Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership Corporation

Coming out of the pandemic it was crucial for us to get back to a robust year of in-person programming. Our students had experienced a fundamental disruption to their education in the previous school year. The academic and social-emotional support that is foundational to our program model was more important than ever. It was also critical that we re-engaged full rosters of students so that we could continue to build on the growth that we had experienced leading up to the pandemic. Instead of cutting back on our offerings in the uncertain wake of the pandemic, we doubled down our commitment to our student-athletes and their families with program expansions to serve over 1500 participants across 41 programs.academic achievements:as schools returned to in-person learning, Harlem Lacrosse supported participants in the transition to the new normal of school. Student-athletes' families shared that being part of hl improved academic motivation (94%) and academic performance (85%) in the classroom. After a year of classroom disruption, attendance was more critical than ever. Hl participants who were chronically absent in the previous school year attended 16 days more of school this year. Students who were failing courses in the previous school year improved their gpa by an average of 23% this school year. The senior class had an exceptionally strong year despite the disruptions to their high school experience with 95% matriculating to college or a post-graduate year in the fall of 2022. 30 of those participants are the first in their family to attend college. Athletic achievements:access to physical activity has only grown in importance during the pandemic, especially for youth, but the opportunity to play has diminished, with programs across the country closing, merging, and downsizing. Conversely, hl added programs during the 2021-2022 school year, and continues to increase athletic opportunities for youth. As a result, student-athletes saw tangible growth in their physical fitness. Participants averaged an increase of 11 laps on the pacer fitness test demonstrating significant increases in healthy fitness zones as measured by the boston children's hospital. Participants also grew an average of 11 repetitions on the wall ball stickwork test used to measure Lacrosse skill acquisition. In 2022, Harlem Lacrosse added national club teams to create an opportunity for the most talented participants to train with each other and showcase their abilities in national recruiting tournaments. The national club teams give student-athletes the platform to be recruited to play at the collegiate level where they will join the ranks of the many standout alumni on college teams across the country. In the 2021-22 year, over 50 Harlem Lacrosse alums took the field with their collegiate programs. Social-emotional growth:as students returned to school, mental health arose as a primary concern from parents, guardians, and teachers alike. Both sport and relationships with trusted adults can help youth develop the social emotional skills to build resiliency and achieve their goals. In 2021-22, 96% of hl students grew in at least one of our five core areas of social emotional growth. Furthermore, 95% of families reported that their child improved their relationships with adult mentors and 92% of families reported that their children improved relationships with their peers. After a period of disconnectedness, Harlem Lacrosse played an important role in building a sense of belonging and community.