G FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS AARON MURPHY AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 1ST, 20, 25. THE EXACT TIME IS 10:08 A.M. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DOT GOV.
BACKSLASH CITY DASH COUNCILOR DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON AFFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIREHOUSE CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO
THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C CC. STRONG WOMEN AND JUST YOU CAN SEND US EDUCATION AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNSELORS.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN DURING THIS HEARING AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY'VE SIGNED UP. EVERYONE WHO IS GIVING PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES.
THERE IS A SIGN IN SHEET IF YOU WANT TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE DOOR. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON. THE SIGN UPS AT THE DOOR IF YOU
WANT TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY YOU CAN EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON CORPS A MANSION AT C0RA DOT MONTRANT M0NTRO NDI BOSTON
DOT GOV FOR THE LINK IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET 185 TO ORDER FOR A HEARING TO LEARN HOW THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVE TO INCREASE YOUTH SPORT PARTICIPATION ACROSS BOSTON. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILOR BEN WEBERN, BEN WEBER ,COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AND MYSELF COUNSELOR MURPHY AND WAS TO MY COMMITTEE OF STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BACK ON OCTOBER 22ND. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY
COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL. COUNCILOR FLYNN. COUNCILOR WEBER IS HERE. I KNOW COUNCILOR FITZGERALD IS ON HIS WAY AND I BELIEVE OTHER COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN US AS THE
HEARING CONTINUES. SO BEFORE WE GO TO OPENING STATEMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, THERE IS A SHORT VIDEO THAT COUNCILOR WEBBER'S OFFICE HAS PUT TOGETHER. SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
THE SHORT VIDEO AND THEN WE'LL
GO TO OPENING STATEMENTS.
NOW THE YELLOW TAPE MY NAME'S
LOLA. MY I'M 11 AND I PLAYED SOCCER. WHERE'D YOU PLAY SOCCER AT BOSTON. WHERE SPECIFICALLY THE DEBUT LEAGUE AND WHAT FIELD PEOPLE
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FIELD? IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD. YEAH. OKAY. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT PLAYING SOCCER THIS YEAR ? DOING IT WITH FRIENDS. HI. HI.
MY NAME IS LUCA. I'M I'M 84. I'M AN INDIVIDUAL PLAY. UM, I'M MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS, UM, MY FAMILY RECENTLY I PLAY
REAGAN KEEBLE. I'M UM AND MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS WHEN I HIT THE BALL SO HIGH
. HI. MY NAME IS ASHRAF. I'M AGED SEVEN I FROM PAIN I PLAY REAGAN DUVALL IN MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS ON THE THIRD
GAME OF MY SECOND YEAR. UM I HIT THE BALL REALLY REALLY HARD AND THAT WAS A GOOD TIME
WAS TO PLAY SOCCER. OKAY THANK YOU SO THANK YOU TO THE KIDS WHO HAVE STARTED US OFF. I KNOW THEY'RE IN SCHOOL RIGHT
NOW SO THEY COULDN'T JOIN US BUT I KNOW WE'RE ALL HERE TO UPLIFT THEIR VOICES TODAY. I WILL START WITH COUNSELOR WEBER FOR OPENING STATEMENTS AND THEN TO COUNCIL FLAT.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE AND AND FOR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE FOR A SECOND PANEL UM, YOU KNOW, I
THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVE ,YOU KNOW, IS A IS SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE WANT
TO SUPPORT AND IT POINTED OUT AND HIGHLIGHTED AN ISSUE WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY WHICH IS SPORTS PARTICIPATION NUMBERS WHICH ARE MUCH LOWER THAN YOU KNOW IN THE SURROUNDING
SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES. UH AND YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND AND HELP OUR KIDS? WE TALK A LOT IN THIS SPACE
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO HELP OUR KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND AND WE ALSO HEAR THAT A LOT OF PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL IS AND BASED JUST ON
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM IT'S WHAT THAT WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. WELL IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME KIDS SPEND IN YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THE
CLASSROOM, IT'S ENORMOUS AND THAT THIS UH YOU KNOW IT FOR SO MANY KIDS ACROSS OUR CITY AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT ARE PUT IN WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT
ARE RUN ON AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER BASIS. WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS HERE TODAY ALL THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LITTLE LEAGUES OR SOCCER OR HOCKEY FLAG FOOTBALL YOU KNOW
WE HAD TEE BALL YOU KNOW THOSE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE PARENTS OF KIDS WHO ARE SHOWING UP AND CREATING THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS, IT'S LIKE A IT'S SORT OF LIKE A INSTITUTION IN
ITSELF THAT YOU KNOW, I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL AND I WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THOSE INSTITUTIONS WHICH PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF PROGRAMING, YOU KNOW, GREAT
PROGRAM FOR OUR KIDS AND FIGURING OUT A WAY WE CAN HELP THOSE HELP THOSE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. SO YOU KNOW, I'VE LOOKED AT THE
REPORT FROM 2024. I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR YOU KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IN TERMS OF MAPPING, YOU KNOW, FACILITIES AND PROMOTING ACTIVITIES. AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
UM, BUT I THINK SOMETHING WE'LL HEAR ABOUT FROM THE FROM THE YOU KNOW, THOSE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS AND FROM THE ORGANIZERS IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE WE THE THE
ONE PROBLEM THEY THOSE VOLUNTEERS CAN PROVIDE THEIR ENERGY, THEY CAN DO FUNDRAISING AND GET SHIRTS AND CLEATS AND BASEBALL BATS AND HELMETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE ONE THING THEY CAN'T DO IS BUILD MORE FACILITIES. THEY CAN'T BUILD MORE BASEBALL FIELDS, THEY CAN'T BUILD MORE SOCCER FIELDS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY NEED THE CITY TO WORK ON WITH THEM AND THEN I
THINK THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BUTTING THEIR HEADS UP AGAINST YOU KNOW, THEY THEY CAN'T USE THEIR FIELD BECAUSE ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOLS USING THE FIELD THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, USE THAT OTHER FIELD BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AND IT GETS DARK, YOU
KNOW, AFTER THE 5:00 NOW YOU KNOW, IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING THEY CAN'T USE THOSE OTHER FIELDS BECAUSE THERE'S NO BATHROOM THERE. SO IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CITY
CAN DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, THOSE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS FULFILL THEIR THEIR MISSIONS AND PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, YOU KNOW, JUST GRATEFUL WE COULD BE HERE TODAY AND HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE IT GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNSELOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD WE WILL GO TO COUNCILOR OF
FLYNN FOR OPENING STATEMENT AND WHEN YOU'LL BE THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS TO THE TO THE CHAIR, TO COUNCILOR WHETHER TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT
HEARING. IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, ENSURING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS OUR CITY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAY SPORTS, COMPETE AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
BUT SPORTS REALLY BRINGS US TOGETHER HAS AS A SOCIETY, AS A AS A CITY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE THAT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY
IT'S WHERE YOU LEARN SPORTSMANSHIP, COMPETITION, HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE AND THOSE ARE THE VALUES I LEARNED AS A YOUNG KID GROWING UP IN SOUTH
BOSTON WHERE I PLAYED YOUTH SPORTS IN SOUTH BOSTON LITTLE LEAGUE BABE RUTH OF THE HOCKEY PROGRAM MY SON WAS ALSO ENGAGED
IN YOUTH SPORTS BUT I SEE IT ACROSS THE CITY AND IN MY DISTRICT IN THE SOUTH AND A LOT OF GREAT COACHES, A LOT OF GREAT YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS AND IN CHINATOWN WE NEED TO
IMPROVE YOUTH SPORTS AND CHINATOWN ALSO. BUT I'M REALLY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL COACHES THAT I SEE ACROSS THE CITY AND IN MY DISTRICT JUST TO
NAME A FEW. MOCCA MAHONEY JOE TURNER, KENNY SKINNER'S FATHER TOMMY BRENDAN FLYNN, TOMMY MURPHY, BOBBY FERRARA, BILLY BAKER AT THE
SOCCER PROGRAM TOMMY MCGRATH. CATHY RAFFERTY SOME SO MANY OTHERS BUT GIVING THEIR TIME TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND LEARN
ABOUT IMPORTANT VALUES THAT SHAPE YOUR LIFE THROUGHOUT THROW THROW YOUR YOUNG YOUNG YEARS BUT ALSO GROWING UP SPORTS BRINGS US TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLYNN COUNCILOR FOR JOHN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUTH SPORTS IN THE CITY MEANS, I
THINK ABOUT TWO THINGS HONESTLY AND NOT REALLY RELATED BUT OBVIOUSLY IT ALL DEALS WITH YOUTH SPORTS. THE FIRST IS MAKING SURE KIDS CAN PLAY IN THAT WILL I KNOW
WHAT MY THREE KIDS RIGHT NOW RIGHT EIGHT, SIX AND FOUR WE HAVE SIGNUPS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT GO ON AND IT COULD BE SORT OF A CRAZY WHODUNIT BOARD WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SIGN UP FOR EACH
SEASON AND TRYING TO MAKE THE SCHEDULE RIGHT AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PRACTICE TIMES ARE GOING TO BE WHEN YOU SIGN UP YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT FIELD YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT NECESSARILY WHEN YOU SIGN UP AND SO YOU MAY SHELL OUT ALL
THIS MONEY TO SIGN UP FOR TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT SPORTS OR LEAGUES AND THEN YOU FIND OUT WELL WAIT, TWO OF THEM ARE AT THE SAME TIME. ONE OF THEM IS DURING WHEN I HAVE A MEETING AND THE OTHER TIME RIGHT AND YOU GO WELL WE
CAN'T MAKE HALF OF THIS. AND SO I THINK ONE THING I'D LOVE TO TRY AND SEE WHAT YOU BE VERY HIGH BUT IN A MORE NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATED SYSTEM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
SPORTS IF YOU GET ALL THE YOUTH SPORTS FROM EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND CREATE A SCHEDULE WHERE EVEN IF IT DOES OVERLAP IT'S IN ONE SPOT WHERE YOU CAN SEE HEY,
THIS YEAR I'M SIGNING UP AND I WANT TO DO BASKETBALL, HOCKEY AND FLAG FOOTBALL AND YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S A I GENERATED SOME OF IT CAN PRODUCE HERE'S WHAT THE SCHEDULE WOULD LOOK LIKE
AND AT WHAT FIELDS AND AT WHAT TIMES. THE HARD PART I THINK IS THE PRACTICE TIMES AND KNOWING RIGHT GETTING THAT AHEAD OF TIME BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IF WE COULD TRY AND GET THAT STUFF SCHEDULED AHEAD OF TIME TO KNOW WHEN WHEN YOU
WILL HAVE THE FIELDS AND WHAT TIME AND PRACTICE AND GAMES WOULD BE AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULES SO YOU COULD WORK THAT IN. I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A BOON TO PARENTS AND PROBABLY MAKE THEM MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SIGN UP FOR
MORE THAN ONE SPORT. I SAY THAT TO SAY THE SECOND THING I THINK OF A NEW SPORTS IS WE'RE GETTING VERY AEW IS NOW CREEPED INTO YOU KNOW ARE
TWO AND THREE YEAR OLDS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SO EVERYONE IS SORT OF DOING ONE SPORT FROM THE TIME THEY'RE BORN AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY EXPANDING THEIR HORIZONS OR TRYING ANYTHING
ELSE. I JUST WORRY IT RUINED COLLEGE RUINED COLLEGE HOOPS. IT'S RUINED A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPORTS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS RIGHT ALREADY. AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE WELL IF
WE CONTINUE TO LET THAT CREEP INTO OUR YOUTH YEAH THEY MIGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOME REALLY, REALLY GREAT PLAYERS THAT COME OUT AND CAN GO TO COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL AND CERTAIN SPORTS
AT THOSE LEVELS BUT AT OTHER TIMES MOST OF THE KIDS ARE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF TIME, MONEY AND COMMITMENT AND THOSE AEW SPORTS ARE EXPENSIVE AND EXCLUDE A LOT OF KIDS.
SO IF THAT'S THE TREND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY AHEAD OF THAT AND OFFER BOOKS. THOSE ARE SORT OF MY TWO MAIN ISSUES IN COMING UP. BUT GUYS THANK YOU FOR BEING AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR RESPONSES TO THOSE THOUGHTS WHEN WE HAVE TIME FOR
TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN, THE VIDEO REMINDED ME RIGHT THESE KIDS WERE YOUNG SAYING IT BUT THOSE ARE CORE MEMORIES
THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY INTO ADULTHOOD. THEY'LL BE 30, 40. REMEMBER LIKE WHAT HE SAID WHAT WAS THAT THE SECOND INNING OF THE THIRD PITCH, YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS HAVING.
SO SPORTS DEFINITELY HAVE SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR KIDS AS YOU KNOW, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE WERE INVITED TO A LOT OF THINGS AS AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCILOR AROUND ALL THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OFFERED AT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS. BUT SOME OF MY BEST MORNINGS HAVE BEEN SPENT MORE DROPPING THE PUCK A D Y HOCKEY KICKING OFF THE SEASON OR YOU KNOW, THROWING THE PITCH OVER IN EAST
BOSTON FOR THEIR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OR JUST LAST MONTH I WAS WITH COUNCIL OVERALL AND WE WERE YOU KNOW THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW WALSH PARK AND NOW WE FINALLY HAVE YOU KNOW A REGULATED SOCCER
SOFTBALL FIELD WHERE OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER TOWN TO PLAY THEIR HOME GAMES. THEY CAN PLAY THEM THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOW, YOU KNOW, UP TO PAR. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
SUPPORT OUR YOUTH SPORTS. BUT ALSO I THINK WE HAVE TO KNOW WE'RE HERE TO YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LISTENING RIGHT AS A PARENT MYSELF, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN COACHING AND
ORGANIZING THE GIRLS YOU TALK TO YOU FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS A D Y H I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT'S EQUITABLE ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE FEEL
YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAY AND AN EASY WAY TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM AND OUR COACHES AND OUR NONPROFITS IT'S BEEN SAID BUT IN MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU KNOW THERE ARE POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY WORK HERE AT CITY HALL THEIR WORKING LONG DAYS AND THEN THEY MAKE SURE THEY SHOW UP FOR OUR KIDS. SO WE HAVE TO APPLAUD THAT BUT ALSO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING OUR
ROLE HERE ON THE COUNCIL TO HELP MAKE THAT EASIER. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ASK TO HELP MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER SO YOU CAN START HOWEVER WANTS TO
GO FIRST WITH YOUR OPENING PERSON. ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE I DEFINITELY OPEN SO GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS HOUSING MARCEAU AND I AM THE CHIEF OF HUMAN SERVICES.
I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE TARIK WILSON WHO A YOUTH SPORTS THE CITY'S YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVES MANAGER. AND WHAT I CAN SAY IS BOTH TARIK AND I ARE YOUTH COACHES. I COACHED YOUTH BASKETBALL AND
I WOULD SAY A WORLD RECORD TO SAY THAT MY RECORD AS A COACH IN YOUTH BASKETBALL IS MUCH BETTER THAN WHEN I WAS AS A PLAYER. AND SO I ALSO NAVIGATED THE YOUTH SPORTS ARENA GROWING UP HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND
ALSO A FORMER SWIM COACH. AND SO I STARTED THE BLACKSTONE SHARKS 25 YEARS AGO SO I INITIATED THAT SWIM TEAM WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER AND HAD A LOT
MORE ENERGY BUT NONETHELESS A LOT OF PASSION AND EFFORT THAT GOES INTO IT AND TYREKE ALSO IS A BASKETBALL COACH AS WELL. I'M GOING TO BEGIN BY JUST WALKING THROUGH A SHORT SLIDE PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF THIS PLAY BOSTON WHICH IS THE CITY WIDE E-SPORTS INITIATIVE IN THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE SO FAR AT THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. SO AS YOU SEE YOU KNOW THE
REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO SHARE THE CITY'S APPROACH TO YOUTH SPORTS WITH YOU AND TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BE SUPPORTIVE IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. LET'S PLAY BOSTON THE CITY'S UMBRELLA INITIATIVE THAT
ENCOMPASSES ALL YOUTH SPORTS. WE'RE HOPING THAT WHAT WE SHARE TODAY RESONATES WITH YOU AND THAT YOU LEAVE TODAY WITH SOME FRESH ENERGY FOR HOW YOU CAN PLUG INTO LET'S PLAY BOSTON.
