Team-Up for Youth Summer 2011

Refocusing the Debate Title IX and the girls it never reached The Home Team When Title IX became federal law the water. But hard times cannot Meet our VISTA in 1972, women and girls were divert our eyes away from the fact promised equal access to college that the playing field is far from Volunteers… Part II and high school sports. Since then, level – especially when it comes to female participation has grown by 456 women and girls from low-income percent in college athletics, and 904 communities and urban areas, whose New Report percent in high schools, according to voices are often not heard in the “The Perils of the Women’s Sports Foundation. But Title IX debate. Team-Up for Youth even as Title IX celebrated its 39th works hard to bring attention to these Poverty“ anniversary in June, the law continues underserved girls, and find creative to spark fiery debate. solutions for getting more of them into the game. At the college level, as women’s enrollment numbers continue to Playing Catch Up climb, some institutions are making controversial decisions as they weigh The numbers show that despite Title shrinking budgets against Title IX IX’s success, girls still lag behind boys compliance. In the spring, cash- in sports participation. According strapped UC Berkeley reinstated to The National Federation of State two women’s sports programs it High School Associations, in the Editors: had planned to cut, after private 2009-2010 school year, 4.45 million Sheilagh Polk donations prevented the university boys participated in sports nationwide Margaret Miller from making a decision that would versus 3.17 million girls. Writers: have knocked the famously liberal Kate Pavao institution out of compliance with the This disparity is even greater for girls Team-Up for Youth Staff law. Other schools are being forced living in low-income communities and Design: to cut men’s sports teams or even urban areas. A 2008 report from the Brian Eveslage rely on questionable practices, such Women’s Sports Foundation found as counting men who practice with that at urban schools, 25 percent of women’s team among their female 9th-to-12th grade girls have never participants. participated in an organized or team sport; that number drops to about 17 Team-Up for Youth knows it’s not percent for their male counterparts. easy to balance the demands of the law and the demands of the budget Even in Team-Up for Youth’s own in today’s economy. High schools backyard, low-income girls of and higher learning institutions are color are most often standing on struggling to keep their heads above the sidelines. A 2010 investigation

(continued on page 3) (continued from page 1) conducted by TUFY found 67 percent of girls involved in changing benefits that playing sports provides,” she says. sports at Oakland’s well-off and primarily white Piedmont High School. But a mere 11 percent played at the Additionally, TUFY continues to make sure partners can predominantly non-white Oakland High School, where access up-to-date research on girls’ participation and Executive Director nearly three quarters of the girls are on free-or-reduced provide best practices for successful coaching. Several lunch. guides and reports on available on the TUFY website, including The Game Plan: Building Effective Sports “Title IX just isn’t reaching girls in low-income communities.” Programs for Girls and The Perils of Poverty: The Health says Lynne Lee, Team-Up for Youth’s Deputy Executive Crisis Facing our Low-Income Girls… And the Power of Director. “These girls face many obstacles, such as schools Sports to Help. with few – and dwindling – resources, lack of safe places to play, and community-based organizations that just don’t “We need to rethink the paradigm so that resources go where they are needed most,”says Lee,“to low-income

FROM THE have the dollars to do more. But rather than deter us, these obstacles must propel us into action.” communities and communities of color – and the after- school programs that serve them.” Getting Girls in the Game The Next Hurdle As we continue increasing our ability to reach more kids in more places with Coaching Team-Up for Youth holds the line on equity – especially for The debate over the best way to enforce Title IX is sure to Corps, the days can turn into weeks in the blink of an eye. In the middle of deadlines and girls living in low-income communities with the fewest opportunities. The organization’s efforts began accelerating continue as sports-based programs struggle with operating meetings, it is the stories of the children and the coaches and how their lives are changed in May 2010 at TUFY’s two-day Game Plan for Girls’ Sports under strict budget constraints. The next focal point may that drive us each and every day. summit. There – among TUFY staff, legendary female be ’s Park and Recreation departments, which are athletes, coaches, program coordinators, girls and parents currently preparing for the full implementation of California A young girl named Melissa* in one of our programs was being coached by one of our – TUFY’s Executive Director Janet Carter pledged to get Assembly Bill 2404. This bill enforces Title IX by requiring city more than 12,000 girls playing sports in the next two years. and municipal sports programs to provide equitable resources Coaching Corps Coaches named Christina. The girl started out in basketball but then shied and programming by 2015, or face the threat of lawsuits.

