Community Service 2.0
(11-12-08) Worchester, Mass � On a blustery evening in Worcester, the expansion of Sport in Society�s Athletes in Service (AIS) culminated with a training session with fifteen athletes from Clark University and Holy Cross. AIS has been placing Northeastern University athletes in service to Boston�s schools and community health centers for three years, but is getting a facelift this year as it extends its reach to Worcester and more college teams in Boston, and includes a newly developed training to prepare the athletes for service.
Whether the Celtics are visiting schools to speak out against truancy, or a college football team is hosting a youth skills clinic, athletes are increasingly involved in community service. Sport in Society�s Athletes in Service (AIS) expands upon that model by training athletes so that their time in service is more effective and impactful for everyone involved. Taryn Provencher, assistant manager for Fitz Urban Youth Sports (Fitz UYS) at Sport in Society, explained that �athletes don�t always understand what an enormous impact they have on the kids they work with. We want the athletes to realize that they could inspire a kid to consider college when he might not otherwise. Or their presence might encourage a youth to pursue a sport, and we know that sport can have so many benefits, whether it�s mental, emotional, or physical.�
Steve Tower, assistant manager of FitzUYS, began the session by discussing the benefits of sports with the athletes, he then moved into a dialogue about the impact of coaches. One athlete remarked that the training �helped me understand how the kids will view us. Sport is simple and fun for me, but it has a larger significance for these kids.� The athletes also engaged in activities intended to raise their awareness of disparities in low-income urban communities, especially regarding opportunities for physical activity, availability of safe space, and access to nutritious food. One athlete realized it�s �a lot different and more serious than where I come from,� as well as the �relevance of [the lack of] supermarkets.� Athletes were left with a guide to help them have similar discussions with their teammates, with the twofold effect of empowering the trained athletes, as well as making the valuable lessons available to a wider audience than could be reached in one night.
Actively engaged from the start, some athletes were already aware of the issues in urban communities, but the training �put it in your face and made it more real,� said one athlete. Jen Kagno, manager of home events and community service coordinator for Holy Cross, said �it really opened their eyes to issues in the community,� then added, �not only their eyes, but mine too!�
The athletes left the training feeling much more prepared to implement service in their communities, commenting that it was valuable to �understand the impact of physical activity on a child�s life� and �the lack of opportunity and the limitations kids face.� Said one athlete, �I�m excited to be joining this organization!�
The expansion was made possible by the generous contributions of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