OUR VISION IS OF A CITY WHERE EVERY YOUNG PERSON NO MATTER THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER ABILITY OR ZIP CODE HAS OPPORTUNITY, MOTIVATION AND ACCESS TO PLAY SPORTS.
WE WANT TO SEE YOUTH SPORTS USED AS A CATALYST TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. LET'S PLAY. BOSTON IS MADE UP OF A BIG TEAM
OF PEOPLE BOTH ON THE CITY SIDE AS WELL AS ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE. WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WORKING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF YOUTH SPORTS IN THE CITY. WE ALSO HAVE HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY
INCLUDING THOSE WHO RUN COMMUNITY BASED SPORTS LEAGUES ,THOSE WHO WANT SPORTS BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THOSE WHO PROVIDE CENTER BASED PROGRAMS LIKE THE YMCA, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, ETC. WE
ALSO RELY ON COUNTLESS COACHES. REFEREES KEEP ALL OF OUR LEAGUES RUNNING. OF COURSE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERS OF ALL ARE YOUTH IN THEIR FAMILIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN YOUTH SPORTS AS YOU ALL REFERENCE IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY SO I PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO GO ON ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF YOUTH SPORTS BUT THIS SLIDE LAYS OUT THE ARGUMENT FOR WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT. YOUTH SPORTS HAVE A RANGE OF POSITIVE IMPACTS ON NOT ONLY THE YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE BUT ALSO ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE . YOUTH SPORTS CONTRIBUTE TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.
YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO PERFORM WELL IN SCHOOL, TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND TO CONTINUE TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE WELL INTO ADULTHOOD. NATIONWIDE, THE YOUTH SPORTS INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES $39
BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EACH YEAR. AND YOUTH SPORTS HELP US BUILD COMMUNITY AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS. WITH THIS CONTEXT IS OBVIOUS
WHY WE WOULD WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED IN YOUTH SPORTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO YOU MIGHT ASK HOW IS BOSTON DOING WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION?
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS PICTURE IS MIXED. THE MOST RECENT DATA WE HAVE FOR THIS IS FROM OUR 2023 SURVEY OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN 2023 43% OF HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS AND 53% OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS SAID THAT THEY PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE SPORT. THIS IS A GOOD START IN BETTER THAN MOST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, WE SEE BIG GAPS WHEN
WE START TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT IDENTITY GROUPS IN THIS DESERVE SOME FOCUS. 69% OF WHITE STUDENTS PLAY SPORTS YET ONLY 55% OF BLACK STUDENTS AND 41% OF LATINO STUDENTS PLAY SPORTS.
ASIAN STUDENTS HAVE THE LOWEST PARTICIPATION RATE AT 37%. ALMOST HALF OF BOYS PLAY SPORTS . BUT PARTICIPATION AMONG GIRLS IS ONLY 39%. WHEN WE START TO PUT THOSE
GENDER AND RACE ETHNICITY TOGETHER. IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT GIRLS OF COLOR ARE ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED IN OUR CURRENT SPORT ECOSYSTEM. WE ALSO KNOW THAT FROM NATIONWIDE DATA THAT YOUTH WHO
COME FROM FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. SO ADDRESSING THIS ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATE IN IS ESPECIALLY NECESSARY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO OUR GOAL EVERY INITIATIVE NEEDS A GOAL AND WE LOOKED AT MANY POTENTIAL MEASURES OF SUCCESS AND WHEN WE DECIDED TALENT TO WORK AROUND IS THE FEDERAL HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030 GOAL THAT SEEKS ACHIEVE 63%
PARTICIPATION IN YOUTH SPORTS ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. FOR WHITE STUDENTS, BOSTON HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED THIS GOAL AND IT'S GREAT THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION. BUT WE WANT TO SEE ALL STUDENTS
HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY ACCESS THAT WHITE STUDENTS HAVE. WE WANT GIRLS TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ATHLETES. WE WANT IDENTIFYING YOUTH TO FEEL WELCOME ON TEAMS. WE WANT YOUTH OF DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS AND ABILITIES TO
BE CELEBRATED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL PUSHES US TO INCREASE SPORTS PARTICIPATION BY 2% PER YEAR AND TO MAKE SPECIAL INROADS INTO GIRLS SPORTS AND
SPORTS OF YOUTH OF COLOR. WE HOPE YOU EMBRACE THIS GOAL WITH US BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S DOABLE AND OUR KIDS ARE WORTH IT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW THIS MIGHT NATURALLY LEAD
YOU TO ASK HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS AND WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN? THESE ARE ALL GREAT QUESTIONS. WE HAVE DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THREE BROAD AREAS FOR INVESTMENT. FIRST, WE WILL LOWER BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION BY MAKING
SPORTS MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WE WILL BRING MORE KIDS AND FAMILIES TO THE TABLE. SECOND, WE WILL INVEST IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKE SPORTS POSSIBLE.
THIS MEANS INVESTING IN REFS, UMPIRES AND COACHES AND INVESTING IN FACILITIES TO SHOW THAT OUR YOUTH HAVE THE WORLD CLASS FACILITIES THAT THEY DESERVE. FINALLY, WE ARE USING SPORTS AS
A LEVER TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. SPORTS CAN BRIDGE GAPS AND CREATE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE. BOSTON IS ALREADY A GREAT SPORTS CITY CITY OF CHAMPIONS
AND WE AIM TO GET MORE KIDS TO CONNECT TO OUR CITY'S SPORTS ECOSYSTEM AND FEEL THE PRIDE THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO FOR THE FIRST GOAL, THE FIRST BROAD STRATEGY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS SHOWING VARIOUS PARTICIPATION. ONE THING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE TO LOWER BARRIERS IS CREATED THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON SPORTS DIRECTORY. IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP FOR
FAMILIES TO FIND YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS . WE ALSO KNOW THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY SPORTS BUT THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT THEY FACE IN GETTING SIGNED UP. THESE BARRIERS ARE MANY, MANY. MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE
REGISTRATION FEES. MAYBE THEY HAVE FAMILY OBLIGATIONS LIKE CARING FOR SIBLINGS OR HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAD SCHOOL WORK. OR MAYBE THE SPORT THAT THEY WANT TO PLAY DOESN'T OFFER PROGRAMING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS COUNCILMAN FITZGERALD
MENTIONED TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS WE'VE INVESTED IN COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH SPORTS THROUGH THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON SPORTS GRANT WHICH OFFER UP TO $5,000 TO COMMUNITY BASED SPORTS PROVIDERS TO HELP THEM LOWER THEIR FEES TO
FAMILIES. TO DATE, OVER TWO FUND CYCLES WE FUNDED OVER 75 GRANTEES AND PROVIDED ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDS COMMUNITY BASED SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER PROGRAMING IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE CITY. WE ARE ALSO LEANING IN ON OUR PARTNERS ABC, WYETH AND PARKS TO OFFER MORE FREE SPORTS PROGRAMING LAST YEAR BY WAY OF LAUNCH A THREE SEASON REC LEAGUE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES
8 TO 14 AND BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL. EACH LEAGUE ENGAGES ABOUT 300 YOUTH. WE SEE THIS AS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HONE THEIR SKILLS AS THEY PREPARE
FOR SCHOOL SPORTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS STRATEGY IS ABOUT BUILDING ON THE VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENABLES US TO OFFER GOOD QUALITY YOUTH SPORTS. EVERY TEAM NEEDS AT LEAST TWO
THINGS ONE A PLACE WORKOUT PRACTICE TO PLAY IN TO A COACH. THAT'S WHAT THIS STRATEGY IS ABOUT. WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT TO OFFER TRAININGS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT KNOWING THAT YOUTH
ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEE A COACH IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DAY THAN THEY ARE A COUNSELOR OR THERAPISTS COACHES TODAY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO MEET YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE AND WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS CRITICAL SKILL
BUILDING ON THE FACILITIES PIECE WE'VE BEEN REPAIRING CITY SPORTS FACILITIES. WE'VE INVESTED OVER $50 MILLION TO RENOVATE OUR AGING POOL INFRASTRUCTURE ENABLING US TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO 12 OF OUR
22 POOLS. WE ARE ADDRESSING THE BLACK THE BACKLOG OF GYM RENOVATIONS AT THE CITY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND BUILDING TWO NEW CENTERS ONE IN GROWTH HALL AND ONE IN THE NORTH END AND WE ARE
REVITALIZING WHITE STADIUM AND FRANKLIN PARKS SO THAT IT COULD BE A YEAR ROUND HOME FOR ATHLETICS AND COMMUNITY SPORTS. ONCE COMPLETE THE STADIUM WILL HOST HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PROGRAMING FROM SOCCER AND
TRACK TO FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL GIVING STUDENTS A PLACE TO TRAIN, COMPETE AND LEAD. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE FINAL STRATEGY AND FINAL STRATEGY EXCUSE ME IS ABOUT
LEVERAGING YOUTH SPORTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY IN OUR ECONOMY. LAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT TO LIFT UP THE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE YOUTH SPORTS TEAMS IN BOSTON. WE ARE GATHERING FOLLOWERS BACK
TO THE DAY AND WELCOME ANY CONTENT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS IN THE YOUTH SPORTS COMMUNITY. IN JUNE WE HELD THE FIRST CELEBRATION THE CHAMPIONS EVENT WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER THE WINNERS OF THE MAYOR'S CUPS AND
CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS TO RECEIVE RINGS AND ACCOLADES FROM THE MAYOR. OVER 300 YOUTH AND THEIR COACHES ATTENDED. NEXT SLIDE. SO THE QUESTION AND MAIN REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY HOW CAN
YOU HELP THE CITY COUNCIL? SO FINALLY BEFORE I WRAP UP I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE HEARING ORDER. THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND I HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU. FIRST, WE LOVE YOUR SUPPORT AND
RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES LIFT UP STUDENT ATHLETES PUBLICLY. TEN GAMES POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA YOU ALL HAVE LARGE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWINGS AND HIGHLIGHT THE WINS FUND RECOGNITIONS
OF STUDENT ATHLETES BY SUPPORTING THEIR STATE AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS, TRAVEL AND GEAR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND GEAR NEEDS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD BASED SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. SECOND, YOU COULD SHARE INFORMATION FROM THE CITY VIA
OUR NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. WE WELCOME YOU SHARING GREEN OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUR FOLLOWERS AS WELL AS SPORTS SIGN UP OPPORTUNITIES. FOLLOW ENGAGE WITH US ON THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION AS WELL. AND FINALLY, WE ALWAYS WELCOME PARTNERSHIPS. IF YOU SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS IN THE YOUTH SPORTS ECOSYSTEM, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND HELP US MAKE THE CONNECTION.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN WORKING TOGETHER. A. AND WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, CHIEF. TYREKE DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING OR GO RIGHT TO QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN GO RIGHT TO QUESTION? OKAY THANK YOU. WE'LL START WITH YOU COME TO
THANK. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS I THINK CROSS-COUNTRY BOYS AND GIRLS
HAVE WON STATE TITLES AND BOSTON INTERNATIONAL WON BOYS SOCCER STATE TITLE. AND SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THEM IN HERE. THE LITERATURE WANTS TO GET ON
THAT. BUT THE IDEA I THINK WOULD BE TO BRING THEM IN, RECOGNIZE THEM BOTH. GREAT. YOU KNOW, ALL THREE TEAMS, GREAT STORIES AND LOOKING FOR
MORE OF THE SAME IN THE WINTER. SO UH, YEAH, I JUST YOU KNOW, WATCHING THE PRESENTATION I WAS THINKING ABOUT WE HAD A THERE'S
A BUNCH OF THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH AND SERAPHIM AND OF YOU KNOW HE RUNS PARKWAY SOCCER IN WEST ROXBURY RAN FOR DECADES
AND HE WAS SAYING ONE TIME HE WAS TALKING TO MAYOR MENINO AND HE HE WAS SAYING HOW YOU KNOW, HE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THESE YOUTH SPORTS
LEAGUES, YOU KNOW, GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED BECAUSE THAT'S THE YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE CITY HAS AN ED YOU KNOW, I
REALLY I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE MISSION THAT WE ALL WANT TO SATISFY HERE, YOU KNOW, IS IS TO HAVE THOSE PLACES BE ABLE YOU KNOW THOSE ORGANIZATIONS BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES
TO THE KIDS. SO IN TERMS OF THE LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE I KNOW LIKE THE YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVE TALKS ABOUT MAPPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE IS A MAP
OF THE FACILITIES ON THE WEBSITE BUT I GUESS WHAT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED AND YOU KNOW FROM THAT YOU KNOW IS IS AS
WHAT HAVE YOU PICKED UP FROM THAT? AND THEN I GUESS THE FOLLOW UP IS WHAT KINDS OF INTERACTIONS DO YOU GUYS HAVE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS YOU CAN YOU KNOW
BUILD WHITE STADIUM YOU KNOW THAT'S THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT. OTHER PEOPLE YOU KNOW, RUN THE HIGH SCHOOL GYMS AND THE AND THE SOCCER FIELDS. SO WHAT KIND OF INTERACTIONS DO
YOU HAVE WITH IS IT, YOU KNOW, PART PIECE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE FACILITIES UP TO THE NEEDS? YEAH, I MEAN I'LL SPEAK TO IT. UM, SO WE WORK IN CLOSE
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS AND SO IT'S BP'S SPEAK FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THROUGH LET'S PLAY BALL BOSTON WE HAVE A QUARTERLY HUDDLE IN WHICH WE BRING ALL DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER AND WE TALK ABOUT LIKE WHAT ARE OUR INITIATIVES, WHAT
ARE OUR GOALS, UPDATES, ETC. ANY PAIN POINTS, ANY AREAS OF COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP ETC. SO I THINK THAT'S A KEY MOMENT IN WHICH WE ALL COME TOGETHER. TARIQ HAS WEEKLY IF NOT YOU
KNOW BI MONTHLY YOU KNOW TOUCH POINTS WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. WE HAVE A MONTHLY STANDING MEETING WITH BC PEEPS TO TALK ABOUT FACILITIES DIRECTLY WHICH IS REALLY ADDRESSES THE POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN TERMS
OF LIKE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE. AND SO LAST YEAR WE INITIATED WORKING GROUPS IN THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS. SO THE THREE AREAS THAT I MENTIONED YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS WE FIGURED THAT THE QUARTERLY HUDDLES I
THINK WERE MOST IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF LIKE BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE HUDDLES ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE. WHAT WE DID IS IN 2023 MANY OF THE PARTNERS WHO WERE IN THE
AUDIENCE AT THE MOMENT WE DID LIKE LISTENING SESSIONS, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE REPORT CAME IN 2024 THAT'S WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN WHAT THE AREAS OF FOCUS AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE THREE GOALS. AND SO THE OVERALL GOAL WITHIN
HOW DOES THAT WE PLAN ON ACHIEVING THE GOALS AND THAT'S HOW FACILITIES BECAME THE PIECE THE FACILITIES MAPPING WAS INITIATED BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST AND SO WE WANTED BOTH A LINE OF SIGHT ON WHAT DO WE HAVE A
CITY OWNED, WHAT'S STATE OWNED WHAT'S PRIVATELY OWNED AS WELL ,RIGHT. AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO LIKE WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE ANSWERS TO WHEN FOLKS ASKED LIKE WHAT CAN WE ACCESS? GREAT QUESTION. RIGHT. AND SO THE FACILITIES MAP IF YOU GO ON AND ON THE WEBSITE
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT LIKE WHAT'S AVAILABLE IF YOU DRILL DOWN TO A NEIGHBORHOOD. JP FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT'S AVAILABLE WITHIN A COMMUNITY WHICH IS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE WHICH REQUIRES A PERMIT, WHICH
REQUIRES A FEE ETC. YOU KNOW SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE WERE ABLE TO LIKE DETERMINE THAT WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT IS THAT WE HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, RIGHT? AND SO WE CAN'T KEEP YOU KNOW, DEVELOP MORE LAND RIGHT LIKE WE
ONLY HAVE WHAT IS IT WE HAVE AND SO IT'S REALLY FOR US TAKING A LOOK AT FIRST WHAT IT IS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHERE CAN WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, HOW CAN WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, HOW CAN WE BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS A CITY AS WELL
AND BEING ABLE TO ALLOCATE OUR DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE'RE LOOKING BUT FROM THE EQUITY LENS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS INVESTMENT AND THEN BEING ABLE TO GO ON FROM THERE RIGHT. AND SO LIKE IT WAS TWOFOLD IN
TERMS OF LIKE WHAT'S CURRENTLY OUT THERE IN A NETWORK AND WHAT DO WE CURRENTLY NEED AS WELL AND HOW DO WE GO ABOUT PRIORITIZING OR ADVOCATING ACTUALLY FOR WHERE THE INVESTMENT DOLLARS NEED TO GO AND THAT'S STILL IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS. WE KNOW IT'S A HUGE GAP. THE SPORTS ECOSYSTEM IS HUGE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ENCOMPASSES SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS FROM VOLUNTEER LED ORGANIZATIONS TO PAID ORGANIZATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE CAN'T DO WELL. SO IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, JUST ONE ISSUE THAT YOU KNOW, I THINK TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT WE CAN GET DONE
THERE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE. SO JUST PICKING THE MAYBE THE LOWEST RUNG ON THE LADDER WOULD BE BATHROOMS AND I KNOW THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR BOTH PARKWAY SOCCER AND JP SOCCER IN MY DISTRICT MILLENNIUM PARK.
YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN THERE'S A PLAN FOR A BATHROOM IT'S BEEN A PLAN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WITHOUT THE BATHROOM BEING BUILT AND JP SOCCER YOU KNOW
USING ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL AS THEIR MAIN HUB YOU KNOW HAVE OCCASIONALLY HAD TO PAY FOR THE BATHROOMS OR PORTA POTTIES. SOMETIMES THERE'S ONE PORTA THAT GETS USED BY JP SOCCER,
ENGLISH HIGH FOOTBALL SOCCER BASEBALL ALL AND YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU CAN THOSE LIKE WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD
WORK ON THAT YOU SPORTS COULD COME TO YOU TO SAY HEY WE NEED TO HELP US GET A BATHROOM AT THESE FACILITIES BECAUSE I THINK THEY DO TALK TO PARKS AND THEY SORT OF GET BOUNCED
AROUND. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS JUST IT'S ONE EASY TO REMEMBER ISSUE BUT IN TERMS OF THOSE SORT OF LIKE SMALL ASKS, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU
HELP THEM WITH THAT? YEAH, I MEAN HAPPY TO CHIME IN . PARKWAY SOCCER I JUST TO JUST LET YOU KNOW IS A TWO TIME GRANT RECIPIENT OF THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON GRANTS AND SO THEY SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING
FINANCIALLY WHATEVER THEY RECEIVED YOU KNOW THAT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IF THEY HAD TO PAY FOR THE BATHROOMS OR ACCESS ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT I DON'T KNOW IN THE DIRECT DETAIL AT THE MOMENT WHATEVER THAT'S HOW THEY UTILIZE THE
MONEY. JP SOCCER ACTUALLY HAS NOT APPLIED TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND SO AND THAT'S MONEY THEY CAN USE FOR FOR BATHROOMS OR THERE'S ACCESSIBILITY.
YEAH. SO IT'S AS FAR AS LIKE IT'S SWIMMING USE IT'S LIKE RENTAL SPACES AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS I MEAN I MEAN COUNCILOR TO BE HONEST WITH YOU LIKE JUST IN TERMS LIKE YOU'RE NAMING IT BECAUSE IT'S A POTENTIAL BARRIER CORRECT.
AND SO LIKE YEAH IT'S JUST AN EASY TO JUST THIS IS LIKE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE YOU CAN'T PROVIDE BATHROOMS FOR THE KIDS LIKE KNOW WHAT ELSE SO SO THAT'S SO THE GOAL IN THE SENSE OF THERE'S LIKE HOW DO WE
REDUCE THAT BUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY REMOVE THE BEARS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE? AND SO THIS WILL HELP THAT ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE LESS THING THAT THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IN TERMS OF THEM BEING ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THAT. GRANTED THE IDEAL SITUATION IS
TO HAVE A PERMANENT BATHROOM OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT BUT A TEMPORARY FIX IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT. THE APPLICATION PROCESS UNFORTUNATELY IS ANNUALLY AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY
HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T START THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON GREEN OPPORTUNITY WE DO HAVE SOME EMERGENCY FUNDS THAT ARE RECEIVED ON A ROLLING
BASIS THAT WE REVIEW MONTHLY IN THE IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE IN A PINCH SO THAT APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE AS WELL. OKAY. AND I'M SORRY CHARGE I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO
DO THAT. SO IN TERMS OF FIELD MAINTENANCE LIKE ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS ALSO BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT
AND THAT'S EITHER THE GRASS FIELDS WE HEARD HOW THE CITY USED TO FENCE OFF FIELDS OF MILLENNIUM PARK IN THE SUMMER TO ALLOW THE GRASS TO GROW.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE TO IN JP YOU KNOW GOT THE ASTROTURF FIELDS THAT ARE YOU KNOW THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTENANCE IN A WHILE AND NEED SOME CARE LIKE JUST DOES THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HELP
WITH ALSO YEAH I MEAN BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION SO AGAIN WE'RE IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT RIGHT AND SO AND I KNOW THEY PROBABLY HERE DIRECTLY AS WELL BUT I THINK IT HELPS JUST AMPLIFIES LIKE WHAT IS THAT WE'RE HEARING ON THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL AND JUST SEEING LIKE ARE THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING HOW IT IS THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE WHEN DOLLARS ARE GOING WHERE LIKE THE YOU KNOW WHETHER
OR NOT THEY ARE ACTUALLY EVEN I GUESS ON THEIR RADAR. SO I THINK THE MORE FOLKS THAT KNOW ABOUT IT AND FOR US WHAT IT IS IS WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GREAT IN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP ALONG WITH BP'S
AND CYF THEY'RE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, OPEN TO LIKE FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMING ACCESSIBILITY OR WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE. AND SO AS YOU ELEVATED TO US SO OUR WEEKS ROLE SPECIFICALLY TO
HELP FILTER A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL YOU BRING IT UP AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE. SO YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO US AGAIN I UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY OF BOSTON WORKS WHERE FOLKS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS
AND THEY TRY TO REACH OUT TO EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY. BUT WHILE WE'RE HERE THAT IMPLIED AS WELL. OKAY. WELL THING I'M NOT GOING TO ASK I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK POINTS THERE. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I HOPE WE
COULD TALK ABOUT IS WHAT THE PLAN IS. IT SEEMS LIKE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH GRADE IS LIKE THIS BARRIER LIKE KIDS PARTICIPATE THEN NOTHING THERE'S NOTHING IN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S
STILL CALLED, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF BEEPS AND YOU KNOW YOU KNOW WHICH KIDS HAVE TO WAIT FOR FRESHMAN TEAMS SEVENTH GRADE TRYING OUT THEY GET DISCOURAGED AND YOU KNOW WHAT
WE'RE DOING TO LIKE KEEP THAT FROM BEING A BARRIER TO KIDS PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOL THAT GAP AND THE OTHER IS JUST I THINK A POINT I THINK SOME OF THE PANELISTS IN THE SECOND
PANEL WOULD WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT IS YOU KNOW, BAY, YOU GUYS I THINK DID A GREAT JOB WITH THIS CITYWIDE SOCCER LEAGUE WHICH WE HAD AS A PILOT
THIS YEAR FOR FOUR BAYS WHICH I THINK IT WAS FOURTH GRADERS FOR BOYS AND THIRD GRADERS FOR GIRLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WAS WHEN YOU HAVE BAYS
THROUGH THE WHOLE REGION YOU'VE GOT YOU YEAH 100 TEAMS IN EACH AGE GROUP AND THEY SORT THEM INTO SKILL LEVEL AND THERE IS A THERE'S NO MATTER WHAT SKILL LEVEL YOU ARE AT THERE ARE
OTHER TEAMS IN YOUR SKILL LEVEL BUT FOR THE CITYWIDE LEAGUE JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TEAMS THE SKILL LEVELS REALLY VARIES AND SO THAT WAS
AN OBSTACLE I THINK FOR SOME OF THE SOME OF THE TEAMS WHERE IT WAS LIKE WHERE WE USED TO BE ABLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE SPOT TO HAVE A SEASON AND HAVE COMPETITIVE GAMES OF YOU TRY THIS GREAT IDEA BUT BECAUSE
THERE ARE FEWER TEAMS YOU END UP SOMETIMES BEING PAIRED UP WITH A TEAM THAT'S LIKE WAY BETTER, WAY WORSE THAN YOU. THAT CREATES AN ISSUE TO THINK ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO
ON SOURCE THANK YOU COUNCILOR OFFLINE THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS. COUNCILOR WEBER MADE ON THE
COORDINATION IS CRITICAL AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILOR WEBER HIS IMPORTANT COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. A COUPLE ISSUES I WANTED TO
FOCUS ON IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. I HIGHLIGHTED IN MY COMMUNITY IN SOUTH BOSTON BUT I, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE
SOUTH AND WE HAVE THE SOUTH END BASEBALL PROGRAM YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM. PETE SCHULZ THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL, EXCEPTIONAL JOB AND IN CHIEF I SEE YOU OVER AT
THE GAMES AT PETERS PARK AS WELL YOU DON'T YOU DON'T SEE A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF YOUNG KIDS AT THAT BASEBALL PARK OR IN THAT LEAGUE AND IT'S NOT JUST SOUTH END KIDS.
YOU SEE A LOT OF ROXBURY KIDS. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH END IN ROXBURY AND AN AREA THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS PHILLY VICTORIA.
I SEE A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS FROM THAT AREA PLAYING BASEBALL NOT AS MANY FROM RUTH BARCLAY WHICH IS THE OLD CATHEDRAL BUT IT WAS
HIGHLIGHTED I THINK YOU MENTIONED ACHIEVED BUT ALSO THE EVEN THOUGH THE SOUTH END HAS A LARGE ASIAN COMMUNITY, CHINESE COMMUNITY, CHINESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ALMOST AS LARGE AS
CHINATOWN ACTUALLY IF YOU FACTOR IN THE BAY VILLAGE WE DON'T SEE MANY CHINESE KIDS PLAYING YOUTH SPORTS AS MUCH AS OTHER GROUPS AND I KNOW I KNOW
IT MENTIONED I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS 40% MAYBE AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT BLAMING ANYBODY BUT IT'S JUST HOW HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THEM TO GET MORE
INVOLVED AND TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM BUT ALSO KIDS IN PUBLIC HOUSING DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE ALL AGREE
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US AND THEY DESERVE TO BE ON THE FIELD AND IN PLAYING PLAYING SPORTS
AND MAKING SURE THAT SPORTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY. MY MY MY DAD COACHES, MY NEPHEWS BASEBALL TEAM IT'S
CALLED THE CHALLENGE TEAM BASEBALL TEAM FOR CHILDREN OF SPECIAL NEEDS SO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DESERVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY YOUTH SPORTS AS WELL. CERTAINLY THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES I HIGHLIGHTED BUT I ALSO AM A STRONG OF GIRLS SPORTS AND YOUNG WOMAN SPORTS.
THEY DESERVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER IN I KNOW WHAT HELPS THEM GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY INTO COLLEGE WHERE
THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP AND HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE AND IT HELPS THEM IN THEIR GRADES AS WELL IN HIGH SCHOOL. BUT HAVING FACTORED ALL THAT IN CHIEF AND I KNOW THIS OP ED
JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AND AND AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, CHIEF. AND JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT
YOUR THOUGHTS MIGHT BE COUNCILOR THAT MEANS A LOT HERE NEXT WEEK SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND TO HEAR THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT I THINK EVERYTHING THAT YOU UPLIFTED IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING. SO ALL THE GROUPS AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED IS WHAT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IN TERMS OF REMOVING THE BARRIERS AND INCREASE ACCESS. AND SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. I THINK YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THIS THIS DISCUSSION OVERALL BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES AMPLIFY OUR OVERALL COLLECTIVE FOCUS ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW,
RESPECT TO YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH AND ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE SUPPORTED SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE LET'S PLAY BOX AND
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES OHANA NEW ENGLAND IS A DRAGON BOAT ORGANIZATION. SHIN OPERATES ON SEA PORT. WE FUNDED MULTIPLE TIMES AND DO PHENOMENAL WORK IN THAT SPACE
AS WELL AND THEY HAVE A GOOD CATCHMENT OF WORD OF MOUTH PARTICIPANTS BUT THEY DO A REALLY MAGNIFICENT JOB AND REALLY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE VOLUNTEERS. IT'S ALL VOLUNTEER LED WHICH IS
AMAZING. SO THE WORK THAT THEY DO THERE . BUT AGAIN WE CONTINUE TO YOU KNOW REALLY FIGURE OUT WAYS HOW IS WE ABLE TO AMPLIFY THE YOUTH SPORTS CONVERSATION IN THE CITY
OF IS NOT DO YOU KNOW OUR OUR COLLEAGUES YOU KNOW FROM 20 YEARS AGO YOU KNOW WE'RE DISCUSSING THE SAME THINGS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACTUALLY BRING IT TOGETHER FOR THE CITY TO TAKE THE OVERALL APPROACH OF LIKE IT FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR
MAYOR TO SAY HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING LIKE LET'S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY IS IMPACTFUL AND AMAZING RIGHT. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A POSITION LIKE, YOU KNOW, TARIQ
IN HIS ROLE TO BE ABLE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR OTHER, YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES TO SAY LIKE HEY, HOW DO WE COLLECTIVELY BE ABLE TO LIKE FOCUS ON THIS ONE GOAL? HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS ONE GOAL HOW DO WE BREAK DOWN THE SILOS BECAUSE MANY SILOS DO EXIST NOT
ONLY IN OUR INNER CITY DEPARTMENTS BUT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL IS AMAZING I THINK COUNCIL WEBRE LIKE YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT SOCCER THE MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES WITHIN SOCCER BY ITSELF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL SPORTS
RIGHT? AND SO JUST I'M JUST THINKING THAT BECAUSE WHAT IS ACTUALLY AMPLIFYING IT'S JUST AROUND THAT ONE SPORT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITYWIDE ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS AND THEN WE GET INTO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
WELL, THE SPORTS I MEAN THAT CAPTURING WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS? ARE WE NOT CAPTURING HOW DOES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO AMPLIFY IT'S MASSIVE RIGHT? SO THIS WORK THIS ECOSYSTEM IS LARGE AND I'LL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THAT AND SO WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT.