away. One day she was hanging out in the gym and Coach Christina noticed that her shoes Part of the way TUFY is making good on this pledge is through its Coaching Corps Girl’s program which provides To help cities prepare for AB 2404, TUFY hopes to were too small. So she went out the next day and bought the young girl a pair of shoes. resources including curricula and volunteer coaches to strengthen partnerships with Parks and Recreation Since then, the girl has been in the gym every day. She is playing basketball, volleyball and partners interested in hosting girl-focused leagues or less- departments across the state.“We want to use our expertise and existing relationships with community- soccer. She is the first one asking to have the gym opened up and the last one to leave. formal play-days. These programs have already provided opportunities for over 4,000 girls to play in programs based organizations and others to help them design The girl didn’t ask Coach Christina for the shoes, Christina just did it. Her commitment and throughout California, including leagues in , curricula, create new leagues and upgrade their facilities,” passion to serve these young people and this community drove her to do what needed to be Oakland, the Peninsula and Fresno. says Sheilagh Polk, Team-Up for Youth’s director of communications. “This work cannot be done in a silo and done. Now, this young girl is exhibiting courage and confidence, has developed friends with The success of these programs demonstrates the power of no one entity should be asked to do it alone. Partnerships girls she never hung out with before and is walking tall with the belief in herself that playing TUFY’s volunteers, says Lee. “Without our AmeriCorps and perseverance will be the key to carving out more *VISTAs and our Coaching Corps Coaches, so many girls opportunities and healthier futures for the girls who are too sports has given her. would never have the opportunity to receive all of the life- often invisible and forgotten.” Stories like these are the heart and soul of Team-Up for Youth. This is why we do what we do. And these are the stories that propel us forward every day. These stories tell the true tale of our impact and what our work means for the students we serve. It is these results that motivate By Marlene Tran, our volunteer coaches, mentors and teachers across the state to keep giving kids what they 5th grade need to grow up believing in themselves and to develop into thriving, confident and Soccer

successful adults. You make me feel UNSTOPPABLE!!! In this issue, we will honor the work of our Northern and VISTAs, we will hear about a coach who is always going above and beyond, and we even have a little poetry Like nobody can hurt me.The world is mine. for you. Youth You can always calm me down and make me feel free. Thank you for your commitment to the kids who need you the most. VOICE You give me those indescribable strong feelings deep inside, like no one else could give me EXCEPT YOU!!! All my best, Janet Carter The sweet breeze running through my flowing hair.... Executive Director, Team-Up for Youth Who are you?...

*Names have been changed to protect identities It’s you SOCCER. 2 3 Team-Up for Youth www.teamupforyouth.org What she learned from sports: Malay has played a variety of sports, running cross-country, lacrosse – and even sailing. “The biggest thing I got from doing team sports was that sense of community. For me, feeling that support all the time Meet Our VISTA became the most important part.” Volunteers... Part II Advice for future VISTAs: “Talk to as many people as possible, both within the organization and in the community. The Home That way, you’ll get a really good sense of how non-profits work and understand all the different ways of making a difference with your work. The staff at partner organizations know the community so intimately and can really help you learn about the

Team-Up for Youth’s AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers work throughout California to people you are serving.” recruit coaches, expand the Coaching Corps program and help reach thousands of youth across the state. Team Meet Rachel Krampe | Stats: Graduated from Indiana University, Communications and Culture, 2010 Meet six members of TUFY’s Northern and Central California teams. They’ve been busy since they began their VISTA Region: Fresno service last August, recruiting volunteers, starting up new leagues -- even pitching in to referee games when needed. Now they’re wrapping up their year with exciting new projects. Her sports background: After starting swim lessons at just two years old, Rachel grew up playing soccer, track Here, they talk about what they’ve learned -- and how much they’ve accomplished. – and is currently training for a full Olympic triathlon. “Sports taught me teamwork and responsibility. That’s probably why I want to work for non-profits: I understand that we’re all in this together – and my hard work can make things better.”

