|
|
| Sports and community development: A winning team |
|
|
It might be winter, but there's plenty of buzzer-beating excitement to help sports fans escape the cold-weather blahs. The Philadelphia Eagles scored the team's first-ever Super Bowl title, dethroning five-time champs, the New England Patriots; the 23rd Winter Olympic Games kicked off two weeks of international competition in South Korea; and it's almost time for college basketball fans to fill out March Madness brackets. All of these events—from game-winning touchdowns to the perfect triple Lutz—showcase teams and athletes working together for a common goal. |
|
|
|
|
They may seem unrelated, but sports can have a positive impact on community development, bringing different groups together, creating shared goals and providing valuable lessons in teamwork, training and hard work—particularly for younger residents. According to data from the Aspen Institute's Project Play initiative, however, the number of U.S. children playing sports continues to decline, and kids from homes in lower income brackets are less likely to be physically active. Based on the institute's 2016 survey, only 36.9 percent of children ages 6-12 regularly played team sports, down from 38.6 percent in 2015 and 44.5 in 2008. In 2016, 29.9 percent of kids from homes making $25,000 or less were physically inactive, compared to 11.5 percent in households making $100,000 or more.
Many NeighborWorks network members understand the value that athletics can offer and have developed programs, tapped dedicated volunteers and reached out to local partners to use sports to help build safe and vibrant communities. |
|
|
|
| Police in Providence use athletics to bring community together |
|
|
In partnership with NeighborWorks member ONE Neighborhood Builders, police in an economically challenged area of Providence, Rhode Island, help build trust with residents.
They also support youth through community-building activities, including football, basketball and soccer, all organized and coached by police officers and residents. |
|
|
|
|
| NeighborWorks member helps amputee athlete pursue dream of Olympic competition |
|
|
Centro Campesino in Florida City, Florida, assisted an amputee athlete and cancer survivor in finding housing that best suited his special needs and allowed him to continue swimming and pursue an architectural degree. |
|
|
|
|
| Coach and mentor helps underprivileged kids beat the odds |
|
|
| Community Partners, a NeighborWorks network member in South Florida, recently recognized an educator and volunteer who has worked with youth programs in the communities the group serves for more than 30 years, coaching aspiring athletes and providing valuable lessons about the importance of practice, academic excellence and how to balance sports with academics. |
|
|
|
|
| Six more weeks of winter? Members help residents survive the cold |
|
|
Frigid winters can cause a lot of inconvenience, but for low-income or homeless people, it often is life-threatening. NeighborWorks network members have found many ways to help. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|