SO JUST TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ASPECT, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE STARTED THE THIS WAY OF REC LEAGUE TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC THE 8 TO 14 YEAR OLD POPULATION BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A GAP IN HOW DO WE BETTER PREPARE
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TRIAL FRESHMAN YEAR SO WHEN THEY GO TO PEEPS THEY ACTUALLY PLAY TEAM SPORTS. THEY ALREADY YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT A REFEREE TO HAVE A COACH ETC. AND TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE IS IS THAT
WE'RE FOCUSING ON INTO THE CITYWIDE SPORTS LEAGUES Q SHOUT OUT I'LL BE REMISS IF WE DON'T MENTION AUNTIE MORENO IN THE WORK THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO AND HAS DONE TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO DO AND SO I KNOW SHE WAS A BOX OF SCORES
PARTICIPANT IN THE PAST AND YOU KNOW ALL THE WORK THAT SHE AND THE PASSION THAT SHE BRINGS TO THE WORK HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT AND SO AND AGAIN IT WAS YOU KNOW TO YOUR POINT IS THE FIRST YEAR AND SO THROUGH THIS ALL THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY
DIFFERENT GAPS. THIS HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE NORTH STAR. WE HAVE THE ENERGY, WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL, WE HAVE YOU ALL SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE
CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF REALLY FIGURING THIS OUT AND SO HUGE ECOSYSTEM AND I'LL JUST CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT YOU PROBABLY HEAR ME SAY THAT EVERYTHING WE ANSWER. THANK YOU CHIEF. AND MAYBE ONE FINAL POINT,
MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY AND I WILL BE BRIEF AND MAYBE IT HELPS THE CONVERSATION BUT BUT WHERE I'M COMING FROM ALSO IS
MY SON PLAYED BASEBALL FOR BOSTON LATIN WAS ON THE BOSTON LATIN TEAM AND GRADUATE FROM LATIN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND
HE DID HE DID WELL THERE AND BUT HE ALSO HAD HE ALSO HAD THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO PLAY SPORTS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE
OR HE HAD THE MEANS TO GET TO PRACTICE OR A GAME BECAUSE IT MEANT ME AND MY WIFE WERE ABLE TO AT TIMES DROP EVERYTHING TO GET TO GET HIM SOMEWHERE OR TO
GET HIM CLEATS THAT MAY HAVE COST I DON'T KNOW $200 BUT I GUESS MY POINT IS A LOT OF FAMILIES AREN'T AS FORTUNATE IN THEY ALSO DESERVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES AS AS AS MY SON. BUT PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE SPORTS CAN HOPEFULLY
AND I THINK JOHN FITZGERALD WAS TALKING ABOUT IT IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET INTO COLLEGE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO BE RECRUITED MAYBE OR MIGHT BE
ABLE TO GET THEM SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL AID IF THEY WANT TO PLAY TWO DIVISION THREE MAYBE DIVISION ONE BUT BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY KID IN THE CITY HAS THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. JUST WANT TO MENTION WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR AROUND WHAT
NEXT? WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR FOR THANK YOU CHAIR SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ONE I GUESS I'LL GO BACK TO MY OPENING STATEMENT AROUND
SCHEDULING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE AGAIN I THINK IT WOULD HELP MORE PARENTS GET IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS SUCH A POTENTIAL BURDEN TO EVEN SIGN UP.
RIGHT. AND SO WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO WE THINK ARE THE BARRIERS TO UNDERSTANDING MORE SPECIFICITY IN A SCHEDULE PRIOR TO A SEASON LIKE DURING SIGN UP STAGES OR
THINGS LIKE THAT? LIKE IS IT I KNOW SOMETIMES ALL THE APPLICATIONS MIGHT NOT BE IN THERE'S STILL THE SHUFFLING OF THE FIELDS AND RIGHT AND WHO HAS AT WHAT TIME BUT LIKE WHAT
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS EXACTLY THE THE THE THE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT YEAH NO I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE WE HAVE IS IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS GOING ON THE SAME TIME OR LIKE DURING DIFFERENT
SEASONS SO ONE THING THAT WE'VE DONE TO KIND OF GET A BETTER IDEA OF THAT IS YOU KNOW WE HAVE THE USE FORCE DIRECTORY WHICH CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW HAS AROUND 212 PROGRAMS AND
OF COURSE AS WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT BOSTON HAS TO OFFER. WE'RE LOOKING TO GET MORE IN THERE. SO EVEN THOUGH I'M SAYING THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS WE USE THAT TO SEE OKAY, WHAT
PROGRAM AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT CERTAIN TIMES BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT ONE THING THAT WE SEEN TO HELP US MAP THAT OUT IS WORKING ON CREATING LIKE A GUIDE USING THAT DIRECT THROUGH TO CREATE A GUIDE TO SAY LIKE OKAY YOU SHOW
UP DURING THE SPRING SEASON FROM A DIFFERENT STATE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING FOR YOUR KID BUT THERE'S A LOT OPPORTUNITIES GOING ON. WHEN CAN YOU MAKE ALL OF THAT
WORK AND HOW CAN YOU FACTOR IN THAT TIME? SO UTILIZING THE DIRECTORY AS I MENTIONED TO KIND OF GIVE FOLKS A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD AS YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPORTS IS
A LOT OF GIVE IN SPORTS IN THESE INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE. SO TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO CONSOLIDATE THAT IN A WAY SO IT'S LIKE EASIER AND NOT AS OVERWHELMING.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO USE MAKE THAT A CLEARER PICTURE FOR FOLKS. GOTCHA. I STILL I WOULD DRAW THE RECOMMENDATION OF GROUPING IT BY NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE YEAH IF YOU'RE COMING IN FROM OUT
OF STATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WEREN'T BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT KNOW THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST RIGHT I KNOW THERE'S DIVA JOCKEY, I KNOW THE CIO BASKETBALL, I KNOW THERE'S DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE, I KNOW THERE ARE ALL
THESE THINGS AND MY KIDS ARE PLAYING IN THEM BUT EVERY YEAR IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT STILL NEEDS TO YOU KNOW YOU COULD BE IN THE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT YOUR WHOLE YOUTH CAREER AND STILL EACH YEAR HAVE
DIFFERENT ISSUES OF TO SAY WELL HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT MY KID WILL ACTUALLY BE AT THESE GAMES OR WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO THESE GAMES AND WHEN IT WOULD JUST BE I THINK THE CONSISTENCY WOULD BE NICE I GUESS IS WHAT I'M
GETTING RIGHT TO KNOW. HEY, EVERY TUESDAY AT 630 THEY'VE GOT BASEBALL AND EVERY WEDNESDAY THEY'VE GOT SWIMMING RIGHT AND LIKE BANG, LOCK IT IN THE CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AND WE CAN WORK AROUND
THAT. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT PLEASE LET US KNOW. YEAH. COMPANY COUNSELOR I MEAN JUST TO RESPOND NOT EVEN TO BE COY ABOUT NO PLEASE WOULD LIKE ALL
RIGHT SO MY MY KIDS SPORT WAS DANCE AND I'M A DANCE DAD YOU KNOW NOW MY OLDEST IS A DANCER YOUNGEST MUSICAL THEATER AND SO EVEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THOSE SCHEDULES WAS A NIGHTMARE. RIGHT? EVERY SINGLE YEAR SAME SAME EXPERIENCE. RIGHT.
AND SO I THINK WHEN I HEAR YOUR RECOMMENDATION, I TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND I LOVE LIKE A LEVEL DEEPER JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THE CITY I THINK THE CITY COULD CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CONTROL IN
TERMS OF LIKE CITY PROGRAMING. I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN WE ADD ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COMMUNITY SPORTS PAGE SPORTS, AEW ETC. THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES UNWIELDY AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO MEASURE IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT
DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER? WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY LIKE FOCUS OUR ENERGY AND RESOURCES AROUND? I THINK YOU KNOW YOUR POINT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS HEARD AND LIKE IF WE CAN EVEN REALLY FIGURE OUT POTENTIALLY AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE DISCUSSIONS
AS WELL AS ONE SEASON IS COMING TO AN END LIKE A LEAGUE IS COMING TO AN END THAT PARENTS ARE AWARE OF WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR THE NEXT SEASON, RIGHT? SO IF IT'S BASKETBALL THEN BASEBALL IS COMING UP NEXT. RIGHT?
AND SO WE AND THEY LIKE OKAY WELL THESE ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOME SIGN UP AS BASKETBALL IS COMING TO A CLOSURE RIGHT FOR THE NEXT LEAGUE OR THE NEXT SEASON IF IT'S SOCCER WHENEVER IT IS LIKE
SO JUST BEING ABLE TO LIKE LINE THOSE THINGS UP AND SAYING HEY FOR THIS SEASONS THESE ARE SPORTS OFFERINGS OUT AVAILABLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? JUST TO REALLY THINK FROM THAT LINE OF SCOPE BECAUSE AT LEAST
I WOULD HOPE FOLKS KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE BUT THEN IT'S THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER AS YOU MENTIONED IN TERMS OF LIKE PRACTICES AND YOU KNOW GAME DAYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND THOSE THINGS DON'T OVERLAP.
WE UNDERSTAND HER AND AND I THINK THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS AS YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER YOU HEAR AND BACK AS FAR AS FEEDBACK THAT YOU'RE LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S A GREAT IDEA. PICK THE PHONE, CALL ME.
YOU KNOW I MEAN LIKE IF YOU IF YOU RECEIVED THAT MILLION DOLLAR IDEA PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOU KNOW BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL COLLECTIVELY TO REALLY TRY TO FIGURE THAT PIECE OUT. BUT AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED IT IS COMPLICATED. YEAH WE ADD IN DIFFERENT AGE
KIDS, DIFFERENT DAYS MULTIPLE KIDS ALL DOING THE SAME THING THAT SCHEDULE GETS TO BE WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRAY. THAT'S IT. MY WIFE LITERALLY TAKES A DAY OFF FROM WORK TO SITE EACH MONTH JUST TO SIGN UP FOR THINGS TO MAKE SURE IT FITS IN
THE CAMP. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE YOU REALLY LITERALLY NEED THAT TIME TO BE LIKE WELL WE CAN'T DO THIS OR WE CAN'T DO THAT. AND THEN SPEAKING TO, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL FLYNN'S POINT THAT'S A THAT'S A LUXURY OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ACCESSIBILITY. RIGHT? IMAGINE FOLKS YOU KNOW THE PARENT WHO DOESN'T SINGLE
FAMILY HOUSEHOLD ETC. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT FROM A MULTITUDE OF WAYS. I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT MORE QUESTIONS MAINTENANCE OF THE FIELDS FUNDING FOR THAT. I BELIEVE COUNCIL HAS SORT OF BROUGHT THAT UP OBVIOUSLY
YOU KNOW WE CAN'T WE'RE NOT MAKING THE MORE FIELDS AT THE MOMENT SO WE HAVE TO DO THAT'S WHY I THINK THE CITY CAN PLAY THE ROLE EVEN WITH PAID SPORTS AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT UNDER THE CITY CONTROL.
EVERYONE TYPICALLY NEEDS TO USE A CITY FACILITY TO DO THE SPORTS AND SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEVERAGE AND MAYBE BRINGING ALL OF THE GROUPS TOGETHER AND JUST SAYING LOOK, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SAY GET YOU TOGETHER TO SAY HERE IS WHEN WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT AND THEN MAYBE THAT ALLOWS IT AND THAT THAT'S THE ROLE THE CITY PLAYS IN THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ENOUGH SPORTS OUT THERE THAT ARE BEING DONE WHERE THE CITY
DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SPORT PER SE BUT JUST A FRAMEWORK OF EVEN THE FIELDS AND THE SCHEDULING. I THINK COULD BE THE ROLE OF A BIGGER ROLE THAT WE PLAY.
INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE BATHROOMS I, I THINK A CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN BATHROOMS EVERYWHERE IS PROBABLY TOO EXPENSIVE BUT MAYBE A WELL MAINTAINED PORTA PROGRAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE COULD
GET GOING NOTHING AND WHAT IS SWIMMING RIGHT LIFE SKILL SO IMPORTANT WE'VE PRIORITIZED IT IN OUR FAMILY TO MAKE SURE BEFORE ANY OF THE SPORTS THEY WENT TO THEY JUST LEARN TO SWIM
HOW WE ENSURING SWIMMING PROFICIENCY AND YOUTH SPORTS AGAIN WHAT IS THE DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON THE SIGN UPS OF ALL THAT STUFF AND WHO'S DOING IT? YEAH SO THAT'S THAT'S BEING RUN OUT OF MY DEPARTMENT AS WELL MY
OFFICE OF HUMAN SERVICES SO SWIM SAFE BOSTON SO WE LAUNCHED IT THREE YEARS AGO PROVIDES FREE SWIM OPPORTUNITIES, PEACEFUL LESSONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT
I THINK TO DATE OVER 12,000 LESSONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHICH HAS BEEN AWESOME AND SO IT'S IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP HOW WE PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING TO A LOCAL AQUATICS PROVIDERS OF THE YMCA IS THE WEST END HOUSE, THE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ETC. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE LESSONS ACTUALLY PROVIDED FOR FREE FROM BUSY WIFE BUT IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTHER PROVIDERS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LESSONS HAPPEN AGAIN .
AS I STATED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT FORMER SWIM COACH AND SO I WAS HAPPY TO CHAMPION, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON HAD ACCESS TO BEING ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM
AS A LIFE SKILL AS BEING A COASTAL CITY I THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. RIGHT. AND SO IN DELTA THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY DESPITE THE THE COST FOR
LESSONS IS FAIRLY LOW LIKE OH YOU GOT TO HAVE HAS ACCESS TO A POOL AND THEN YOU KNOW SWIM SWIM TRUNKS I SAID BASICALLY ARE YOU BAY THE SUIT ETC. RIGHT AND SO WE THINK ABOUT IT FROM
THOSE THOSE LENS MAYBE GOGGLES IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER WHATEVER BUT THOSE ARE LOWER AND COMPARED TO LIKE BUYING CLEATS AND ALL THIS ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT. RIGHT. SO THINK ABOUT IT FROM THAT LENS. I THINK UM YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND BP'S THANKFULLY WITH THE RENOVATIONS OF THE MANY PEOPLES POOLS HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT THE SWIM LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY AS PART OF LIKE THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND SO
WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FOLKS WITH BP'S DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT DOES HAVE A POOL LOCATED IN THIS FACILITY BUT THAT HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AS WELL WHICH HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL
. AND SO THAT'S GAME CHANGING, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT VARIOUS ENTRY, IF A PARENT NOW SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THEY'RE LEARNING NOT ONLY THE ACADEMIC LEARNING BUT ALSO LEARNING HOW TO SWIM, THAT'S
ONE LESS THING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON A WEEKEND OR AFTER SCHOOL OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT WHATEVER. SO INTEGRATING THAT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND SO THAT'S THE PART THAT WE'RE LEADING TOWARDS THAT'S ALL TO SORT OF SAY BLOSSOM, THANK YOU TO YOU BUT
DCF KIDS RIGHT, THEY'RE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION AND SOMETIMES NOT ALL ALWAYS IN THE SAME PLACE, SAME TIME. IS THERE ANY DO WE RUN ANY SORT OF PROGRAM THAT THAT GETS THEIR
INVOLVEMENT EVEN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY ALLOW THEM NOT ALLOW THEM OR MOVE THEM OUT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AT ANY MOMENT RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE IN. BUT IS THERE A PILOT PROGRAM OR
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AROUND, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS THAT NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH OTHER KIDS AND BE SOCIAL AND GET OUT THERE? WE DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT FOCUSES ON THEM SPECIFICALLY WE
JUST LOOKING AS IF YOU KNOW, CASTING THE WIDE NET AND SAYING ALL KIDS AND THAT INCLUDES YOU. ALL RIGHT. BUT I FEEL THERE MIGHT BE NEED TO BE A LITTLE EXTRA PULL. NO. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YES.
I MEAN THE WIDE NET FOR SURE. SO IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW PEOPLE CITY BOSTON THING SPECIFICALLY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION I DON'T HAVE A DIRECT ANSWER TO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW CONNECT WITH OUR FOLKS AND BP
SUPERINTENDENT SKIP ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT HOW WE BEST SERVING THAT POPULATION AS WELL. I KNOW THROUGH THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS TOO THERE ARE PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS RECEIVES SOME FUNDING
ABOUT 250,000 TO SUPPORT THAT POPULATION HOW THEY'RE DOING IT I THINK MAY BE DIFFERENT. IT MAY NOT BE SPORTS SPECIFIC BUT I CAN ACTUALLY ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT SO I CAN THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. APPRECIATE IT.