Her choice to Coach: After college, she worked as a lifeguard alongside a recent AmeriCorps alum who Meet Whitney Hubbard | Stats: Graduated from Niagra Univeristy, History and Jurisprudence, 2009 encouraged her to join – and kept on encouraging her until she applied. Coaching Corps was a perfect fit VISTA Region: because she connects to the mission: “Caring, responsible coaches can motivate kids and show them they’re powerful and have a voice.” Why she’s a TUFY VISTA: A runner who participated in both track and cross-country in college, Whitney connected with TUFY after graduation. “I was a Coaching Corps volunteer for Girls on the Run in San Francisco. Her job: Based at Fresno’s Boys & Girls Club, Rachel has worked on a number of projects including recruiting Coaching So when I was looking through VISTA positions and saw Team-Up for Youth’s listing, I liked that Team-Up for Corps volunteers and helping develop a campus chapter at Fresno State. In addition, she’s brought a personal passion to Youth was really focused on both increasing kids’ physical activity and helping them develop life skills.” the program. “I’ve also been working with Fresno State students to develop a nutrition curriculum. It was a way for me to do something that Team-Up for Youth didn’t already have and that our coaches can use.” Her job: She helped the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula start a girls league and researched her region to identify potential Coaching Corps partners. She is now working monitor the levels of physical activity during the program. Name: Reed Lyons | Stats: Graduated from Bethel College in Communications, 2010 VISTA Region: Fresno “We measure how active kids are during practice. We observe them, quantify their activity level, and find ways to help our coaches, if necessary. I do some site visits but mostly I analyze data.” What he learned from sports: Growing up, Reed played all kind of sports, including baseball, volleyball, basketball soccer, and track – and he joined intramural soccer leagues in college. “I met a lot of friends and Her inspiration: “I have the opportunity to really see the improvements that we’re making. I can go to practices or games had coaches who were just as influential as my teachers. Sports provided another learning environment where and see how much fun the kids are having and how excited the parents are for their kids to be playing sports.” I gained social skills as well as physical skills and learned what it takes to be healthy.”

His job: Recruiting and placing Coaching Corps volunteers at many of the 18 Boys & Girls Club sites in Fresno Meet Kristin Karcsh | Stats: Graduated from George University, Political Science, 2008 County, as well as creating schedules, coordinating sites and helping ensure a sustainable future for the BGCF. VISTA Region: San Francisco Peninsula “It’s rewarding to watch the kids playing – or even just to see the kids who come to the Boys & Girls Club every day until 8 o’clock – and know that I’m doing a small part to make their lives better.” Her sports background: Played lacrosse in college and went on to coach the sport in England after graduation. “One of the big projects I am working on in the next two months is to develop a lacrosse curriculum for The biggest takeaway: : “I learned how a non-profit works on the inside and what kind of roles people play. I’ve learned Coaching Corps. Lacrosse is a relatively new sport in California, so it isn’t as competitive yet. Kids who are a little about what I am good at and what I like, and that’s opened up new opportunities for me career-wise that I hadn’t thought intimidated by traditional sports might be more likely to try it out.” about before.” Her choice to Coach: “Just seeing the power of sports. When I look at where my past teammates are now, they attribute so much of their success to sports. And in my own coaching experience, I’ve seen kids develop confidence and Name: Chris Soper | Stats: Graduated from UCLA in history and public policy in 2009 respect for one another, and learn to work together as a team.” VISTA region: San Francisco

Her biggest accomplishment: Helping the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula start a girls league, which now has 90 girls His job: A big part of Chris’ work has been managing San Francisco’s Coaching Corps’ Girls league and acting playing basketball and soccer. Kristin says one of the best moments was seeing how many family members showed up at the as a liaison between TUFY and site coordinators at partner programs.“Right now, I am building a manual to first season’s final tournament; those parents saw first-hand the positive impact sports had on their daughters. “The league is help the next league manager. I am also capturing the learning from the most recent season to see if there are sustainable. It’s growing and it’s going to go on.” lessons we can apply to different leagues.”

