On Tuesday, July 27th, Up2Us Sports hosted an alumni panel event, “Where Are They Now?” with five Up2Us Sports Coach and VISTA alumni. The panel was moderated by Alex Penman, Program Director & Gritness Coach at Youth Mentoring Partnership (Up2Us Coach: 2016-present, Youth Mentoring Partnership, Philadelphia, Current Up2Us Sports Board Member), and featured:
Ebonee Arielle - Head Director and Coach at Show Off Dance Company (Up2Us Coach: 2010-2013, World Fit for Kids, Los Angeles - 2013 Coach of the Year)
Richard Pogue - Gritness Coach & Training Coordinator at Youth Mentoring Partnership (Up2Us Coach: 2015-2020, Youth Mentoring Partnership, Philadelphia. Current Up2Us Sports Board Member)
Jeffrey Harris - Park District Commissioner at Maywood, Illinois (Up2Us Coach: 2019-2020, Four Point Play, Chicago)
Shay Watkins - Athletic Director at DeSoto County Schools (Up2Us Coach: 2019-2020, Memphis Athletic Ministries, Memphis)
Candace Burton - Grant Administration Associate at The Boston Foundation (Up2Us VISTA: 2015-2017, Asphalt Green - 2015-2016, Up2Us Sports VISTA Leader 2016-2017, New York City)
Panelists discussed topics such as what serving with Up2Us Sports was like, what was most enjoyable during their service term, how serving impacted both their personal and professional goals, and what life after Up2Us Sports now looks like.
The alumni talked about how during their service terms, being around others with similar passions really made their experience enjoyable and the impact that departmental collaborations had. Serving with Up2Us Sports creates a multifaceted individual. As Candace noted, “Up2Us Sports gave me a chance to network with others and learn things from different departments. When I was a VISTA Leader, it was my first opportunity to get leadership experience, plan the VISTA program, and learn about the government grants process. I appreciated that opportunity to connect with so many passionate people.” These opportunities to collaborate and initiate programs have fostered self-confidence to continue leading programs and engage in their communities. “It gave me a different perspective; it was a learning experience and I like to be challenged,” said Shay.
Serving in under-resourced areas is one of the core aspects of Up2Us Sports. Ebonee recalled, “serving as a coach put me in neighborhoods I wouldn’t have worked in otherwise. There was a hunger and passion for the space that we shared during my time coaching that I’ve never experienced and will never forget. Those kids inspired me as much as I inspired them.” The mutually beneficial relationship that exists for Up2Us Sports coaches and their youth is a unique characteristic that is evident in the fact that many have continued in this line of work. For our alumni, their service terms only reinforced that this is the work they are passionate about. Being able to see where these individuals are in their current lives speaks volumes to the overall experiences that Up2Us Sports provides for our AmeriCorps members. “All of the trainings and professional developments we undergo - it allows you to dig yourself and really hone your craft” said Richard.
One of the advantages of being at Up2Us Sports is the wealth of resources readily available to the coaches, in addition to the Coach Training Institute (CTI), which is a training designed to equip coaches with the techniques necessary to build life skills through sport, and support and empower youth in underserved communities to reach their full potential. Many spoke on how inspiring it was to watch kids grow throughout the program, take the skills they learned, and apply it in their everyday life and even share it with others. “A lot of things that we went through in the trainings and CTI and really implementing them, watching the kids actually grow and see the techniques work was a big thing I enjoyed about my service” said Jeffery.
Beyond the youth served, these same techniques have also been something these alumni have carried with them in all facets of life. Some key takeaways from the trainings that have stuck with them include: 1) looking through the lens that everything is a skill set that can be enhanced, which can make the idea of failure easier and the idea of growth that more tangible, 2) being able to know where someone is at so you can better adapt to their skill and enjoyment level to engage them, 3) feeling a part of a “team” even outside of the coach/sport context - making sure everyone is involved in planning and giving their opinions, and 4) viewing it as a life training. In the words of Richard, “The trauma sensitivity, social emotional learning, conversation skills, and being an active listener works universally - there’s nothing to be lost from this work.”
If you missed the panel and would like to watch it, view in on our YouTube Channel. If you are an alumni of the Up2Us Sports Coach or VISTA programs and would like to get involved, reach out to us at alumni@up2ussports.org.