AND THEN I KNOW I JUST THIS IS A LAST PLUG BUT AN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT TO TURN OFF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF WE WANT THE KIDS TO PLAY THE SPORTS RIGHT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET OFF THE COUCH FIRST. AND SO IF WE CAN DO OUR BEST
THAT'S FROM ALL ANGLES. THAT'S FROM BP. I WILL SAY THAT ANYWHERE. YEAH. TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE JUST NOT ON THE IPADS AND THE PHONES AND OUT THERE RUNNING AROUND GETTING BRUISES AND BUMPS
COUNCIL AGAIN I MEAN JUST AGO LIKE IF YOU COULD FIGURE THESE THINGS OUT I WOULD WELCOME ANY, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE. I THINK YOU WOULD BE THE PERSON THAT ALL PEOPLE WILL GO TO IF YOU LIKE. I GOT IT. YOU KNOW BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY
THOUGH AND ENTIRELY SPEAK TO THIS AND THINK ABOUT ABILITY I THINK EA SPORTS HAS BEEN AN ENTRY POINT FOR LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR WHO MAY HAVE SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AND OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AS WELL TO BE ENGAGED IN SOME TYPE OF TEAM SPORT THROUGH ELECTRONICS. AND SO WE'VE SEEN THAT AS A POTENTIAL AVENUE TO AND WHERE WE COULD BE ABLE TO TAP IN OVER
THE BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. IDEALLY WE WOULD LOVE FOR FOLKS TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE ETC. BUT WE KNOW IN TERMS OF LIKE THAT CONNECTION AND SOCIAL COHESION THAT'S AN AREA THAT
WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED SOME TYPE OF PROGRAMING TO OUR FOR AS WELL. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND JIM THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR WORLD THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE
SPONSORS. THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING AND ALL YOUR WORK AROUND YOU SUPPORT FIRST BEFORE I GIVE A SHOUT OUT SWIMMING I KNOW YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT SWIMMING. IT WAS 12,000 LESSONS.
I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT BE A NATURAL AND HAVE TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE LESSONS IN ORDER TO LEARN TO SWIM. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS CAME BACK? YOU KNOW, 1 TO 3 OR FOUR OR
FIVE TIMES WAS IT SHE SAID 12,000 LESSONS? I GUESS SO LET ME CLARIFY. SO THE LESSONS CONSTITUTE LIKE A SERIES. OKAY. SO LIKE SO EXAMPLE IF YOU SIGNED UP YOURSELF FOR LESSONS
IT WILL BE FOR LIKE YOU GET EIGHT LESSONS BASICALLY. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT IT IS AND SO IT'S NOT A ONE TIME NOT A ONE TIME ONE TIME LESSON. SO THE THE FOCUS IS ON BEGINNER LESSONS AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WITH THAT OUR
BEGINNER SWIMMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THAT FIRST ROUND OF BEGINNING BEGINNING LESSONS AND IT'S YOU KNOW IT'S A LINE WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF YOU KNOW WITH THE YMCA WAS THE AND GIRLS CLUB ETC. ABC Y
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROFICIENCY IS AT THAT FIRST LEVEL AND WE ALSO WELCOME IT YOU KNOW IF FOLKS FOR WHATEVER REASON AREN'T ABLE TO PASS THAT FIRST ROUND AND THEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT SECOND ROUND AS WELL WHATEVER.
SO YEAH BUT THAT 12,000 WAS EIGHT EIGHT CLASSES EIGHT YEAH YEAH GOT IT YEAH. AND THEN WHAT WAS THE AGE RANGE THAT VARIES. I CAN DEFINITELY GET BACK TO YOU.
OKAY BUT I MEAN AGAIN BEGINNING SWIMMER KATE COULD RANGE AS FAR AS IF WE YOU KNOW IF WE LOOK AT YOUNG PEOPLE AS YOUNG AS SIX. OKAY. I MEAN I MEAN ALL THE WAY UP TO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE 1314 YEAR OLDS WHO DON'T HAVE A SWIM AS WELL.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON PROVIDING ACCESS. WE HAVE WE STARTED YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE DID A PROGRAM FOR THOSE ARE ON THE AUTISM
SPECTRUM TO HAVE SOME SENSORY SENSORY FRIENDLY SWIMMING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL DID THAT AGAIN THROUGHOUT OUR WE HAVE LOCATIONS WE HAD THEM IN FOUR LOCATIONS THIS YEAR AS WELL. OKAY. AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW
AGAIN REMOVE THE BARRIERS, GIVE FOLKS OPPORTUNITIES WE DID SOMETHING FOR THOSE FROM OUR SOMALI AND MUSLIM BACKGROUNDS AND YOU KNOW FOR OUR YOUNG GIRLS WHICH YOU KNOW SPECIFIES,
YOU KNOW, NEEDING A SPACE IN WHICH YOU KNOW YOUR LIKE OUR POPULATION IS ALL WOMEN ETC. IT'S IT'S CLOSED OFF TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. AND SO WE PROVIDED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT POPULATION AS WELL AND WE
CONTINUE TO DO SO. AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY WE TAKE IT ACROSS THE BOARD AND INSTEAD WIDEN IT. YEAH YEAH. NO I I AT THE KROC CENTER THEY HAVE LIKE THE KIDS POOL AND I
WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY SON THERE LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS ONE YEARS OLD AND YOU KNOW NOW HE'S RUNNING I HATE TO SAY THAT HE'S RUN INTO POOLS NOW BUT IT DOES GET HIM HE'S A LOT MORE
COMFORTABLE AROUND THE WATER NOW. GOOD. HE'S NUMBER ONE ON THE POOL DECK FOR LIFE. BUT I WAS JUST LIKE A BLOW AWAY LIKE NO ONE, YOU KNOW? YEAH. WHEN IT COMES TO YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE BEEN BELOW YOU HAVE THE MEN'S CUP IS THERE ANY THOUGHT ON BRINGING MORE YOU KNOW, CITYWIDE INITIATIVES WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS? I KNOW YOU KNOW THE WILSONS
ARE, YOU KNOW, A BIG FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FAMILY SO SHOUT OUT TO 50TH YEAR I SHOULD HAVE WORE MY BOSTON RED RAIDERS HAT TODAY BUT YOU KNOW POP WARNER FOOTBALL IS BIG HERE IN THE CITY.
IS ANY THOUGHT ON BRINGING ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS IS INSIDE YEAH I MEAN SO IN ADDITION I MEAN THE WILSON'S ALSO NOW DOMINATE FOOTBALL BASKETBALL AS WELL SO I JUST WANT YOU KNOW MADISON PARK AND YOU KNOW THE
WORK THAT THEY DO THERE AND OUTSIDE OF THAT I THINK SORRY DOES A REALLY PHENOMENAL JOB IN ATLANTA TO HIS OWN TEAMS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WHATEVER BUT LOVE FOR YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT THE B AND VEO BEING VEO YEAH WHICH IS LAUNCHED LAST SUMMER
SO IF YOU WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THAT. YEAH SO WHAT I FEEL LIKE THE ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE INITIATIVE IS JUST NOT ONLY AMPLIFYING THE CURRENT SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON BUT
ALSO FIND IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SERVE THE INTERESTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO THIS PAST SUMMER WE WORKED WITH BP SOME PARKS TO CREATE
BVO BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE WAS A LARGE OUTCRY FOR JUST SUPPORTING THE NEED FOR CREATING GIRLS VOLLEYBALL OPPORTUNITIES. SO JUST TAKING THE SAME
FRAMEWORK OF THE MBO WE TOOK EVERY WEDNESDAY AT MADISON PARK SO TO SPEAK ON JUST THE INTERESTS TO START OFF WITH US
JUST YOU JUST START OFF LIKE FOUR TEAMS BUT THEN WE HAD ABOUT 120 GIRLS TRY TO SIGN UP SO WE HAD TO EXPAND INTO EIGHT. SO THAT BEING SAID THAT IS JUST
AN EXAMPLE OF LOCATE SEEING HOW SOMETHING WILL GO TRYING TO LIKE SERVE A CENTRAL INTEREST THAT'S OUT THERE NOW SAYING OKAY THIS IS A WAY THAT YOU KNOW IN THIS COMING NEXT NEXT SUMMER WE MAY HAVE TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES AND SEE HOW WE
CAN GET ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, SERVE THAT. SO JUST SUMMING UP TO SAY IS LIKE WHEN EVERY TIME WE RECEIVE THAT TYPE OF INTEREST OKAY
WHERE THERE IS A POTENTIAL NEED MY ROLE IS TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO SEE OKAY HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE THIS NEED AND THEN CAN GO BACK TO THE BEING THE ELK
POINT EAST DEPARTMENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME SERVED SOME TYPE OF EITHER WAS INSIGHT OR STRUCTURAL INPUT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO THAT'S HOW WE'LL LOOK INTO
EXPAND THAT INTO OTHER SPORTS AS WELL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AWESOME. AND THEN PIGGYBACKING OFF WAS A COUNSELOR FITZGERALD WAS MENTIONED AND I'M NOT AT THIS POINT YET BUT I COULD JUST
IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK IT WOULD TAKE TO SIGN UP FOR, YOU KNOW, THREE DIFFERENT KIDS FOR TEN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT AROUND LIKE HAVING LIKE A UNIVERSAL
APPLICATION THAT JUST SHOOTS OUT TO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, NO ARE USING OUR PARKS ARE USING OUR BUSY LIFE CENTERS THAT WAY YOU
KNOW, FAMILIES GOES ONLINE, FILLS OUT THEIR CHILD'S NAME AND THEN JUST CLICKS INSTEAD OF HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, WRITE YOUR CHILD'S NAME, YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOUR ADDRESS 100 DIFFERENT TIMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S
A GREAT SUGGESTION AND SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY LOOK INTO AND LIKE THEY COULD PROBABLY CLICK OFF LIKE THE AREAS OF SPORTS INTEREST THAT INTEREST IN BASKETBALL, SOCCER, SWIMMING ETC.. GREAT SUGGESTION SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY LOOK INTO
PROBABLY CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM INTERNALLY AS WELL. AWESOME. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I HEAR A LOT ABOUT IS FUNDING. YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES OUR YOUTH
PROGRAMS NEED HELP FUNDING AND SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO LITTLE ME, YOU KNOW, LIKE WELL WE'RE ONE PERSON BUT ANY ANY WAY THAT
WE'RE LOOKING TO SUPPORT THEM ON YOU KNOW, TELLING THEIR STORY RIGHT CREATING THEM HELPING THEM CREATE A YOU KNOW, A PACKAGE TO, YOU KNOW, GO OFF AND YOU KNOW, REQUEST MONEY
FROM YOU KNOW, A NEW BALANCE. RIGHT. AND SHOUT OUT TO NEW BALANCE $2 MILLION TO SPORTSMAN CENTER CENTER. BUT IS THERE ANY SUPPORT THERE JUST TO HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, TELL THEIR STORY AND PUT THEM
OUT THERE FRONT OF FUNDERS? YEAH, I WOULD SAY THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING ABOUT THAT. I START OFF BY SAYING OF COURSE THE LESLIE BOSTON GRANT IS OUR FIRST THING THAT WE ALSO ALWAYS SHARE WITH PROGRAMS TO APPLY
FOR WHAT WE CREATED THIS COMING YEAR AND OUR SECOND YEAR WAS THE LESLIE BOSTON RELIEF GRANT WE OFTEN RECEIVE LIKE AROUND THIS TIME OUR FOLKS THAT YOU KNOW GO ON THE NATIONALS GOING
ON CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS ON EMERGENCIES COME UP OUTSIDE OF THE ROUTINE GRANT CYCLE SO WE CREATED THIS RELIEF GRANT SO PROGRAMS CAN APPLY TO $2,000 TO SUPPORT THOSE TYPES
OF OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN GET EMERGENCY OPPORTUNITIES. BUT THE THIRD THING THAT I'LL SPEAK TO THAT IS THAT'S WHY AS CHIEF MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION EARLIER, LIKE ANY SUPPORT AROUND PARTNERSHIPS AND
CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKING BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE HAVE A HUGE A LOT OF MOTIVATION RIGHT NOW JUST TO SPEAK TO LIKE YOU SAID A NEW BALANCE. WE JUST DID A RECENT PROGRAM WITH DICK'S HOUSE A SPORT THAT
PROVIDES A LOT OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAMS BASED SO THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT THEY COULD COME TOGETHER WITH
US TO HELP FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS AND TO ADD COUNSELOR TO OTHER THINGS TO WHAT I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING SCENE IS THAT WE'VE NOW SHIFTED
A LOT OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OUR YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT. SO THEY HAVE ONGOING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND SO A LOT OF IT CONSTITUTES LIKE YOU KNOW ,BOTH YOU KNOW YOU AS A YOUTH
WORKER BUT FOR THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL RIGHT? SO LIKE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY SECONDS FROM OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR IN WHICH WE HAVE THE EMERGING LEARNING COHORT BASICALLY IS WHERE WE
BRING TOGETHER LIKE THOSE SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MANY OF WHICH ARE SPORTS BASED TO COME TOGETHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN, YOU KNOW, GRANT FUNDING, YOU KNOW,
BRAND WRITING, ETC. HOW TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR NO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE A LOT OF FEEDBACK I RECEIVED IN MY FIRST YEAR. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT AND BEING A NONPROFIT LEADER I WAS JUST LIKE HEARD GOT IT AND I
WOULD I WOULD SAY IT'S BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF LIKE THE ENGAGEMENT THE FEEDBACK, THE COLLECTIVE FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS FOLKS THAT WE WERE IN PREVIOUS COHORTS THAT STILL WANT TO BE IN ACCORD WITH LIKE LISTEN, WE CAN'T DO
ANYTHING LIKE YOU NEED A NEW CROP OF FOLKS TO BE IN IT. AND THIS YEAR WE'VE PARTNERED WITH URBAN COLLEGE AND SO TO BE ABLE TO AMPLIFY THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT JUST EMPOWER OUR LEADERS TO SAY HEY,
YOU KNOW, HERE'S ACCESS TO SOME, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES AND TOOLS OF HOW IT IS THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS, HOW YOU COULD BE IN FRONT OF THESE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF CORPORATIONS AND SAY HEY, WE
NEED THESE DOLLARS AND SUPPORT FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW TO BE ABLE TO CRAFT YOUR STORY. SO WE'VE BEEN IN THAT SPACE AND BEEN SUPPORTIVE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S AWESOME. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR AND ALSO GOOD
TO HEAR THAT YOUR TEACHING SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TEACHING THE COACHES ALSO HOW TO BETTER SERVE THAT THEY'RE THE ATHLETES AS WELL DURING THAT TRAINING I
GUESS THE LAST THING I HAVE IS I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE COVERED EVERYTHING WELL THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO OH I DO
HAVE ONE MORE THING SORRY ACCESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT A LOT IS ACCESS TO YOU. TELL ME THIS QUESTION MIGHT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED HOW HOW
WOULD ONE GET ACCESS TO LIKE A BUSY LIFE CENTER LIKE A YOU KNOW, ONE THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DO INTO A SOCCER SHE'S JUST
LOOKING FOR A PLACE WHAT WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY FOR HIM TO, YOU KNOW, GET ACCESS YEAH WE HAVE WE DO HAVE LIKE A RENTAL PROCESS LIKE JUST LIKE A FORM THAT FOLKS CAN FILL OUT IF
THEY DO HAVE LIKE A REQUEST. TYPICALLY THE IDEAL SITUATION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US ARE FREE, YOU KNOW, IN YOU KNOW BASED ON THE PROGRAMING AVAILABILITY, YOU KNOW FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BUT IF FOLKS LIKE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION OR EVEN A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WANTS TO COME IN, YOU KNOW, TO UTILIZE IT TO DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, THERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THERE. WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS THOUGH BECAUSE AGAIN, AS WE TALK ABOUT
SPACES, YOU KNOW, WE DO TRY TO KEEP THOSE SPACES AS OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE WHILE PROGRAMING IT, YOU KNOW, TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS VERSUS ALLOWING LIKE A PRIVATE
INSTITUTION OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATION TO COME IN AND NOT HAVE IT OPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE. SO WE'RE JUST ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THAT. BUT I THINK THAT IS A PATHWAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS COULD TAKE AND JUST BE YOU KNOW,
AGAIN WHETHER IT'S AND THEN WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BP'S AS AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IF IT'S IN A CO-LOCATED FACILITY AS WELL. AWESOME AND SHOUT OUT TO BP SO ALL THEIR WORK THAT THEY DO AROUND THIS PLACE AND I MEAN
AVERY, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE, MAN JUST I MEAN JUST THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND HIM AND HIS TEAM DO ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN I'VE BEEN AT GAMES, YOU KNOW, AN EVENING HIM SEEM TO BE THERE ON THE
WEEKENDS AND TO SEE HIM BE THERE LIKE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY THAT WORK YOU KNOW SO BUT NONETHELESS YEAH IT'S JUST A HUGE CREDIT TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO AWESOME AND SHOUT OUT TO MY ATHLETES ON THE
COUNCIL BUT I'M LOOKING TO GET A BASKETBALL GAME I HEARD CASTLE WEBER HAS DONE A RECORD OF HIGH JUMP IN IN NEW YORK WAS IT WHAT WAS THE RECORD COUNCIL WEBER TRIPLE JUMP,
TRIPLE JUMP. SO THE RECORD SO JUST TO SCORE RECORD TO SAY SO SO COUNCILOR DID CHALLENGE YOU KNOW LIKE A COUNCILOR CHIEF CHALLENGE I DID BASKETBALL AND
WHEN HE MENTIONS YOUR STUDENTS WHEN HE MENTIONS IS YOU KNOW HE MENTIONED YOU KNOW YOUR ATHLETIC PROWESS YOU KNOW JUST LIKE YEAH I WAS LIKE YOU KNOW GOOD LUCK BUT BASICALLY AND SO
YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR RECORD. I LOOK FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY MAN RAY FITZGERALD PLAYED VARSITY OF AT THE LAST ALL I NEEDED HERE. SO LET ME BE HERE. I THANK YOU THANK YOU
COUNCILOR WORLD CONFLICT LETTERS ABOUT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR CONVENING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I APOLOGIZE THAT WAS LATE. I WAS ACTUALLY GETTING UP TO
SPEED JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF BOTH OF YOU AND I APOLOGIZE IF MY QUESTIONS ARE REDUNDANT BUT YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE
PRESENTED TO ME AS A YOUTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IN FOURTH GRADE THERE WAS A MASSIVE EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS A GIRL SOFTBALL LEAGUE THAT WAS UP AND RUNNING THAT MATCHED THE
THE ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT AS THE EAST BOSTON BASEBALL LEAGUE AND THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS BY THE DEMEO FAMILY I WAS ABLE TO PLAY SOFTBALL FROM
FOURTH GRADE ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH SENIOR SENIOR YEAR AT BELLA AND IT CREATED A PIPELINE OF TALENT THAT STAYED IN EAST BOSTON FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. WE ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS
OF NOT HAVING THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT WENT UNDER ONLY BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A HUGE UNDERTAKING FOR PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE ON IN ANY SORT OF GIVEN COMMUNITY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THAT LEAGUE I GOT A CHANCE TO FOR EXAMPLE MY FIRST COACH WAS AN SS ABBY GEORGE WHEN I WAS IN FOURTH GRADE AND THAT WAS A RELATIONSHIP THAT I KEPT WITH ME AND STILL KEEP WITH ME TO
THIS DAY BEST FRIENDS, MENTORS THAT REALLY TAUGHT ME THE VALUES OF TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE OBVIOUSLY ALL UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS IN A
COMMUNITY AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE POPPED UP IN MY DISTRICT IS MENTIONED HERE AND AGAIN I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS REDUNDANT BUT FIELD AND COURT SPACE SO COMPETITION ESPECIALLY FOR A SOCCER LEAGUE
FOR EXAMPLE WE JUST GOT A NEW SOCCER PITCH IN EAST BOSTON THAT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR. SO THANK YOU TO THAT ORGANIZATION AND THE SOLUTIONS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FOR PUTTING THAT FORWARD. BUT AT LOPRESTI PARK AND OTHER
PLACES THERE IS REAL COMPETITION FOR THESE PROGRAMS TO COEXIST. WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CITY LEVEL TO ADDRESS SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
WHAT IS THE THE PATHWAY TO ENSURE THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PLAY OR HAS A ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUTH IF THEY ARE COMPETING AGAINST SAY A FOR PROFIT SOCCER
LEAGUE AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES OF ANY ORGANIZATIONS BUT FOR ADULTS RIGHT. WHAT IS THE TIERED SYSTEM TO ENSURING THAT OUR YOUTH GET FIRST PRIORITY TO SOME OF THESE FIELDS LIKE LOPRESTI PARK?
