 – 15% less than their male peers, and by age 14 girls drop out of sports programs at twice the rate of boys. There is concern that this gap is increasing in part because, while girls already face unique social pressures, they are also dealing with higher levels of stress and anxiety. Limited opportunities for physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the problem.

    Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan, which is a local chapter of Girls on the Run International works to decrease that participation gap while helping girls gain confidence, build character, and develop healthy relationships. The program utilizes a social and emotional learning curriculum that intertwines physical activity with life lessons such as identifying what matters to you, how to choose friends, how to support others, and how to participate in and be of service to your community. Since its founding in 2001, Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan has grown from serving 90 girls at 2 locations in Ann Arbor to engaging a couple thousand girls at 100 sites across five counties each year. 

    “The program gives young girls a safe place to meet and provides lessons that encourage them to use their voices, raise their hands, and develop friendships.”

    Executive Director, Danielle Plunkett

    Earlier in her career, Danielle worked with women who had experienced violent assault, and was drawn to the Girls on the Run program because of its preventative approach. The program is designed to help girls build confidence and connections so that they can be more successful moving into middle and high school and beyond. A recent independent survey of program participants nationally found that it does that successfully. 97% of those surveyed said they learned critical life skills in the program, and 85% improved in confidence, competence, caring, character, and connection to others.  

    Over the course of Girls on the Run’s 10 week program, participants gradually build strength and confidence. The program culminates in a 5k run. For Danielle, it’s a powerful and celebratory event that brings the girls, their families, and the coaches together. She shares about a girl who participated in the program but wasn’t interested in running. She’d walk or skip laps or make excuses to leave. But when she finally got to the 5k, something clicked for her. She put in tremendous effort to run the entire time, and after the run, she was beaming with pride.

    Girls on the Run invites families to train and run the event with their girls, and about 30% of families choose to participate. Often it’s the first 5k run for family members, and usually they lag behind the girls during the run. For Danielle, “it’s heartwarming to see girls complete the race, and then run back to cheer on their families.” 

    Girls on the Run of Southeast Michigan provides a supportive community in an era of increased isolation, especially with the pandemic. Over the past nearly 20 years, Danielle has had the honor of seeing multiple women who participated in their programming as girls come back to coach and teach. Having participants come full circle further validates that the program works for Danielle.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Creating Pathways to College and Career Readiness with RacquetUp Detroit

    “First and foremost this is not really about squash.” Derek Aguirre is the Executive Director of Racquet Up Detroit, a nonprofit that works with young people in Northwest Detroit from fifth grade and up to help them succeed at school, build meaningful relationships, and embrace their potential. 

    Growing up in Michigan, Derek was not a squash player himself. After college, his commitment to education, youth development and community service led him to a Boston organization called SquashBusters. It was founded in 1996 by former professional squash player Greg Zaff to have a positive impact on young people in urban areas where kids didn’t have access to as many opportunities or exposure to a sport like squash. Fourteen years later, Derek had moved back to Michigan and brought the model with him. He founded Racquet Up Detroit, which is part of a network that grew from SquashBusters of 20 organizations in the U.S. and abroad called the Squash and Education Alliance. 

    Derek has a love for squash, but for him the sport is a pathway to deeper personal growth. “If [Greg Zaff] had been a bull rider, maybe we’d be talking about bull riding,” he says. “Twenty-five years later, there’s a reason why there are twenty organizations like this. There’s something about squash that has enabled this model to be successful. It’s a fun sport, great for health and fitness, great for your whole life. It’s a really special way for kids to spend their time.”

    The intensive academic support, including homework help, literacy teaching, and college access guidance, that RacquetUp Detroit provides in a positive environment alongside coaching and playing squash allow the young people to make friendships, learn social-emotional skills, and develop character. 

    Kids who participate in the organization’s programming for many years tend to have the most positive outcomes. In 2010, Starnisha Ramsey joined the first cohort of RacquetUp Detroit students as a fifth grader. In a 2015 essay titled “I Play Squash Like A Girl” Starnisha wrote “I believe that to ‘play squash like a girl’ simply means to try your hardest at all times. If someone asks me do I play squash like a girl, I would say yes, you can see by the way I hustle.” Starnisha’s love of the sport combined with her strong academic performance helped her gain admission to St. Lawrence University. In January of 2022, she played and won her final home squash match. Following in her footsteps, fellow RacquetUp participant Aaron Levy is now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration at St. Lawrence University where he was recently made captain of the men’s squash team.

    Starnisha’s younger siblings Antoinette Ramsey and Antwan Ramsey joined RacquetUp as fifth graders. Antwan now works as a squash trainer and coach at RacquetUp while attending Wayne County Community College. Antoinette is pursuing a double major in psychology and Black studies as well as playing on the squash team at Denison University. Aaron and the Ramsey siblings exemplify the impact of Racquet Up Detroit’s education, personal development, and sports coaching.

