The Critical Gap in Youth Development: Filling the 18-24 Age Void with Community & Care | Chicago Youth Boxing Club

[0:16]  Welcome back to another episode here on the Heart and Hustle podcast. Mr. Noah, what's good, man?

[0:22]  How's it going? I'm good.

[0:24]  Good. It's actually weird to say Mr. Noah cuz I always call my dad my daughter Miss Noah and you know so it's a little weird right now saying it out loud actually you know as I go live but man I appreciate you just coming on and I just people to to know a little bit more about you man you grew up in uh as a missionaries kid in Colombia and Ecuador moved to Chicago at 18 and then somehow you ended up in Boston meet the coaches from a boxing club on the west side of Chicago of all places what happened in that moment man

[0:53]  that that was that was pretty crazy to me. I mean, it's very unexpected at that point in my life. I was thinking I the goal was to have been in the classroom already teaching, but

[1:06]  times were tough at the time at, you know, at that time in Chicago. Like there's a hiring freeze and but I I kind of like found myself coaching instead, which you know, fit a lot, you know, with what I you know, what my upbringing was like and the things that impacted me. And so I was in Boston. I'd never been to Boston before and there was a whole bunch of other it was a whole conference so there was coaches from all these different fields and they were all from Chicago for the most part and yeah I ran into these coaches from a boxing gym and I think out of everybody that I had met that weekend I was like you know found myself spending more time with them they were chill they were cool and they were like come to our boxing gym let's hang out and so I was like I've never done it before let's do it and so I showed up like literally I think that same week I was like, you know what, I'm going to like follow through and I showed up and, you know, did a training with them and that first training I'll never forget. Like I'm pretty confident the guy who invited me like wanted to see me suffer. And I remember puking on my first training day.

[2:09]  Oh my god.

[2:10]  So I was like, you know what? This is this is it. I think I'm going to hang out here a little bit more often, you know.

[2:17]  Oh, weird. Yes. You had to earn your stripes. He probably that's about what he wanted you to do. He wanted you to earn your stripes. Listen, I want to get some water, but just don't make fun of my cup here, bro. Like, if you got kids, you know, you know what I'm saying?

[2:26]  Gabby's Dollhouse is the goat. That That show is is phenomenal.

[2:31]  You know, you you know about it. There's some parents like I don't know, man. My kid is my kid is not at that age. And I'm like, you know, Gabby's Dollhouse made a lot of made a lot of money off of me, I would say. You know, from

[2:41]  the dollous to the movies to the ears. That's what actually my daughter wanted to be for for um Halloween, actually. But talking about kids, man, you you you were working as a high school social studies teacher if I'm not mistaken.

[2:54]  Yeah.

[2:55]  Um for eight years before you even get to this space, alternative schools, public schools, kids that most people probably had already kind of written off. And I think it's almost like how these two worlds align themselves. You felt like those two worlds align themselves, like prepared you for the next chapter of your your life.

[3:12]  Yeah. I mean, and it's crazy to me because I mean, I knew that like, you know, when I, you know, from the get-go, like that I would, you know, when when I was thinking about teaching and where I'd want to be, like I knew that that, you know, the last place I wanted to end up was in a space where, like, you know, there wasn't necessarily you, they weren't hurting for good teachers, right? And cuz there is that that kind of breakdown. And you know, I had those opportunities to go teach at like, you know, a private school in the suburbs and stuff like that. Um, but yeah, but I didn't what I didn't expect was like to my first teaching gig to be at an alternative school. Um, at the time, I didn't even know that was a thing, right? But, you know, I met somebody that worked there and he knew that I was looking for a teaching gig and he was like, "You should go check out this school." Um, and sure enough, like they were looking for a social studies teacher and I wound up my first gig with students that were anywhere between 16 and 22 years old. And at the time, I was like barely 24, 25. And so, you know, right off the bat, it was like, this feels different, right? I think most people when they expect to go into teaching are thinking they're going to have kids, like young kids or whatever. But I was like, nope. Like, they're a few years younger than me. Like when it comes to life, like some of them have even lived a whole lot more life than I have.

[4:34]  Yeah.

[4:35]  And now I have to teach them, you know, but I think everybody needs to go through something like that. And I found it to be a very, you know, like it it really shaped the way that I thought about teaching and how I see, you know, the impact that education can have. And

[4:53]  and what do you think about that? Like working with those type of kids, man, cuz those are not bad kids, right? like they're in alternative schools or whatever life has kind of thrown their way, still showing up, right? Still trying to get an education. What do you think you learned from those individuals, man, that really still had this this fight in them, but probably didn't feel they was seen or heard?