IT'S A REALLY GREAT, GREAT QUESTION AND AGAIN I'M SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD AND I'LL SAY THIS YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU JOINED US IS THAT IT'S A REALLY COMPLEX AND HUGE ECOSYSTEM AND SO WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR FIRST ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES OF I HAD NO IDEA SO I'M LOVING THAT PIECE I WILL HAVE TO SHARE AND YOU PROBABLY HEAR PEDRO SHARED AS WELL LIKE MY FIRST INTRODUCTION WAS ME AS IS HIS SWIM COACH AND
WHEN HE WAS AGE 12. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THAT MENTORSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP AS WELL. SO I'VE JUST ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE THAT TRANSPIRE IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN PARTICULAR TO ALLOCATION SPACE. I THINK YOU KNOW AS WE IDENTIFY
WHAT IS THAT WE HAVE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OVER, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING OUR STUDENTS OR PRIORITIZING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES IN ADDITION TO HOW IT IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BOTH
ALLOCATE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. WELL, I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT YOU LAID OUT IS VERY COMPLEX, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO IN COMPETING WITH PAID ORGANIZATIONS WHICH IS RAMPANT
NOT ONLY HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BUT STATEWIDE. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED ON THE STATE YOUTH SPORTS WORKING GROUP THAT I'M A PART OF AND HOW IT IS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS WORK OVERALL IT GETS REALLY COMPLEX
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BRING IN A USE PAY SPORTS LEAGUES ETC. THAT HAVE THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE OR IN OR THE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO FIELDS COMMITTEE SPACES ETC. THAT'S IN
CLOSE PARTNERSHIP YOU KNOW WITH OUR DEPARTMENT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, DPS ETC. BUT I LOVE TO HEAR IT JUST THAT WHAT ARE THE PAIN POINTS YOU KNOW AND WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK OFFLINE ABOUT WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE HAD THESE EXPERIENCES, WHAT
HAVE THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST? HAS IT BEEN THAT THEY HAD ACCESS AND THEN NOW THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS? IT'S SOMETHING SHIFT IN THE NOW AND THE ADULT LEAD AS YOU MENTIONED NOW GETTING ACCESS TO THE SPACE BECAUSE WE REALLY
WANT TO PRIORITIZE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT'S THAT'S BOTTOM LINE. AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND SO AGAIN, WE COULD TYPICALLY HAVE A SIDELINE CONVERSATION. WE'LL BE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PAIN POINTS ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THAT
THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. I THINK THAT I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE. I'VE TALKED TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT. THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN BAD ACTORS IN THESE FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE YELLED AT KIDS THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO
GET ON THE PITCH AND I WOULD RATHER THAN BE DOING THAT AND ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THIS IS KEEPING THEM BUSY. SO LET'S ACTUALLY TALK OFFLINE ABOUT THAT. YOU HAD MENTIONED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUE LIKE WHAT SORT
OF SUPPORT YOU PROVIDE AND I HEARD GRANTMAKING IS ONE OF THEM SO THAT'S AWESOME. WHAT SORT OF OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DO YOU PROVIDE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO START UP SAY FOR EXAMPLE I WANTED TO
RESTART THIS GIRL SOFTBALL LEAGUE SHE CAN I COME TO YOU? WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THAT IS WE I USUALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH PROGRAMS THAT DO NEED
THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT LIKE SAY THEY YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY NEED TO GO ABOUT TO SET THOSE TYPE OF THINGS UP. BUT I THINK LIKE THE MAIN POINTS IS WHEN WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENTS, USUALLY WORKING WITH PROGRAMS WHO HAVE A STRUCTURE OF THEIR PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN THIS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN THEREFORE WE CAN HELP THEM IN LEADING THAT IN THAT WAY
BECAUSE AGAIN THERE'S BEEN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS LIKE THAT AND ANOTHER ONE I'VE MENTIONED IS THE GROWTH LIKE FOOTBALL LEAGUE THAT BP HAS YOU KNOW AS RECENTLY JUST TOOK PART IN IN
LEADING IS IS LIKE SO THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THEM BY YOU KNOW A FOUNDATION THAT WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR MOVEMENT IN THAT WAY. SO THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT FOLKS CAN COME ABOUT IT. YES.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO YOU KNOW START THIS LEAGUE OR WHO THEY SHOULD CONNECT WITH, DEFINITELY FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S THE ROLE THAT I LIKE TO PLAY IN GETTING CONNECTING PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY WITH OTHER PARTNERS THAT
MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THEM START THEIR MISSION. BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE WORK WITH PROGRAMS WHO ARE ALREADY YOU KNOW HAVE BEEN HAVE ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SPACE OR OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE DEPARTMENTS IN THAT WAY.
AND JUST JUST ADD ON ONTO THAT LAST POINT LIKE TYPICALLY YOU KNOW THE LIVES THAT LIKE THE FLY FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'VE STARTED WITH LIKE CITY WIDE LEAGUES AND SO I THINK IS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP HIS RESPECT JUST LIKE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
A GREEN MAKING PURPOSES. WE DO HAVE SOME TYPE OF REQUIREMENT THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE POPULATION IN DOING THIS WORK FOR SEVERAL YEARS ETC. GRANTED THIS ORGANIZATION EXISTED
PREVIOUSLY AND SO MAY BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THOSE THINGS. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GAP IS NOW LIKE HOW MANY YEARS HAS NOT BEEN IN EXISTENCE BUT MAYBE WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WHERE YOU FIGURE OUT LIKE WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED FUNDING MAY NOT BE
ONE OF THEM. I MEAN I MEAN FUNDING WOULD BE NEEDED BUT FUNDING MAY NOT BE A PATHWAY IN WHICH WAVE OF SUPPORT AT THE MOMENT AND SO LIKE WE ESTABLISH BASE AND I GET IT IS A CHICKEN AND EGG TYPE OF SITUATION WHERE LIKE YOU NEED SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT
YOU TO START THE ORGANIZATION ETC. BUT I THINK WE NEED SO FAR WE'VE BEEN FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SERVING POPULATIONS BUT BUT AGAIN WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE YOU KNOW WHO TARIQ'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION IF THAT'S OKAY TO OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, THE QUESTION OF PRIVATE
OR PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS BEING PUT INTO THIS ECOSYSTEM I GUESS WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL ECOSYSTEM AND LANDSCAPE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE? LIKE HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY PROVIDE? WHAT'S THE UNIVERSE OF DOLLARS
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AS A CITY IN THIS MOMENT OF TIME? YEAH. SO SO FAR THROUGH THE LET'S PLAY BOSTON GRANT I MENTIONED IN THE OPENING STATEMENT IT'S
BEEN ABOUT 75 ORGANIZATIONS THAT'LL BE FUNDED DIRECTLY TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. SO THAT'S BEEN THAT AND THROUGH OUR SWIM SAVED BOSTON HAS BEEN
OVER $1,000,000 I KNOW THAT AND SO THAT'S THAT'S JUST BEEN IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE LONGER BUT NONETHELESS LIKE IT'S SO COLLECTIVELY YOU KNOW WE'RE WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSER TO $2 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR SPORTS SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. AND I GUESS MY LAST COMMENT AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY ON IT ALREADY BECAUSE IN BOSTON SCORED IS ON IT AND IN OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS BUT THE WORLD CUP COMING TO BOSTON ENSURING THAT ALL OF THE COOL THINGS THAT KIDS CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OR BE A PART OF WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE BOSTON KIDS THANKS
FOR ALL SCORES I MEAN WE HAD THE FESTIVAL 2026 YEAH YOU KNOW COMING TO BOSTON WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING WHICH OVERLAPS WITH BOSTON SCORES WE HAD THE PROJECT PLACE SUMMIT WHICH IS ASPEN INSTITUTE SUMMIT COMING
TO CITY BOSTON HERE IN MAY WHICH IS HUGE AS WELL WHICH IS NATIONAL SOMETHING SO FOR YOU TO CHOOSE BOSTON IS GOING TO BE EXCITING AS WELL. SO WE HAVE 2026 IS GONNA BE SUPER EXCITING. EXCELLENT THANK YOU. SORRY I DIDN'T SEE BOSTON SPORTS HERE. HI. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE QUESTION. I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY PANEL WHO WAS HERE AND READY TO JUMP IN.
BUT IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR THIS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS AND TO START I KNOW
COUNCIL LIKES TO PUT ME ON A PEDESTAL BUT THAT MY FOR THE RECORD IT'S MY HIGH SCHOOL INDOOR TRIPLE JUMP RECORD WHICH HAS STOOD FOR A LONG TOO LONG
TO TO TO SAY BUT SO YEAH THANK YOU VERY MUCH NO STATE RECORDS HERE BUT SO IN TERMS OF I GUESS
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IT'S THE AND WHICH IS AMAZING MY DAUGHTER PLAYED VOLLEYBALL PLAY IN SEVENTH GRADE SHE DIDN'T PLAY IN EIGHTH GRADE. IT WAS HARD TO FIND VOLLEYBALL OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE CITY.
ARE WE DOING ANYTHING AROUND SUMMER LEAGUES FOR KIDS MAYBE TO GET TO THAT SEVEN SEVEN TO SEVENTH EIGHTH GRADE BARRIER? YOU KNOW THOSE KIDS AREN'T
REALLY GOING TO SUMMER CAMP. YOU KNOW, TO PROBABLY MIGHT BE AROUND TO DO WE DO ANYTHING WITH SUMMER LEAGUES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BECAUSE AGAIN, EVEN TO POINT OUT A
PREVIOUS STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE, I FEEL LIKE THE FOCUS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH BP'S AND A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS IS REALLY DEFINITELY ABOUT DEVELOPMENT DURING THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO THERE DEFINITELY ARE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OFFER DURING THE SUMMER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ONE THING THAT LIKE YOU KNOW I THINK A LOT OF US SPEAK TO A LOT ONE THING THAT
HAS KIND OF BEEN TAKEN AWAY IS IS THE JOY OF FUN THAT KIDS GET TO EXPERIENCE PLAY IN A SPORT BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING TOO COMPETITIVE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. SO I SAD TO SAY AGAIN THAT YOU HAD ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OFFER A
VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SUMMER AND THERE'S ALSO SOME CAMPS THAT TAKE PLACE AS WELL JUST TO GIVE DIFFERENT MULTI-SPORT OFFERINGS DURING THAT TIME.
YEAH AND JUST TO ADD TO OUR PARKS DOES OFFER SPORTS CENTERS AT SIX LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AND SO THAT'S SPECIFICALLY TARGETING 6 TO 13 YEAR OLDS IN A VARIETY OF SPORTS. AND SO TO SARRI'S POINT IS TO
CULTIVATE THE LOVE OF SPORT. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE COME FROM A ERA WHERE WE PLAYED, YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET WHERE THAT CAR WAS THE TOUCHDOWN AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME ETC. AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED.
NOW YOU KNOW AND MAYBE THAT WASN'T AS SAFE AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUT NONETHELESS, YOU KNOW ,FOR US FOR ME PERSONALLY GROWING UP, I THINK THE POINT OF WHERE WHAT IS ARE WE NOTICING IS THAT THE MORE WE
GET PRESCRIPTIVE LIKE WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD DO, THE LESS JOY THAT'S COMING OUT OF IT AND THAT'S REASON WHY YOU SEE A DROP OFF IN YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE AGE OF 13, 14 ETC. YOU SEE MORE INJURIES FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN OVERLY BURDENED BY PLAYING ONE SPORT YOU KNOW THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAREER AND THEY ACTUALLY GETTING HURT, YOU KNOW, MUCH YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AND SO AND JUST THE OVERALL PASSION IS, YOU KNOW, FADES AWAY AS WELL.
AND SO WE DO SEE WE DO HAVE THE DATA THAT YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION RATE DOES INCREASE OR DECREASE SCUSE ME YOU KNOW RAN LIKE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS ESPECIALLY THEY WERE LIKE ENGAGED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AS WELL WHATEVER.