    With support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy funds, Racquet Up Detroit has been able to purchase new equipment like squash ball feeding machines and a sound system that makes practice more efficient and enhances the joy in the environment. In early 2022, the organization will put these to work in their brand new, 19,000 square foot facility in Northwest Detroit that includes state of the art squash courts and education spaces. The new facility will allow them to expand their squash offerings but more importantly for Derek, to provide a space where kids can learn, gain confidence, and build lifelong friendships.

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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  • Supporting Happier, Healthier Childhoods with Free Bikes 4 Kidz

    “I ride my bike to school every day, and I do that year round. Summer, winter, rain, snow.” Bob Barnes’ almost daily seven mile commute from his home in Royal Oak to Bloomfield Township where he teaches high school gives him time and space to daydream, reflect, and process his thoughts. As a passionate cyclist who began his career in the automotive industry, Bob found himself looking for a way to give back and to share the benefits of biking with others. Biking is not only good for the environment, it improves physical and mental health, creates community amongst cyclists, and is a tool for fun, freedom, and independence, especially for young people. 

    Bob was inspired to launch the effort in 2018, after learning about the Free Bikes 4 Kidz model launched by Terry Esau in Minnesota in 2007. The Detroit organization is the eighth of (now) twelve affiliate organizations nationwide. As Executive Director of Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K), Bob’s passion for cycling and desire to do good intersect. The nonprofit collects used bikes that would otherwise end up in landfills, refurbishes them, and gives them to kids whose families cannot afford bikes.

    Free Bikes 4 Kidz operates with a seasonal, partnership-driven, and event-based model that is sustainable and super efficient. 

    They operate from September through December, concentrating all their activities – and overhead costs – in four busy months. The organization collects thousands of bikes each fall, any they require warehouse space where they can store the bikes and set up work stations for volunteers to refurbish the bikes. Since they only operate for a short period, they’ve been able to find organizations willing to donate unused space. In 2021, the Piston Group Detroit provided Free Bikes 4 Kidz with an otherwise empty warehouse in Southwest Detroit.

    Every year, FB4K hosts a big giveaway event before Christmas. The event usually attracts a lot of media attention, which has resulted in an increase in interest, bike donations, volunteers, and distribution requests every year. For an organization whose model relies heavily on community members, the extra attention has been especially welcome. 

    Last year, Free Bikes 4 Kidz partnered with Home Depot to collect bikes at 22 of their locations across southeast Michigan during a big collection drive in early October. People were able to drop their used bikes off at a convenient location, and the logistics around collecting and transporting bikes to the warehouse in a given time period became more manageable.

    With thousands of bikes collected, volunteers are needed to help fix bikes and run the annual event. In 2021, FB4K engaged 1,575 volunteers who spent 6,600 hours fixing up the bikes over a 10-week period. The organization works with families and nonprofit organizations like church groups, neighborhood groups, and schools to sign up kids to receive the free bikes. At the end of the year, they were able to give away over 2,000 refurbished bikes and new helmets to kids in metro Detroit. Bob proudly notes that “the process brings together people of all backgrounds, people who might never cross paths otherwise. The whole community comes together to make it happen.”

    Ashia Phillips, who is the CEO and Co-Founder of D-Town Riders has been volunteering with Free Bikes 4 Kids since the beginning. “The first year was crazy, I personally touched every single bike that came into the warehouse, which was like 11,000 bikes. The second year, probably the same thing.” She finds the work especially meaningful. “I’m so selfish. I enjoy seeing all the kids and all the parents be so happy. When they are happy, it makes me happy. It does something to my energy. When I see the joy that they’re getting I just suck it all up. I’m a selfish philanthropist like that. And it’s personal to me because this wasn’t around when I was a kid. Nobody was doing anything like this. It’s beautiful.”

    Funds from philanthropic partner, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds for Youth Sports, have helped the organization purchase more repair stands and tools as well as upgrade their website with a volunteer registration system. This made it easier for Free Bikes 4 Kidz to handle the volume of bikes they received in 2021 and make the most of volunteers’ time and expertise.

    Last year’s giveaway event was held just a couple weeks before Christmas on Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12. Dozens of kids were pre-registered to shop for bikes in the safe, socially distanced space.

    A few kids shared about their interest in biking and their biking plans: 

    “I’m going to ride it during the summer. I don’t really go out much unless it’s hanging out with my friends. With my bike, I have the opportunity to do more things.” – Xia Rogers, 13
    I like skinny tire bikes because they’re faster. This one seems pretty light. I like to ride long distances; you get better wind. Me and my dad, we go on biking trips so it’s pretty cool to get a bike like this.” – Ryan Neal, 14
    “I like riding bikes because my mom got me into it. It helps me exercise and gets a lot off my mind. I like the wind blowing in my hair and everything.” – Jaslyn Davis, 14 
    “It’s BMX.” Enough said. When asked if he’d want to be a BMX rider, Jamari says “no, I’m not risking my life!” – Jamari Austin, 11

    At the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play, we strive to lift up the impactful work of our grantees who are creating positive permanent change in people’s lives throughout southeast Michigan. This post is part of a series of profiles about our youth sports grantees.

    Project Play: Southeast Michigan is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

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    Denise McGeen

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