Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders

Description

For 10 years the Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders (BCYL) has been transformed from a baseball league to a youth development organization serving over 500 youth ages 5 to 18. During this time we have leverage our sports programming as a gateway to demonstrate to children and their parents the importance of civic service and education. It is in fact our reason for existence. In partnership with the 400+ families and nearly 200 volunteers, our objective is to foster an environment where the youngsters gain and exhibit confidence and leadership in their classrooms, community and homes.

Programs are offered through 3 platforms (Sports, Education and Community)

• Sports- The primary objective of the sports programs is to foster an environment of responsibility, respect, integrity and teamwork that will enable our youth to be successful on and off the field/court.
• Education- BCYL’s Education Platform has proven to be a successful model by educating both parents and youth on the importance of graduating from college.
• Community- The intention of the community programs is to promote the importance of helping others and caring for the community.

BCYL has proven that by providing the proper resouces, safe envirionment and inspiration... our Youth will deliver GREAT RESULTS and SUCCESS!

• The Caribe Youth Saturday Academy (CYSA -SAT Prep program) established in 2010 has had each each cohort collectively achieve at least 100 points improvement on their SAT score versus pre-test. The 2013 class had 67% of the students achieve at least a 100 points improvement on their SAT score versus pre-test. Currently 36 of the 43 eligible graduates are enrolled in college.

• The Caribe Honor Roll Program recognizes students who obtain A’s and B’s each marking period with a trip to a professional sporting event. In 2012/2013 academic year, 26% of BCYL students achieved honor roll.

• 30% of the 2013 basketball program coaching staff was comprised of formers players that graduated from the program.

• Since 2009 the Caribe Youth Scholarship Program has afforded seventeen (17) Caribe students the opportunity to receive nearly $200,000 in scholarships to attend a Diocese of Bridgeport high school, University of Bridgeport and Eastern CT State University.

• BCYL’s Team-Power-Reading Program with the slogan of "Stronger through Knowledge" provides books to all participants and recommends they write an essay on the book. Personnel from the Bridgeport Public Library are present during the distribution of the books to assist BCYL members in obtaining a library card; over 150 students have registered for their first library card in the past 6 years.