BUT AGAIN CULTIVATE THAT PARKS DEPARTMENT DPS DOES A MAJOR WORK AROUND LIKE SOME SPORTS OFFERINGS ON THE WEEKENDS BY WAY OF AS WELL PASS BOARD OKAY AND THAT JUST ONE OTHER THING
IN TERMS OF COACHES I THINK HELPING LEAGUES FIND COACHES QUALIFIED COACHES WHAT ARE WE DOING AROUND THAT? I KNOW WE DO HAVE A LOT
OF COLLEGE ATHLETES IN THE AREA . IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PIPELINE MAYBE THERE ALREADY IS BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF LIKE HELPING,
YOU KNOW, LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, FOSTER THAT YOU KNOW, LOVE OF THE GAME FOR THE KIDS. YEAH. SO I'VE BEEN HAVING A FEW
CONVERSATIONS ONE RECENTLY WITH THE CONNECTICUT SUN AND ANOTHER WITH THE CELTICS WHERE LIKE THEY THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AS WELL JUST LIKE CREATING THAT PIPELINE OF JUST YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT YOUTH COACHES. SO ONE THING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS YOU KNOW HAVING GREAT POTENTIAL YOU KNOW JUNIOR COACHES PROGRAM BUT REGARDLESS OF LIKE THAT EVEN SPECIFIC PROGRAM, ONE THING THAT WE ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING IS THAT THERE IS A GAP AND YOU KNOW COACHES VOLUNTEERS HAS DROPPED OFF AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT I'VE TALKED TO SO WE'RE DEFINITELY HAVE A EXTREME FOCUS ON
TEACHING YOUTH JUST THE ELEMENTS OF COACHING AND ESPECIALLY IN THE GIRLS SPACE I'M TRYING TO GET MORE GIRLS COACHES AND INCREASE THAT NUMBER AS WELL. SO YEAH, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE'RE CREATING THERE THAT'S COURSE FOR THE YOUTH. ONE THING THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE SAY YOU KNOW ADULT A YOUNG YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO CERTAIN THINGS WE'VE OFFERED COACHES COFFEE HOURS
WE'VE HAD OUR LAST ONE WILL BE NEXT ACTUALLY THIS COMING FRIDAY BUT PREVIOUSLY THIS YEAR WE'VE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES WHERE COACHES CAN COME NETWORK BUILD MENTOR ONE ANOTHER AND UTILIZING THAT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY THEIR COACHES CAN COME AND KIND OF POTENTIALLY FIND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THEIR PROGRAMS. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS ON YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH LEVEL IN ON THE ADULT LEVEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO FIND THOSE VOLUNTEERS, CONNECT WITH OTHER FOLKS. AND THEN AGAIN WE'RE LOOKING TO CREATE MORE MOVING FORWARD. YEAH. IN ADDITION TO THAT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL I MENTIONED THAT YOU KNOW AS FAR
AS LIKE OUR SECOND AREA OF FOCUS IS AROUND LIKE THE HUMAN CAPITAL AND SO TRAINING AROUND COACHES SPECIFICALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YOU KNOW POSITIVE CULTURE COACHES ALLIANCE CENTER FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE SPORT ARE JUST TO NAME
A FEW JUST TO ENSURE THAT AS WE DO RECRUIT COACHES THAT THEY HAVE THE THE TRAINING AND THE MECHANISMS AVAILABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL YEAH JUST JUST TWO COMMENTS THERE ONE IS MAYBE
FOCUS I KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH TRACK THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RUN TRACK WHO KNOW HOW TO COACH TRACK AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM COACHES IN THE AREA THAT THERE SHOULD YOU
KNOW WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB TRAINING TRACK COACHES MORE PEOPLE HAVE EXPOSURE TO FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL
,EVEN SOCCER THE TWO TO THE OTHER POINTS ARE I GUESS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR HAS NEGOTIATED THE PILOT AGREEMENT WITH NORTHEASTERN AND YOU KNOW, THE
EXTENT THESE COLLEGES ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE PILOT PAYMENTS. SO YOU KNOW, LOOK TOWARD COOPERATION. I MEAN NORTHEASTERN HAS A GREAT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD COACH YOU KNOW, PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR KIDS THAT WAY. I JUST LOOK AT THAT. THE OTHER IS JUST THE LAST THING IS SWIMMING HENNIGAN POOL WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG
TIME FOR THAT POOL TO BE USABLE SO AS MUCH PRESSURE AS WE CAN HAVE ON THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT'S A PRIORITY YOU GET THAT DONE AND IT'S RIGHT IN THE SCHOOL AND BE A GREAT
RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE LINE COUNSELOR YEAH WE'RE PATIENT AS WELL. YOU KNOW UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT GOES IN AND NO NO I JOINTLY JOINED THE CHORUS NO WHERE I'VE LOOKED IN IT YEAH AND THEY AND THEY THEY
RECOGNIZE ME BUT I THINK THEY'RE AMAZING AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO AMPLIFY AND THEY RECOGNIZE A PRIORITY AS WELL. SO WE'RE ALL JUST I JUST WANT TO BE VERY EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE LINE ON
THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO REOPEN AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. YEAH, AND I DO HEAR WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS BUT YEAH, SO I HEAR THAT A LOT BUT EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE TO GET THERE. YEAH. OKAY.
WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHAIR . THANK YOU. UM, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PANEL. I'M WHEN IT COMES TO THE
FACILITIES BATHROOMS OFTENTIMES IF YOU IT WAS MENTIONED LIKE JP SOCCER IF YOU'RE NEXT TO A BUILDING OR A CITY OWNED BUILDING OR A DCR BUILDING I KNOW LIKE WHEN KIDS PLAY
DIFFERENT SPORTS AT GARVEY PARK IF THE RINK IS OPEN EVEN THOUGH WE'RE YOU KNOW, CITY PARK STATE RINK LIKE THE DOORS OPEN THERE ISN'T A BATHROOM ISSUE SO
SOMETIMES YOU'RE JUST CLOSE TO SO THE OPPORTUNITY MAY BE THERE BUT NOT EVERY OBVIOUSLY FEELS IS NEAR A BATHROOM LIKE THAT. SO THAT WOULDN'T EVEN BE AN OPPORTUNITY AND I DO UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE'S A COST. I JUST WISH WE WOULDN'T BE SPENDING GRANT MONEY THAT I THINK COULD BE SPENT MUCH BETTER THAN PAYING THE CUSTODIANS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES TO OPEN THE SCHOOL BUILDING
IT'S THE COST AND I AGREE IT SHOULD BE A COST IF WE'RE WE NEED TO CALL ON A CUSTODIAN TO HAVE THE BUILDING OPEN THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING GRANT MONEY ON JUST ACCESS TO A
CITY OWNED BATHROOM. IF WE COULD FIND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND YOU MAY KNOW THIS I KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST WITH
LIKE RYAN WOODS ABOUT THIS THAT WE ALLOW CERTAIN OR MAYBE ALL ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY WANT TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN SAY PORTA OR A STORAGE UNIT. SO WHEN YOU GO AROUND TO SOME OF THE FIELDS LIKE I KNOW ONE
OF THE FOOTBALL TEAMS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THERE IS YOU KNOW, A COUPLE BIG STORAGE FACILITIES OR CRATES AND ALSO PORTA POTTIES. BUT THEY'RE LOCKED UP BECAUSE THEY OWN THEM BUT THEY'RE ON
CITY PROPERTY SO THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO BE USED WHEN THAT SPORT IS BEING PLAYED. SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO LIKE HOW THAT'S MANAGED BECAUSE WE COULD END UP WITH A FIELD WHERE IF
IT'S DEPENDING ON THE SEASON OR EVEN IF MORE THAN ONE TEAM IS PLAYING DURING THE SEASON WE HAVE LIKE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT RENTED OR BOUGHT PORTA POTTIES SAY AND HAVING TO BE OPEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND LASTLY THIS GOES BACK TO THE STAFFING AND I KNOW THIS HAPPENS AT LIKE DCR ALSO WHEN WE TURN OFF THE WATER FINE IT'S WINTER. WE DON'T WANT THE PIPES TO FREEZE BUT WHEN WE PULL BARRELS
OUT AFTER A CERTAIN TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO STAFF HAVING THE MAINTENANCE OF EMPTYING THEM OR WE DON'T KEEP THE PORTA POTTIES OPEN AFTER A CERTAIN DATE BECAUSE WE
KNOW THERE IS A MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, ATTACHED TO IT. SO WE DON'T WANT TO PAY SOMEONE TO HAVE TO CLEAN THEM. SO IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THAT LOGISTICS OR WE CAN BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN THE
CONVERSATION AND THE QUESTION COMES UP A LOT IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HOW DO WE GET BATHROOMS? AND THE ANSWER LIKE I JUST MADE IT CLEAR ISN'T COOKIE CUTTER, RIGHT? IT'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IT
MAY WORK FOR DIFFERENT SPORTS OR DIFFERENT FACILITIES BUT IF WE HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE'RE SHARING THE MESSAGE CLEARLY BACK TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS, YEAH YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND
UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T TALK SPECIFICALLY TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED. THAT'S A LEVEL OF DETAIL. I JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SIGHT ON. HOWEVER, I MEAN AGAIN, THAT'S IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, RIGHT?
AND SO I THINK HEARING THE THREE POINTS THAT YOU MADE IS HEARD I THINK IT GOES YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S POINT EARLIER ABOUT LIKE THIS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE FOCUS LIKE IF WE COULD REALLY KNOW THE
SEASONS KNOW WHICH ARE WHICH SPORTS OFFERED WHEN AT WHICH LOCATIONS MAYBE THERE COULD BE SOME COORDINATION, MAYBE THEY COULD BE SOME COORDINATION WITH OUR CITY OWNED BUILDINGS AS WELL WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, A
SCHOOL FACILITY OR B CYF IN TO YOUR POINT AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S LIKE HEY, THESE LEAGUES OPERATE ON THESE DAYS ON A WEEKEND ON A DAY WHERE TYPICALLY THE SCHOOLS CLOSED, CAN WE HELP FACILITATE ENSURING
THAT THERE'S A JANITOR WHO WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP THE BUILDING SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE BATHROOMS AND I THINK THAT WOULD SOLVE IS YOU KNOW FEED A BIRD TO BATHROOM ONESIE OF LIKE
BOTH THE NEED TO NOT PURCHASE OR RENT A SEPARATE PORTA AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BATHROOM TRAINING. SO I THINK YOU KNOW THAT LAST POINT I THINK ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I THINK IT COULD BE UNWIELDY IF
WE DO ALLOW PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE ACCESS TO MEANS TO PURCHASE OR RENT THE STORAGE FACILITY AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT WITH THEM BUT I COULD DEFINITELY ENVISION, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE,
YOU KNOW, STORAGE UNITS, YOU KNOW, TAKING UP SPACE OR PARKING LOT SPACE OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT AND SAYING WELL THERE'S A PORTA HERE BUT IT'S LOCKED AND I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN WE DON'T HAVE THE KEYS AS WE'VE ALLOWED SOME OTHER
PERSON OR ORGANIZATION TO LOCK IT UP THERE AND IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO'VE LEASED IT OR RENTED IT I UNDERSTAND ON THEIR OWN. YES. WE GET IT FROM WE CAN GET IT FROM BOTH ENDS. BUT AGAIN TO THE POINT OF LIKE
IF WE'RE JUST CREATING IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS HOLISTIC VIEW I THINK THAT WILL COME IN D SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE COUNCIL. WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE BIG SPORTS AND FINDING OUT WHO YOU ARE. I GUESS THAT LIST WOULD CHANGE BUT WHEN I'M THINKING OF LIKE FIELD HOCKEY FENCING, WRESTLING
OR DANCE CHAIR LIKE THE OTHER SPORTS, WHAT FALLS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW EVERY YEAR EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING OR LIKE IS THERE LIKE A LIST AND IT MAY EXCLUDE SOME OR HOW DO WE WELL I MEAN
YEAH THERE'S BEEN SOME OFFERINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LIKE YOU KNOW SO BUT I THINK YOU KNOW I LIKE DEFINITELY IT'S OUR WEEK BUT I THINK YOU KNOW OUR COUNCIL MAURO YOU KNOW BROUGHT
UP THE CROSS YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO IN TODAY'S HEARING WHATEVER BUT LIKE I KNOW HE'S DONE WORK AROUND THAT SPACE WHATEVER SO THINGS THAT THEY TYPICALLY MAY NOT YOU KNOW ENTER LIKE THE CITY LIMITS OR OUR COMMUNITIES OF LIKE HOW IT
IS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THESE OTHER OFFERINGS THAT MAY HAVE BETTER LINE OF SIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT LIKE I'M RETIRED FROM BASKETBALL AND TAKING UP CYCLING RIGHT HERE AND BETTER ON THE JOINTS YOU KNOW, HEALTHY ENGAGEMENT, EVERYTHING ELSE AS WELL
WHATEVER. BUT I JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE HOW DO WE INTRODUCE THESE WHAT'S TO SPORTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL SO THEY CAN HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF OFFERINGS? ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO HAVE THE SPORT PARTICIPATION
BUT TO BUILD WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS, YOU KNOW, AS THEY GROW OLDER, RIGHT? SO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A MULTITUDE OF OFFERINGS AND SAYING LIKE HEY, I KNOW I COULD BENEFIT FROM ENGAGING YOUTH SPORTS AT
THE YOUNG AGE NOT EVEN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF GOING INTO D1 COLLEGE AND THEN GETTING YOU KNOW, GETTING SCHOLARSHIP AND THEN MAKING IT TO THE LEAGUE. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THOSE CHANCES ARE VERY SLIM AND WE'RE BATTLING THAT AS WELL. LIKE THERE'S PEOPLE YOU KNOW
THOSE PARENTS THAT HAVE MEANS LIKE I'M A BANK OR AN INVESTOR THING NOW TO OFFSET THE COST OF COLLEGE IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT. AND LIKE THOSE ARE NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED, RIGHT? LIKE THAT'S A GAMBLE THAT FOLKS ARE MAKING AND IT'S JUST LIKE THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE'RE UP AGAINST. BUT HOLISTICALLY I THINK THE SPORTS I MEAN YOU KNOW AGAIN TO NONTRADITIONAL ONES IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO EMPHASIZE AS WELL. I MENTIONED DRAGON BOAT RACING
AND MENTIONED OTHER THINGS SO YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. ROWING, MEMORY FENCING, FENCING THERE'S A CIRCUS PROGRAM SO IT'S LIKE WHEN I WHEN I FIRST
STARTED MY JOB I WAS TASKED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST GET TO DIRECT THE RETIREMENT BACK TO THAT, TRY TO FIND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE OUT THERE STILL DOING THAT. AND SO WHAT I DO RIGHT NOW IS
WHEN TALKING WITH THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS OR TALKING WITH THESE PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BECAUSE THERE'S THESE SPORTS LIKE NONTRADITIONAL SPORTS THAT EXIST BUT NO ONE KNOWS THAT THEY EXIST.
SO THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM IS TRYING TO TIE THEM INTO A BUSY LIFE CENTER THAT'S LOOKING FOR MORE PROGRAMING. THE SCHOOL THAT'S LOOKING TO GET MORE NONTRADITIONAL SPORTS
AND SO THAT'S THE START OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO LIKE TRYING TO JUST YOU KNOW, CREATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THERE AND THEN ANY OTHER WAY THAT THEY ASK FOR SUPPORT WHETHER THAT IS
YOU KNOW, CREATING ANY TYPE OF PROGRAMING ON THIS I THAT'S HOW I PROVIDE SUPPORT AS WELL. JUST HELP THEM GET SOME MORE EXPOSURE ON THEIR SIDE. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM TO MY COLLEAGUES.
HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU. I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT PANEL TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM THEM. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. YOU SHOULD SAY SO. THANK YOU. SO THE SECOND PANEL YEAH, THEY DID IT.
OKAY. YES. SO BRAD MAHONEY, ALISON SAUCIER ELSE, GREG COMBET DO I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY?
I THINK CHARLIE MENISCUS IS ONLINE AND DO YOU KNOW THE NAMES RICHIE AND IF REGGIE
CARTER ALSO COULD JOIN US AS A PANELIST RIGHT?
I THINK THAT'S EVERYONE HE'S HERE.