What he learned from a coach: Chris played a range of sports including lacrosse and water , but credits Meet: Malay Khamsyvoravong | Stats: Graduated from Brown University, Latin American Studies, 2009 his high school wrestling coach for teaching him the value of teamwork: “He made us understand that we were VISTA Region: Oakland, accountable to the team. It’s funny because wrestling is such an individual sport, but I felt like more a part of the team than on many other teams I played on because of the sense of unity that the coach instilled in all of us.” Her job: Helped launch three girls soccer programs in Oakland middle schools and a new tennis program at Bay Area Community Resources. “A lot of my work has been on the volunteer recruitment and management Why he became a VISTA: “I realized it was the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the non-profit world, to do something side, mostly with UC Berkeley students. When I get to see the volunteers in action, it’s always so inspiring, productive and give back to society, and just feel good about the work I was doing.” because it’s so clear that they love the work that they’re doing and they’re having fun with the kids.”

4 5 Team-Up for Youth www.teamupforyouth.org When Moses signed up to be a volunteer coach with Team-Up for Youth’s Coaching Corps he was a busy college student starting his senior New Report year at UC Berkeley and working hard to finish TEAM his degree in American Studies. Even so, he Details the made time to coach basketball, showing his players the fundamentals of the game – and the Health Crisis importance of being responsible to themselves Facing News and their team. Low-Income Coach Ru – as his players call him – also shared Teaming Up to Save Service Celebrating a Successful Start some special experiences with them. Moses’ San Francisco. The Coaching Corps Girl’s Girls says one his favorite memories of the season Team-Up for Youth knows the important role program will continue reaching out to young In May, Team-Up for Youth published a profile was taking his players to a Kaiser’s Health and that service volunteers play. Our AmeriCorps girls living in our most underserved and under- of the successful new Coaching Corps Girls Fitness Workshop at the Warriors training facility volunteers have helped launch new leagues, resourced communities who lack the oppor- League at the Boys & Girls Club of the Penin- in Oakland. “The players met Stephen Curry recruit and manage coaches, and develop tunity to play sports and benefit from the life sula (BGCP). The profile, “Leveling the Playing and were really excited,” he says. “We were valuable partnerships. They also work as changing lessons sports offer. In May, Team-Up for Youth released its Field: Coaching Corps Gets Girls in the Game,” the first ones to arrive and as we were waiting w High school girls who participate in sports Coaching Corps coaches, helping TUFY latest report, The Perils of Poverty: The traces the steps of TUFY’s AmeriCorps*VISTA Coach Keith Smart came out and signed auto- wait longer before having sex for the first expand its reach and get more kids into the Health Crisis Facing our Low-Income Volunteers as they focus on recruiting girls, graphs for the players. I think we were the only time than their peers who don’t participate game. End of Season Soccer Blow Girls and the Power of many of whom had never played organized ones to meet him.” in sports. Out at the Canal Welcome Sports to Help. Girls living in low-income That’s why TUFY’s staff made a strong push to sports before. Center At the end of the season, the sixth graders communities are especially vulnerable to w save service earlier this year when Congress Sports participation is associated with less The VISTAs made recruiting visits to schools, finished with a winning basketball record, but poor health outcomes including obesity, threatened to eliminate funding for the risk for body dissatisfaction and disordered demonstrated some soccer moves and invited On Friday May 27, the Marin Canal Welcome more importantly, a winning spirit. Moses en- low academic achievement, depression, Corporation for National and Community eating among adolescent girls. girls to join in, and even placed information Center hosted a soccer celebration day with joyed coaching so much, he signed on to assist substance abuse, violence, incarceration, Service from the budget. This cut would have stickers about the league on their shirts to catch the youth and families from Bahia Vista Willard’s sixth grade track and field team in the and pregnancy. jeopardized thousands of service initiatives parents’ attention. Once the league started, Elementary School in San Rafael. spring. TUFY’s AmeriCorps*VISTA Malay around the country, including AmeriCorps. The celebration was a culmination of a two The costs in the loss of human potential and they managed Coaching Corps Coaches, month soccer program which provided the kids the impact on our health care, educational scheduled clinics and practices, and planned a For weeks, TUFY sent email blasts to its from Bahia Vista the opportunity to play soccer and other social institutions are staggering. celebratory soccer tournament for the 80 girls The report is also full subscribers, providing updates as well as action in their community. The event included games, What’s more, it is unnecessary. Research participating in the first season. of recommendations for items and letter templates to send to elected trophy presentations, and a potluck. Hundreds shows that creating