THE JERRYMANUEL FOUNDATION

YOUTH BASEBALL

The Jerry Manuel Foundation, based in Northern California, is in a strong position to grow youth baseball amongst urban black youth in their region. We are targeting underserved communities, who have experience providing coaching, equipment access, and a passion for the game to kids who may not otherwise play. The Foundation could create baseball leagues or camps during the summer focused on getting black children engaged in the sport from a young age. They could also start tournament teams that would travel to areas with more robust youth baseball infrastructure. By partnering with local schools, community centers, and black churches, the Jerry Manuel Foundation has an opportunity to build a love of baseball through coaching and mentorship from a trusted community organization. Getting professional black players to do clinics would further inspire children to stick with the game. With strategic partnerships and program expansion focused on black youth, the Foundation can create opportunities for the kids they serve to reap the life lessons and joy that come from baseball participation.

Youth Baseball in Black Communities

Nearly 100 years after the Negro Leagues opened up professional baseball for African American players, participation at youth levels has declined. Only 8% of MLB players today are African American. However, the Jerry Manuel Foundation sees baseball - America’s pastime - as a tool to develop life skills for underserved kids. They aim to reverse alarming trends through new community programs expanding access to the diamond.

Fewer in the Field: Alarming Drop in Inner City Baseball Participation

Baseball once flourished in many black communities, but infrastructure and participation rates have faded across American inner cities over the last two decades. With less public funding going into parks and leagues, the costs have made the sport inaccessible for many families. Additionally, some experts argue baseball’s fading visibility hurt its appeal compared to basketball and football. The Jerry Manuel Foundation recognizes these challenges but firmly believes in baseball's potential for imparting leadership skills.

Imparting More Than the Diamond: Life Lessons from Baseball

Sports have long gone hand-in-hand with developing strong character and well-rounded individuals. The confidence, resilience, and social skills cultivated on the field translate off of it as well. The Foundation’s charter school curriculum uses baseball fundamentals to teach underserved Northern California youth critical life skills as well. They strive for excellence in education and baseball with the belief that both are vital for the young people they serve to develop into community leaders.

"If You Build It..." - Foundation Makes Baseball Accessible

The Foundation recognizes that cost barriers, inadequate facilities and lack of exposure have all decreased baseball participation across black communities nationally. Their plan of action starts with building new youth baseball leagues and training camps, backed by partnerships with local little leagues and community partners. Additionally, securing equipment donations and sponsorships makes access free or very low cost for families. The Foundation also wants kids to envision themselves on the big fields one day, inviting players from the Negro Leagues Museum and Bay Area MLB teams to provide coaching and inspiration.

"Look How Far We've Come" - Player Spotlights Celebrate Progress

At the center of the Foundation’s community outreach is celebrating progress made across the history of black baseball. They want to educate new generations on names like Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, and more who paved the way. Understanding this lineage shows kids the barriers overcome for them to play America’s pastime today. The Foundation names their training camps after Negro League teams like the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays. As one parent put it, “These camps teach history along with life skills - it energizes kids knowing what their ancestors accomplished.”

Full Circle - From Students to Mentors

The Foundation points to its track record of training urban youth as leaders on and off the field. Their charter school boasts promising graduation rates, and they expect to see even more kids pursue higher education with expanded baseball programming. But beyond individual advancement for their participants, the Foundation measures long-term community impact by students eventually returning to support the next generation of youth players. “My dream is for my son to someday coach the same camps that changed his path as a boy,” said one father. For the Jerry Manuel Foundation, youth baseball-winning communities back represent the home run.

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Swinging for Fences on Social Impact

While inspiring black youth and reversing baseball participation trends are central goals, the Foundation has larger hopes for community-wide ripple effects. They have seen firsthand through their charter school model how success on the field translates to the classroom too. Higher graduation rates lead to higher college attendance, which data shows leads to better health and economic outcomes.

Additionally, energizing community pride in the surrounding neighborhood's revitalized baseball facilities can inspire further civic engagement. New youth baseball complexes could strengthen community ties across families and encourage more parents to invest time in supporting their children through coaching and mentoring roles. Studies show involvement in these activities generally decreases rates of at-risk behaviors.

On a national scale, increased visibility back on the baseball diamond for black youth can help shift perceptions as well. Having more diverse representation re-establishes baseball as a vibrant American community institution, moving away from outdated labels of it being an exclusive or "white" sport. With regional successes, the Foundation also aims to share its model for using baseball to inspire underserved groups.

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