On Friday, August 16, 2019, Up2Us Sports hosted a summit at the Overtown Youth Center in Miami which probed the various issues such as exposure to trauma that can lead up to youth violence and explored how sports-based mentor training can be a healing agent for such youth in the Miami area.

The interactive conference shared best practices for all practitioners in youth sports and recreation programs. It also showcased some activities steeped in sports-based youth development strategies that allow an Up2Us Sports coach to engage at-risk youth in fun and engaging activities ways while also serving as a life skills mentor.

“The Miami Sports & Anti-Violence Summit was a unique opportunity for our community's stakeholders to come together and openly discuss the issues that affect our promising youth,” said Julie Angulo, Up2Us Sports’ Miami City Director. “Only through events such as these can we take small yet critical steps towards creating a collaborative solution that will have a greater collective impact. Our sports coaches, who serve as mentors and role models to at-promise youth throughout the Miami-Dade County community on a daily basis, are one important piece of this solution.”

Speakers included Mayor Oliver Gilbert (City of Miami Gardens), Steve Stowe, Vice President/Executive Director, Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, Elena Angulo, Miami-Dade County Juvenile Services Department, Joel Mesa, Citizen's Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County. Participating organizations included The Miami Foundation, Hope for Miami, Project Rise, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward.

A special thanks to Trader Joe's (Pinecrest) for sponsoring this event.

To learn more about our Up2Us Sports Coach program in Miami, contact Julie Angulo, City Director, at jangulo@up2ussports.org or 786-401-6299.