opportunities for girls officials. Staff faxed letters to officials and even increasing girls participation “We published the profile to draw attention to of family members came out for the event. living in under-resourced and underserved visited the offices of Representatives Nancy in sports, making it a quality the creativity and energy of our VISTA volun- The program was collaboration between communities to play sports in high-quality Pelosi and Barbara Lee to remind them just experience and maintaining teers, who worked so hard to start the girls’ Team-Up for Youth’s Coaching Corps program, programs is a low cost remedy with proven what was at stake. their engagement. league at the BGCP,”says Sheilagh Polk, TUFY’s The Canal Welcome Center, Bahia Vista results. “With so many community-based organizations director of communications.“We also wanted to Elementary School and Dominican University. Khamsyvoravong, who originally recruited The Perils of Poverty highlights the facing their own budget cuts, service programs provide insight for Team-Up partners interested Coaching Corps, in its first season at Dominican Moses, says he again proved to be an critical data that make an urgent case to Read or download such as AmeriCorps are more critical than ever,” in replicating their efforts.” University, provided ten coaches to mentor and exemplary coach, something he showcased at act now. Perils of Poverty by visiting says Team-Up for Youth’s Executive Director coach the teams. This soccer program is a true Willard’s spring sports banquet. To that end, the report includes ten recom- www.teamupforyouth.org Janet Carter.“Team-Up’s AmeriCorps volunteers example of community building with parents Some highlights from the report: mendations for starting a successful girls “While it was requested that coaches choose a have made a huge difference both for our Angela Flores and Rosa Sanchez coordinating league,including engaging parents early and selective handful of students for awards, Coach partners, and for the kids they serve. These all program details with support from The Problem: often, and fielding female coaches whenever Ru persuaded the athletic director to honor all volunteers impact the lives of so many youth who Team-Up for Youth. w possible. To download the report, go to: of his players,” Khamsyvoravong said. “Ru rec- Between 2001-2008, obesity rates for would otherwise be sitting on the sidelines.” African-American and Native-American girls www.teamupforyouth.org ognized the unique energy and talents of each increased to 22% and 23% respectively. In April, President Obama signed a budget of his players -- for him, it would have been that provided funding for the Corporation impossible to see the team as anything but a w The United States has the highest teen for National and Community Service, but Girls Day at the Civic Center collective of phenomenal youth. Ru’s ability to pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. COACH of cut the agency’s budget by 6 percent. These value the presence of each individual and his w cuts included a $22.5 million reduction in On May 15th, the San Francisco Coaching passion for youth work made him a formidable Girls and women are being incarcerated at alarming rates. Between 1995 and 2004, the AmeriCorps State and National Grants from Corps Girls soccer program celebrated the a Lifetime and highly effective coach.” end of their spring season with a tournament in total number of female inmates in state and Fiscal Year 2010. The debate over service All teams dream of championship titles and Now that he has graduated, Moses says he federal prisons grew 5% a year, compared to funding is sure to continue as Congress takes front of San Francisco’s City Hall. It was a sight big trophies. But the best coaches know to be seen with six organizations, 63 young plans to continue working with kids. In fact, he 3.3% average growth for male prisoners. up next year’s budget. that a successful season is about more than will be joining the Teach for America program in female athletes and more than 80 spectators. scoring the most points. They inspire their “We must keep highlighting the amazing The event was emceed by Krista Blunk, ESPN’s the fall. He plans to continue coaching as well. Why Sports: players to give their personal best – and “I’ll be a coach for the rest of my life,” he says. work of our volunteers, and speaking up for WNBA analyst, and featured a special guest teach them the true value of hard work and w A girl who plays sports has higher self- “This was one of the best experiences of my service funding,” says Carter. “This fight is so appearance by Lou Seal, the SF Giants mascot. teamwork. Meet Coach Amaru Moses. This confidence, feels greater ownership of her life. Whether it becomes my career or I continue important – and it’s not going away.” Not only did this event mark the end of a year, Moses has been a role model for the body and is more likely to make healthy as a volunteer, or whether I coach at the school fantastic season for our six Tenderloin and sixth grade students at Berkeley’s Willard decisions about drugs, alcohol and sex. Chinatown based teams, it celebrated the two where I teach, I want to continue coaching. I Middle School, and a shining example for enjoy the relationships and connections I have years that this program has been thriving in future Coaching Corps volunteers. one of the roughest communities in with the players.” 6 7 Team-Up for Youth www.teamupforyouth.org 310 Eighth Street, Suite 300 Oakland, CA 94607

