About

The City Boxing Project is set to start in winter 2009 and continue indefinitely. The City Boxing Project is establishing 501 (c) (3) non-profit status and will be seeking additional funding from other contributors for sustaining the program.

Our mission is to, "combat the risk factors associated with juvenile delinquency by providing a comprehensive physical fitness and character education program for youth." We are passionate about providing quality after-school programming and believe our program represents the best tool in the fight against juvenile gangs, crime, and delinquency.

Our program incorporates proven physical fitness training methods centered on the mixed martial arts of boxing, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu with a comprehensive social - emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, the 180 Degrees Program. The 180 Degrees Program curriculum emphasizes interactive instruction meant to enhance individual core values, character education, life skills, 21st century skills, and community involvement. The curriculum is based upon proven SEL principles and includes a performance measurement system that tracks results.

The program takes place at San Diego's premier gym and training center, City Boxing. City Boxing is a key partner and sponsor of the City Boxing Project and has been in business for over 8 years operating two gyms in San Diego. City Boxing currently has over 1,000 members.

The City Boxing Project will provide physical fitness and life skill training opportunities meant to bolster a youth's physical and social-emotional fitness. An over-arching goal of the program is for youth to graduate with the capacity to, "exceed their potential" within the 21st century global workforce and economy and become valuable contributors to their communities.

The City Boxing Project targets services to all San Diego youth, and especially those that are living in disadvantaged circumstances. We will be partnering with local public safety, school, and community groups in providing our services.

The community problem we are attempting to address is two-fold: There are too few after-school programs and there are too many youth living in disadvantaged circumstances that can benefit from this program.

In San Diego County, the numbers of youth living in at-risk settings (poverty, single-parent household, lack of after-school program access) is significant. Many are in danger of dropping out of school, joining a gang, becoming pregnant, or using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. For example we know research shows:

• 1 in 5 San Diego students will drop out of school by their senior year
• 30.3% of Latino students; 41.6% of black students, and 15.2% of white students drop out of high school in San Diego
• High school drop outs are more prone to live in poverty, be unemployed, use social welfare programs, and become involved in crime
• In California, juveniles are responsible for a significant portion of all crime
• Every day in California, over 50 youth are arrested for violent crimes
• Teens in California are twice as likely as adults to become victims of violent crime
• The incidence of teen pregnancy, drug abuse, gang involvement, and suicide are too high in San Diego County (Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for San Diego youth age 15-24)
• The incidence of teens being drunk and involved in car crashes is higher in San Diego County than the rest of the state

The City Boxing Project will measure 10 key outcome performance measures related to the above social concerns. These performance targets involve academic achievement, leadership skills, motivation, achieving goals, organizational skills, decision making, communication skills, team work, self-esteem, and citizenship. The program targets measurable increases in each of these areas in the short term (pre and post testing). Long-term results aim to reduce juvenile delinquency among San Diego youth while increasing their life skills and civic involvement.

The City Boxing Project will be coordinated and managed by highly qualified staff from City Boxing. City Boxing is best suited to deliver this program in San Diego County because of our eight-year history and experience in administering two state-of-the-art athletic clubs for youth and adults. City Boxing also has trained and certified program facilitators for the curriculum that serve as excellent role models, mentors, and trainers.

The City Boxing Project has committed, trained staff and strong leadership, and our program offers opportunity and promise to San Diego youth.

Our public safety partners tell us the hours between 2PM and 6PM are the prime time for violent juvenile crime in San Diego County. This is the time that the City Boxing Project will provide services to youth that are not able to participate in other after-school programs.

New California studies and others from across the country show that good after-school programs, where kids have the support of caring adults and participate in positive leadership roles, substantially reduce crime and help kids succeed in school and in life.

The City Boxing Project is intended to fill the vacuum in the lack of quality, performance based, after-school programs in San Diego County.

California is a national leader in providing and supporting after-school programs however, recent data show that too many kids in California lack access to after-school programs. Less than one in four low-income schools receive State funding for after-school programs and even funded programs suffer from long waiting lists.

In a recent survey, two out of three California parents say there are not enough after-school programs in their community.

After-school programs are least available for high school students-the youth most at risk of becoming involved in crime.

The need for quality after-school programs will increase. California youth ages 10-17 was forecast to reach nearly 18% of the population (5 million) from 2000 - 2008. This trend is expected to continue. By 2025, 33% of California's population will be under 20 years of age, the second highest proportion in the nation.

In a recent survey of California sheriffs, police chiefs, and district attorneys, 95% agreed that if we fail to make greater investments in after-school programs, "we will pay far more later" in crime, welfare and other social costs. We agree. The investments made now are small compared to the potential social consequences of the future.