[5:14]  Yeah. No, that it it taught me a lot, right? Because I think the traditional way of of of how you know education is approached is sort of like the kids have to acquies to the way that the adults teach and how they frame how education is is is shared. Um when it should be the other way around, right? like every generation is different, every group of every classroom is different and every individual student is different and they need something that speaks to them in the way that they can understand it. Um, and so yeah, each and every one of like, you know, my students all had different stories, right? like you had kids that you know just sort of dropped out on their own because they had you know pretty serious depression and they didn't have supports in their life to keep them pushing them to go to school and they just sort of like fell off the you know kind of fell off and didn't go back for a couple of years. Um and other students were like forcibly removed from their schools right for you know for for different reasons. Um so in a way like you know they they had that decision forced on them and uh so for me it was all about like building that rapport with each and every one of them. Um being true to myself uh and building a a sense of like communal respect in the classroom. And once you I was able to build that that culture you know from there we could have the conversations around you know skills and content. Um, you know, and it was easier because they knew that I respected them, that I, you know, that there was the trust. Um, and I think the other piece of it was also like thinking creatively about how to make the content engaging, right? Like I think like all of us, but kids especially, like they need to see how what they are learning in the classroom is going to impact them in real life, right? be, you know, of course, like they always talk about like I want to learn how to do my taxes or I want to learn how to invest my money, which all of those things, you know, are are meaningful, right? Like they really do need to to learn those like those hard skills that we all have to figure out on our own afterwards, but it goes beyond that, right? It it it's it's thinking about how what the content they're learning actually has an impact on their everyday life.

[7:34]  Um,

[7:34]  I love it. you you were pretty much meeting the kids at where they were at and and when they felt comfortable enough it was easier for you to pour it back into them, right? I think a lot of times you just got to meet them where they're at. Um I can imagine in the boxing space, man, talk about it, man. Like how you get to that world? Like you we talked about a little bit of it, but was it a was it a hard decision to go from an educator to now working as a director at a boxing gym? Um, it was kind of like a lot of big decisions, unexpected in a way, but it makes sense. Um, I I the the the for context, the time frame that I like was was thinking transition like what's the next step sort of a thing like I'd always kind of had it in my mind that I would want to that I wanted to be a principal, right? An administrator of a school, right? when I was thinking big picture of like what impacts the classroom. Sure, you need good teachers. You really do need good teachers that know what they're doing that understand what the craft that they and the mission that they have. But, you know, the the entire environment of of the school makes a huge difference on the type of teacher you can be. And so, that was got a kind of like was always my goal. But I don't know a few three you know during the pandemic that was a really rough time for me as a teacher like just stuck in my basement teaching virtually. It was really tough to see the kids go through that and be isolated uh and and really experience some tough times without that connection in the classroom. And it was pretty extended. Um, and I was also going through, you know, a certification process that was really challenging. And I was really watching, you know, my leaders in the school space and just thinking like that is what I have in mind, what I think it means to be a school leader is probably not what actually happens. And I really value

[9:33]  the time that I have with my family, you know, all the creative stuff that I do outside of work. And I had a feeling like if I did this, I would probably have to say goodbye to a lot of that stuff, which is not what I'm willing to do. Um,

[9:46]  yeah.

[9:47]  But when it comes to the boxing club, um, you know, it kind of popped under my radar. They were looking for a director. I knew, you know, I had good relationships with the board and, you know, they kind of like pitched it to me and I met with a few people and one guy in particular like, you know, he boiled it down to me. He's like a lot of this, you know, think about it in terms of your values. Like what is it that you really truly value? Um, and I the more I thought about that particular question, I was like, this makes perfect sense. You know, like it's about reaching young people. It's about building spaces in community. It's about building third places, third spaces where, you know, people can really like be safe and and and, you know, achieve their goals. and I could do that from this role as an executive director. Um, and there was a lot that I didn't know definitely when I stepped into the role that I had to learn along the way, but you know, I

[10:45]  that's what that's what makes uh I would say nonprofits in this space fun though, right? Is like every day is a new day. Every day you're learning something different and the and the impacts that you make is so cool. And I mean even what was so cool that you just mentioned is just creating spaces, but this space has been around for 20 years in the same space. Yeah.

[11:02]  Right. West Garfield Park if I'm not mistaken underneath a B in the basement of a church.

[11:09]  Yeah. It's Little Village. So, we're just south of West Garfield, right? We're not too far from West Garfield, but yeah, it's the basement of a church.

[11:17]  Um, and the building itself is has a lot of history. It's an old Masonic temple. So, I think it's like 100 plus years old. Um,

[11:26]  wow.

[11:26]  You know, there's a lot of other like community functions that happen in the building. Um, but we have always been here, you know, down here in the basement.

[11:36]  And you said that's your superpower. Why do you say it's your superpower

[11:39]  that you guys consistent?