The Team-Up Board: Walter J Haas, Chair Steven R. Bell Parker Blackman Mark Gainey Judge Thelton Henderson Ira Hirschfield John P. Levin Nate Levine Mark Mastrov Jennifer Maxwell Greg McAdoo James McGillicuddy Angela Nomellini Thomas A. Patterson Joan Ryan Kevin Skelly Sylvia Mei-ling Yee, Ph.D.

Executive Director Janet Carter

The Team-Up for Youth team: Sylvia Alfonso Coaching Corps Chapter Launches at Janet Carter In fall of 2011, Coaching Corps will launch its first Coaching Corps Chapter at Stanford University. Janelle Cavanaugh To celebrate, Kenneth Olivier and Angela Nomellini hosted a celebration at the Rosewood Hotel. Claude Crudup The beautiful setting along with the great company of Stanford Coaching Corps Chapter students, Olivia De Lara trustees, and friends from the Stanford community, made the evening extraordinary. Also in atten- Chris Fajardo dance were past and present Stanford athletes including Jayne Appel, Rosalind (Ros) Gold-Onwude, Gladys Garcia Andrew Luck, Erik Lorig, Chase Beeler and Jim Dray. Joseph Hong Malay Khamsyvoravong Stanford Women’s Basketball Coach Tara VanDerveer joined in and was honored by former players Jayne Appel, now a Center for the San Antonio Silver Stars and Ros Gold-Onwude, now an ESPN Bob Kirwin commentator for her recent induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Lynne Lee Women’s Coach of the Year award. Tara reflected on the limited opportunities she had to play sports Sara Martinovich as a young girl and about the critical contribution that caring coaches can make in the life of a child. Annie McShane As a vocal supporter of Coaching Corps, she wants to help ensure all children within Stanford’s reach Talia Nagar have the chance to play sports and reap the benefits of a trained and caring coach. Sheilagh Polk Monica Santos Stanford’s first Chapter president, Carlos Aguayo, spoke about how sports and coaches changed his Suzanne Sillett life. Access to sports opportunities and caring coaches helped Carlos overcome barriers and make the long journey from Puerto Rico to Stanford, where he studies civil engineering while volunteering Chris Soper with Coaching Corps. Come fall, Carlos will continue his service as the newly elected Stanford Lisa Wanzor Coaching Corps Chapter President.

The Coaching Corps Stanford Chapter is one of three campus chapters that will launch in fall 2011.

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