The middle school students at Gracemount School in Cleveland do not get a chance to participate in competitive athletics like most of their middle school peers around the state.  Their school originally was an elementary school: there is no track at the school and the gym is not big enough to host regulation basketball games.  The students have no uniforms to wear for competitions.  The students need adults willing to coach the teams.  The Gracemount YFJ team wanted to work to break these barriers to sports participation at their school.

The students researched the benefits of allowing sports participation at the school.  They concluded that if the school offered sports, it would help fight obesity, provide a worthwhile activity in the afterschool hours, and help the students gain teamwork skills.

The YFJ team started a letter writing campaign to community leaders in Cleveland.  The students’ English and reading teachers helped join the project.  Tim Isaac, director of the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center, offered his time and facility to the students.  Cleveland City Councilmember Terrell Pruitt arranged to help, as well. 

With the assistance of these community leaders, things started to look good for sports at Gracemount.  Mr. Isaac promised to let the school sports teams use the recreation center for practices and games.  Councilmember Pruitt is encouraging the area middle schools collaborate in the sports activities.  These students will eventually attend the same high school and hopefully YFJ will help to decrease neighborhood rivalries. 

Through the YFJ team’s efforts, the school will have a track team for the 2009-2010 school year.  The students are fundraising for uniforms.  Councilmember Pruitt is recruiting adults to coach other sports for the school.  The Gracemount YFJ team is very excited that, through their efforts, participation in this project has earned their school positive recognition within Cleveland.