[11:42]  Yeah, it's our superpower because, you know, cuz we've been around for so long and the the consistency has been there. Um, and for most of the history, like the or has been on a shoestring budget. Uh, a lot of volunteer work over the years. Uh, and it's just sort of like grown and morphed with the times. And but I also feel like it has this charm where it's like for people that first find this, you know, find us like they they they're always like, I did not expect this to be here. Um, we don't have this big massive sign outside, you know, we don't have this fancy building or anything, but you know, you ask the right people in the neighborhood and they're like, "Oh yeah, we know about CYBC." So yeah, that's kind of like this. and you come in and you're like, "Oh my goodness, like there's all this activity." Um, it's busy.

[12:34]  What is the reach that you guys are getting a year? Like what how many youth are you guys seeing?

[12:38]  We have served anywhere between 400 and 600 youth members a year. Yeah. And on average this year we have about 150 enrolled every month. Uh, you know, and the way we understand our data has changed too, right? where we used to kind of like shoot for high enrollment numbers, but then we realized high enrollment doesn't necessarily mean that all of those members are coming to us frequently, right?

[13:06]  Attention. Yeah.

[13:07]  And so, so that's kind of been the aim now is like let's see how we can keep those members coming more frequently and spending more time with us. Um, and so, so yeah, we've kind of like you learned a lot more about like what those numbers mean for us. Uh so but yeah on a on a daily

[13:27]  you're learning data you're learning data you're learning systems you're learning yeah when you say learning a lot of new things man from being the educator and planning that day to planning this yeah it's definitely could only imagine it's a lot of curves that you've had to uh to take but what would you say is the biggest thing you've learned being in the seat as an executive director?

[13:48]  Yeah. No. And I and I want to say this because like if if there's any teachers listening to this, like I'm sure you know this already, but I think teachers are like a true superpower when it comes to like%,

[13:59]  you know, career options, right? When you're thinking about like the next steps and whatnot, because I think as teachers, you get really siloed into one thing, which is fine, right? I think we need more like lifelong teachers, but teachers also need a sense of like what's the next step? Like what how else can I like grow? and you can do anything like you're a people. You manage people. You manage 30 people every single day and you have to create these, you know, units that are all sequential and, you know, it's it's a whole lot. So, for me, the things that like I've had to really like dig in and learn that I'm definitely still like adapting to is I mean, number one, like the fundraising side of things is is probably been my biggest learn one of my biggest learning curves. you know, uh this idea that yeah, like we have to steward the funders that we have but think creatively about how we can grow that and right now the fundraising landscape is very challenging. Um it's changed a lot like I talked to people that have been doing this for years and even they are saying like yeah this is this is something new we've never experienced before. Uh but when when it comes to

[15:12]  some of the amazing work that you guys done, I can imagine there's a lot of stories to it, but what are some stories that just allow you to remember why you do it? Because a lot of times we have to remind ourselves on the why. I mean, are there stories on on kids that you've seen go to nationals? Any of those stories that just come to mind?

[15:27]  Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's a whole range, right? Like there's the day-to-day stuff that always keeps me going, right? When I think about the kids that on a day-to-day basis are just telling me like, "This has made my life better. I have more discipline. I want to show up to school more frequently. Um, you know, I want to help out at the house more. You know, that stuff really pushes me cuz that's like daytoday." Um, but as far as like you know other stories like man right now we have we have two young men that are pro professional boxers um you know one of them started in our program when he was 12 years old. Um he's 25 now and he had you know he's stuck with it like he has he racked up near nearly a 100 amateur fights and before he went pro in 2019 and now he just fought his 10th fight

[16:27]  uh a few days ago on you know Cinco de Mayo and he won it was a resounding victory and he's he's been very disciplined recently and I if he keeps this up like I really honestly feel like he could be on some pretty big show, you know, fights in the next couple in the next

[16:45]  Oh, yeah.

[16:46]  You know, that's cool.

[16:47]  Yeah. And so that that is obviously really exciting because he's not the only one, right? Like there's other kids

[16:55]  that are, you know, really kind of following in that path. We've had other kids that have gone pro um and they're excited, right? you know, they're really thinking about what they they they can envision what their life looks like in a in a position like that, right?

[17:12]  Yeah, I was going to say they have the representation um right in front of them, those people that, you know, stay consistent and now pro and seeing that it just definitely gives people that hope and that, oh, I can do it if I wanted to. I just got to put the work in. Um that's that's cool. How many What is the age range of the kids?

[17:28]  Yeah. So we serve anywhere uh starting around 8 years old up into adulthood. Most of our members are between the age of 14 and 18 um with uh kind of like a second and third group split between like you know 9 to 11 and then 19 to mid20s which is a pretty important like age demographic because a lot of youth serving programs stop at age 18.

