2022 Coach of the Year Jae Cooper at the 9th Annual Up2Us Sports Gala
Through coaching, community-building, and skateboarding, Jae Cooper (they/them) is making an impact. Coach Jae has completed two service terms with Harold Hunter Foundation where, in addition to coaching, they host informal Girls/Women/LGBTQ+ skateboarding sessions and meet-ups. Jae also vehemently advocates for safe spaces and honest conversations about mental health, having personally experienced challenges while playing competitive sports.
Although Jae played basketball as a younger person, their mental health suffered from the comparisons, external validation, and numbers-based achievement that went along with competitive training. Jae gravitated towards skateboarding, an activity that fulfills them both athletically and philosophically: Jae believes in the unifying power of skating, which brings together people of diverse backgrounds and opinions. They also know firsthand how important a caring coach can be in a young person’s life—particularly a young person in search of their community.
As a youth, Jae was warmly encouraged to pursue their interest in poetry by a mentor at a Boys & Girls Club; now they have found community among New York’s queer women skaters. Coach Jae is intent on paying that support forward and doing their part to create a safe, welcoming space that will foster community among the youth they serve—and enable some radically joyful skateboarding.
During our 2022 Gala on October 11, 2022, Jae was recognized with their Coach of the Year award. Director of Programs at Harold Hunter Foundation, Kevin Ortiz, presented them with their award.
Jae was also featured in a film we debuted at the gala. Watch the film on our YouTube Channel or below.
Coach Jae Cooper has been making an impact on the youth at Harold Hunter Foundation by paying it forward to create a safe, welcoming space through coaching, community-building, and skateboarding.
One coach can create a world of possibilities.
Produced by Fineas Media
