First Year Program Makes Massive Impact

During the pandemic, a resident of Sycamore Meadows noticed how much time Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) was spending trying to uplift that community by distributing masks, cleaning products and food. She approached WMBK Project Specialist, Jamall Bufford about doing something for the kids to get them active and having some fun. Bufford and fellow WMBK steering committee member Justin Harper started visiting the property regularly, hosting activities and spending time with the kids. After the winter had passed, WMBK reached out to AFC Ann Arbor about partnering up on the program moving forward and the work began.

With the addition of the Rob Murphy Foundation, the Hart & TayTrain (Mike Hart and Latavius Murray) Foundation and The Mighty Oak Project, multiple organizations led by men of color invested their time and resources to create CLR Academy (Community, Leadership, Revolution).

This past June, volunteer coaches and community members showed up every Saturday for three months to spend 90 minutes of structured programming with the youth at Sycamore Meadows. The concept was to use sports sampling to engage and entertain the kids while introducing new wellness concepts to them such as yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and more. In addition to the sporting component, the program emphasizes reading by distributing free books every week including those written by local Black and Brown authors. This summer three authors visited the kids on the day we distributed their book to share their story as a published author.

Activities included football with EMU and U of M football players, breakdancing, video game trucks, yoga, basketball, soccer, bouncy houses, nutrition education, journaling and more. Snacks, sports equipment and books were provided free of charge every week to participants.

In addition to the basic formula of a free youth sports academy, CLR had a few additional layers aimed at uplifting members of the Black community from all ages and backgrounds. This included the redistribution of over $12,000 back into the hands of Black organizers and organizations. CLR Academy also utilized teens from the community to serve as staff and mentors. These teens were eligible to earn a stipend for the work completed. 

After a very successful three months, CLR Academy is preparing to expand programming immediately. They’ll be adding an educational opportunity for 9-12th grade students as well as holiday events planned at two Ypsi locations. In the summer of 2022, the academy will expand with two new additional locations including a second in Ypsilanti and a new location in Syracuse, NY. 

To view the comprehensive recap of CLR Academy’s first summer, click here.