[17:54]  You know you sort of graduate after 18 and that's it. Um, and what we're seeing is that a lot of young folks in that age group between 19 and 24, you know, are having a pretty hard time. Like they're having a hard time looking for work or finding work. Um, and you know, they have fewer options for them to like, you know, kind of gravitate towards. And so, yeah, that's that's the age group. I'll tell you something that just that you say that that really brought um and recently because I've been talking to people in higher ed is that that school system right and you go ahead and you graduate not everybody goes to college so you are right what happens to that gap of 18 to 24 they no longer have structure they don't have someone pushing them they don't have the resources but someone you know in an organization like yourself in Chicago is that you do have the resources you do have someone that cares you still have someone pushing you I mean a former educator right that that doesn't ever leave you are still the educator you are still uh care for humanity and care for children just very differently now and in a different space. So I do feel there should be more organizations like yours bro that feel that gap cuz while some may see the other side some also stay in the mindset of that 11th 12th grade version of themselves cuz that's all they could you know they got stuck there. They didn't have anybody

[19:08]  you know so uh cool to know that you guys are filling that gap. Not a lot of or as you said organizations fill that gap for those for those youth and those uh young young adults man that are really still learning life.

[19:21]  Yeah. Yeah. No, their prefrontal cortex is still developing you know

[19:27]  um and with fewer structures in place to support them. It's you know it's it's a lot harder for them to like yeah find their footing.

[19:36]  What is your vision man? What's your vision now that you've been doing this for some time? What's your vision for the Chicago uh boxing club, man?

[19:43]  Yeah. Um there's a lot, right? I I still feel very new to the role. Um but definitely have, you know, feel like I've learned a lot. The the vision is uh to have to open a second location right in on the south side of Chicago where we can replicate the model that we have right now. um and do it in a way that is very that that stays true to our mission, to our heart of of why we do this. Um but also, you know, leave a lot of room for expansion and adding new things that, you know, we can we can include to serve our communities. Um so that that's the I guess I would say immediate vision, but I know that that's going to take a while. Um, so I'm I want to be very realistic of what that vision looks like and because especially like, you know, usually the the big conversation is like, are you gonna go school-based or community- based, right? And I and I definitely think there's pros to both strategies. Um, but for for me, and I know for us at at on the team and at the board, like there's a a belief that like, you know, people need community spaces, right, that they can go to very frequently. Um, and there's not as much out there like that, right? Um, there's a lot of school-based programs. Um, and we need those, right? But we also need those those community spaces. Um, so that that is the vision for the next couple of years to really build the platform to get there. Uh, yeah. And I envision a big grand opening. You know,

[21:26]  hey man, you got to continue speaking to existence. I always say it is 100% possible. You're you're just getting started and you have some really cool opportunities, man. But I as we start to wrap this up and we talk to uh another young person in Chicago or really anywhere who doesn't see that path forward and doesn't know what a place like, you know, what you guys are doing could really do for them. What do you say directly to them? Because I feel a lot of times they just don't know what's in their own backyards.

[21:51]  Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean I So you're saying like what would I say to a young person that doesn't know or

[21:58]  Yeah. that doesn't know what a place like you guys could actually do for them?

[22:02]  Yeah. Well, I mean I have always even with with my students was always the question of like what what do you want to accomplish, right? What are your goals, right? And we try to frame a lot of what we do like with the coaches like it's always about what do you want to accomplish? Do you want to go pro? Do you want to just fight amateur? Do you want to just work out? You know, uh like what are your goals? And I think from there, like is the most essential like starting point with young people is like really centering around what it is that they want to do. And I think from there you can really you can you you can build out something that's more meaningful, right? Because if you just go in assuming that you know what they need, the engagement's not going to follow, right? Like buyin is huge. they all like buyin is everything when it comes to like teaching whatever it is and how you get that buy in is really centering on what it is that the you that the young person really wants to accomplish and so that's what I always like start with is like really getting to know what does the kid want to do what do you want to accomplish let's make that happen then

[23:06]  yeah right

[23:07]  understanding the why understanding the why

[23:10]  um no man I really appreciate the conversation that we've had today where can people find more information about what you guys are doing are you guys on social are you uh there's a website

[23:18]  yeah So, we're on we're on Instagram. You can go to cybc_boxing. Uh we also have a website, chicago youthboxingclub.org. Uh you'll be able to find a lot of that stuff there. We're in the process of developing an app which you should be able to download from the website as well. Um but yeah, anywhere you can yeah, you can sign up for my newsletter that I'm about to send out today. Um and uh yeah, I would say those are the two major platforms you could go to. I love it, Noah. I appreciate the conversation. For those that are watching, make sure you guys do like, subscribe, and comment. This has been Ephrain. This is Noah. We'll catch you on the next conversation later.