| Mission | | Background | | | Who We Are | | | Statement of Need | | | Effectiveness | | | Director | | | Staff |
Effectiveness
Statistical surveys on minority youth gathered from various cities with a focus on New York rate that 30% of minority students drop out of school before High School, another 43% never finish High School and only 12% of our young Black and Hispanic males attend college. Studies have also found that kids who have extra-curricular activities incorporated into their day to day schedule are less likely to drop out of school, as well as, sell or abuse drugs. The founders of the NYCBBC without ever seeing a survey instinctively understood this when they started.
The participation in the NYCBBC summer league over the years has proven to be a success. The league is a place where kids look forward to coming back year after year. Additionally, some of the first fifteen kids who started in 1995 return each summer to volunteer their time helping the younger players. Those that are now eighteen years or older give back by participating in the summer league by either coaching, working with the younger kids, keeping scores or just volunteering wherever they are needed. The older kids return to help because they remember what the NYCBBC taught them about giving back to others and being leaders. Their presence proves that the NYCBBC’s summer mentoring and teaching of life long skills and values were not in vain.
The NYCBBC volunteer staff has been instrumental in getting participants admitted to some of NYC’s better schools through their interaction with coaches and principals of various NYC schools by way of referrals and the arranging of interviews.
In addition to the institutional ties that have been forged, the NYCBBC has fostered a sense of family and community through its cross interaction of staff, volunteers, parents and other family members. Together, the volunteer staff, other volunteers, parents, friends and other family members understand that it takes each working with the other to provide the guidance that children need. Furthermore, leadership and mentoring is required to keep participants off the streets with the ultimate goal of college education for all in mind.
By the time our program is complete for the summer, there is the hope that the foundation has been set for full and long-lasting relationships. Each year the participants, parents and volunteer staff find it hard to say goodbye at the end of the program. The intended goal of having a good time in a family like atmosphere is always accomplished.