YES. THANK YOU. JUST SO YOU KNOW WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRESS
ANY BUTTON ON THE MICROPHONE SOMETIMES. YEAH. SO CORA, WHEN IT'S TIME YOU TO SPEAK SHE'LL MAKE SURE YOU MICROPHONE'S ON AND YOU'LL BE READY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IF YOU COULD MAYBE START THIS ONE DOWN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AGAIN. WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU'RE FROM AND THEN WE CAN DO SOME OPENING STATEMENTS. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS REGGIE CARTER. I'M FROM THE HOOD COLLABORATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WE'RE BASED OUT OF BOSTON IN BROCKTON WE DO YOUTH SPORTS FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS FOUR ALL THE
WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. SO AS YOU SEE YOUTH WE CAN GO INTO AT 26 YEARS OLD WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MATCH CHARTER SCHOOL SO WE'RE THERE ON SATURDAYS AND MONDAYS WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SATURDAY SCHOOL WHERE WE TRAIN GIRLS SKILLS AND DRILLS
BASKETBALL RELATED. WE HAVE A FALL PRESEASON LEAGUE THAT JUST ENDED LAST WEEK MONDAY WHERE WE HAD SIX GIRL VARSITY TEAMS PLAYING IN A
PRESEASON BASKETBALL LEAGUE GETTING READY FOR IT TODAY BECAUSE TODAY IS OFFICIALLY THE FIRST DAY OF TRYOUTS FOR MY SCHOOL'S AND WE ALSO DO WORK
OUT IN THE BROCKTON GRAY TO CREATE A BOSTON AREA CALLED LADIES NIGHT. SO ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BRAD MAHONEY. I'M A JAMAICA PLAIN RESIDENT.
I AM AFFILIATED WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS JAMAICA PLAIN, REAGAN YOUTH LEAGUE, JAMAICA PLAIN YOUTH SOCCER AND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, DAVID SCHAPIRO
AND I STARTED OUR OWN TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAM IN THE CITY KIND OF AS A COUNTER TO THE AEW CLUB TEAM AND HAVE ALSO RUN FOOTBALL
TEAMS AND INDOOR SPACE HERE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. OH, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I'M ALISON SAUCIER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS AT BOSTON SCORES AT BOSTON SCORES AND WE SERVE PROGRAMS THROUGH VEEPS, AFTERSCHOOL SOCCER AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM RUN BY ETHAN GOLDMAN WHICH SERVES HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND ALSO PROVIDES POST-SECONDARY READINESS CURRICULUM FOR THEM MOST RECENTLY IN THE BRANCH PROGRAMING THAT I WORK WITH, IT SCORES OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH SERVE THE COMMUNITY
DIRECTLY IN EAST BOSTON THROUGH VACATION AND EAST BOSTON FC WHICH IS OUR RECREATION FOR YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM. UM THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF THOSE PROGRAMS WE SERVE JUST ABOUT 1200 STUDENTS YEARLY
THROUGH BOSTON'S COURSE. THANK YOU. I'M OUT. GREAT. I'M SORRY, COUNCILOR MURPHY. I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION OF MY NAME.
I'M ALSO I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF JAMAICA PLAIN YOUTH SOCCER FOR 11 PLUS YEARS NOW. I'VE ALSO BEEN A COACH IN THE REGAN LEAGUE BASEBALL SO I'M IN JAMAICA PLAIN AS WELL.
JP IS SOCCER OVER 600 KIDS A SEASON WE SERVE WE RUN PROGRAMS IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING AND YES THINGS FOR THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE AND FOR JUST
ARRANGING FOR THIS THIS HEARING TODAY. THANK YOU CHARLIE REVIEW HI EVERYBODY. CHUCK ELIMINATE CASSETTE AND
THANKS FOR HAVING ME IN. I DO HAVE A PRIOR ENGAGEMENT AT NOON TIME UNFORTUNATELY I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN THE DORCHESTER
COMMUNITY JUST FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS. ALL MY KIDS PLAYED THE OLDEST IS NOW 40. FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MERGED
LEAGUE OF DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE AND WE PROVIDE BASEBALL OPPORTUNITIES REALLY YEAR ROUND NOW WITH FOUR CLINICS EXCEPT FOR THIS PAST YEAR AND WENT TO
CLINICS WE HAVE ABOVE 500 KIDS IN THE PROGRAM WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE CHALLENGE CHALLENGE A PROGRAM FOR GIFTED INDIVIDUALS
IN YEAH BUT ON THE BOARD OF DORCHESTER LEAGUE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND SERVED AS CO-PRESIDENT UP UNTIL THE PAST LAST YEAR SO IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE SORRY YOU HAVE TO CUT IT.
NO, NO, THAT'S FINE. UM, CHARLIE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE JUST BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO. UM, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO MAYBE SOME OF THE CONCERNS YOU SEE OR WAYS WE ON THE
COUNCIL CAN HELP SUPPORT BECAUSE I KNOW. SURE, SURE. MINE MY KIDS ARE A LITTLE OLDER ABOUT I KNOW COUNCIL FITZGERALD'S KIDS PLAY UNDERNEATH YOUR LEADERSHIP NOW
BUT IF ALL YOU DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN BUT IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THAT SO WE CAN SHOW. SURE I DID LISTEN PRETTY INTENTLY TO THE JUST THE DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE OVER
THE PAST 90 MINUTES. REALLY HAPPY THAT THE HEARING HAS TAKEN PLACE, VERY PLEASED WITH THE INITIATIVES UNDER THE MAYOR FOR FOR YOUTH SPORTS.
LET ME BE SPECIFIC. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SHOUT OUT TO BOSTON AND REC DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE HAS A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEAM IN
PERMITTING AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OPERATION TEAM AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY
UNIQUE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM IS THAT WE DID INITIATE A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE'S OFFICES APPROVAL IN BOSTON PARKS AND REC. SO WE'RE GIFTED WITH THE FIELD BRAND NEW FIELD FIVE YEARS AGO
THAT MCCONNELL PARK AND IF YOU STOPPED BY THERE TODAY YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT WAS BUILT YESTERDAY AND HANDED OVER TO THE COMMUNITY UM SO IN THAT
PARTNERSHIP WE THANK THE CITY FOR ALLOWING IT TO EXIST AND WHAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL
COUNSELORS IS FOR ADVOCACY FOR INCREASE FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
ESSENTIAL. THE PHILOSOPHY WHICH PERHAPS CONTINUES TO EXIST PUT THE MONEY IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
IN UNDERFUND OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF HOW THE FISCAL BUDGET WORKS ,HOW BONDS WORK AND ALL THAT COMPLICATED STRUCTURE. I THINK THAT PARTICULAR
APPROACH DOES A DISSERVICE NOT ONLY TO THE TAXPAYER BUT TO THE FAMILIES AND THE YOUTH OF BOSTON SO BIG PROPONENT AND I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF
PERSONALLY AND I THINK FOR THE BOARD THE MORE THE CITY CAN DO TO ANALYZED WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND PUT IT TO ITS
HIGHEST AND BEST USE AND I WOULD SAY ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS USED FOR SPORTS. UH, SECONDLY I DID HEAR
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD BEN MENTION THE DCF FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE PLACED WITHIN THE DPI DCF HOMES I
WOULD ADD I WOULD ADD ADVOCATE TO DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE BOARD THAT IF THE CHIEF IN
TYREEK AND THE CITY COUNCIL CAN CREATE SOMEHOW A PILOT PROGRAM AN INITIATIVE I WOULD ADVOCATE WITH OUR BOARD TO TRY TO RESERVE A SPOT OR TWO OR THREE
OR FOUR OR FIVE THROUGHOUT OUR PROGRAM FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT THE BEGINNING IN LIFE TO THE END BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND BE PART
OF A GREAT YOUTH ORGANIZATION COUNCILOR YOU MENTIONED THE PORTA POTTIES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS NONPROFITS THAT
TYPICALLY WOULD BRING A PORTA TO A FIELD FOR ITS OWN PRIVATE USE. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE BOARD
THE PORTA POTTIES THAT WE'VE WE SUPPLY AT MCCONNELL PARK FOR EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR ARE LEFT UNLOCKED THERE WHERE WE'RE
FORTUNATE WITH VERY FEW ISSUES AROUND ABUSE AND NEEDLES AND HYPODERMIC ETC. SO THERE IT IS
AN IDEAL BUT ALL THE VISITORS TO THE PARK ARE ABLE TO USE THAT FACILITY WE MONITOR IT GETS CLEANED AT LEAST EVERY
WEEK IF NOT TWICE AS NEEDED AND WE EVEN PROVIDED ADDITIONAL PORTA POTTIES DURING THE MAYOR'S CUP BASEBALL WHICH
HAPPENED AT TWO DIFFERENT FIELDS ONE OF WHICH WE HOSTED. SO YEAH, THOSE ARE MY INITIAL MY INITIAL THOUGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
I'LL COMMENT AND THEN YOU KNOW, GO TO THE NEXT PERSON. THANK YOU. SO I KNOW YOU'VE INTRODUCED YOURSELVES THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IF ANY OF YOU THOUGH IF YOU WANT TO START WITH ANY OPENING STATEMENTS BEFORE WE COME WITH QUESTIONS THAT'D BE
GREAT. THANK YOU. WELL AGAIN, THE WHO COLLABORATIVE WE WORKED BRIAN AND HIS BROTHERS THAT WE WORKED WITH NOT ONLY THE THE CITY BUT
THE STATE DCF PARKS AND REC YOU NAME IT. AND I THINK YOU BROUGHT IT UP THE PORTA POTTIES. WE MAKE SURE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE
A PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH WITH PORTA COMPANY WHERE IF WE'RE DOING SAY FOR EXAMPLE THE HEAT WAVE TOURNAMENT WE'LL MAKE SURE THE PORTA PARTY IS OUT IN
DORCHESTER FOR THE MONTH. SO EVEN THOUGH WE GOT THE THE THE PERMIT YOU KNOW, JUST FOR THAT ONE PARTICULAR EVENT WE'LL GET OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW THE START OF AUGUST AND IT'S THERE UNTIL AUGUST 31ST WHERE THE
WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE ACCESS. IT'S CLEANED EVERY EVERY EVERY WEEK. THERE'S NO LOCKS ON IT AND IT'S STATIONED OVER BY THE BASKETBALL COURTS BECAUSE I
KNOW THEY HAVE THE TORCH, THE EAGLES, THEY HAVE THEIRS OR WHAT HAVE YOU BUT THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED FUNDING FOR AND IT'S SMALL RIGHT PORTA POTTIES
BUT FOR US TO A LOT A LOT OF THE PROGRAM WE DO IS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY SO WE'RE OUT IN HIGH PARK. WE'RE LIKE THAT MATTER PAT MATTAPAN HIGH PARK AREA THEN
WE'RE UP AT ROLLING PARK SO A LOT OF A LOT OF THE PLACES WHERE WE'RE DOING OUR PROGRAMING IT'S NOT EASY ACCESSIBLE TO THE KIDS AND WE
DID START OUT JUST IN THE SUMMER BUT WITH THE SUPPORT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO YEAR ROUND. SO FUNDING FOR YOUTH SPORTS IS
IS SUPER IMPORTANT YOU KNOW NOT JUST YOU KNOW HAVING THE RIGHT COACHES, HAVING THE EQUIPMENT BUT THE LITTLE THINGS MAKE SURE IT'S A SAFE SPACE AND AS SIMPLE
AS JUST HAVING A PLACE TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT HAS
BEEN DONE IN THIS SPACE WITH THE CREATION OF THE LET'S PLAY THE NUMBER OF FREE EVENTS AND THE BBF PROGRAMS AND THE EFFORTS TO DO THAT AND KIND
OF UNLOCK AND HAVING US HERE UNLOCK KIND OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE DAY TO DAY IS VITALLY IMPORTANT AND TO KIND OF ECHO PRIOR SENTIMENTS I MEAN INCREASED FUNDING FOR
PARKS AND REC IS VITAL. YOU KNOW JUST KIND OF SPEAKING FROM THE REGAN LEAGUE'S PERSPECTIVE FOR EXAMPLE MURPHY PLAYGROUND BEHIND MUNIS WAS
OFFLINE WHICH REQUIRED THE PONY DIVISION AGES 13 TO 16 TO BASICALLY PLAY AT JEFFERSON PLAYGROUND WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO GO UNDERGROUND, UNDERGO RENOVATIONS AT SOME POINT IN
THE FUTURE. BUT THAT WAS REALLY WET. IT WAS TREMENDOUSLY CHALLENGING . FIELD SPACE WAS A CHALLENGE. WE WERE TRYING TO FIT IN GAMES AT ENGLISH WHEN WE COULD WHICH
KIND OF DRIVES DOWN THE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR YOUNG MEN WOMEN AND YOU KNOW REGAN WE HAVE 500 KIDS A WEEK NEARLY
HALF OF OUR POPULATION IS FROM OUTSIDE OF JAMAICA PLAIN AND LIKE MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE A NO QUESTIONS ASKED, YOU KNOW, A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
SO WHAT WE FOUND IS OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS THAT $5,000 GRANT DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS IT ONCE DID. SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO BUMP THAT UP, THAT OBVIOUSLY WOULD
BE TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY WITHIN PARKS AND REC AND PERHAPS IS RELATED TO FUNDING IS JUST KIND OF GREATER COORDINATION AMONGST THE FIELD
RENOVATIONS FOR GOOD FIELD RENOVATION WORK THAT'S HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, A RECENT EXAMPLE WAS TAKING OFFLINE MURPHY AT THE SAME TIME THAT BILLINGS FIELD BOTH OF THEM ARE BIG LEAGUE
DIAMONDS AND THEY WERE BOTH TAKEN OFFLINE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME AND IT KIND OF CREATED A LOGJAM TRYING TO FOR ME FOR OUR SUMMER TEAM TO KIND OF CREATE A PLACE TO PLAY .
AND SO COORDINATION AMONGST THOSE EFFORTS AND THEN HERE WE ARE IN DECEMBER AND WE SHIFT TO THE INDOOR SPACE SO AND THAT'S
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERMITTING VENUE. IT'S NOT THROUGH PARKS AND REC, IT'S THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AT BEEPS AND THE CHALLENGE THERE IS WE WANT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE. WE WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE PLAYING SOMETHING IT DOESN'T HAVE NECESSARILY BE ANY ORGANIZED SPORT BUT WE WANT THEM ACTIVE AND.
SO THAT SYSTEM IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE AND MANY TIMES THERE IS A FEE THAT'S PUT BACK ON THE YOUTH SPORTS ADVOCATES.
YOU KNOW WEDNESDAY I JUST GOT A NOTICE FROM BP'S $515 AN INVOICE FOR USE OF THE CURLEY GYM FOR FOUR TEAMS WHEN THERE'S
GOING TO BE A JANITOR AT THE CURLEY DURING THOSE TIMES ANYWAYS. SO IT SHOULDN'T BE RIGHT THAT WE'RE CREATING BARRIERS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE'RE CREATING A CHALLENGE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND THE ONE THING THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED IS KIND OF LIKE THE AGE 14 AND 15 PLUS FINDING THAT SPACE FOR THEM AND
I APPLAUD ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING. YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL HAPPENED AT HOME.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TWO KIDS SENIOR AT HE PLAYS BASEBALL HE USED TO PLAY SOCCER AND A FRESHMAN IRIS SHE DROPPED THIS ON ON US OVER THE WEEKEND I
SIGNED UP FOR INDOOR TRACK. WE'RE LIKE OH GREAT. SHE'S ALSO SIGNED UP FOR A FEW OTHER ACTIVITIES BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE REASON WHY SHE SIGNED UP FOR INDOOR TRACK
WAS NOT BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO BE RUNNING THE 400 AT THE OLYMPICS. IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND IN PARTICULAR WITH FEMALES IT'S VITAL IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE COACHED GIRLS SOCCER, I'VE COACHED BOYS SOCCER, BASEBALL AND I THINK THERE'S AN UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITY
HERE IN THE CITY. TALENT NEEDS OPPORTUNITY IN AGES 14 TO 17, 14 TO 18. THERE WAS NO GREATER EXAMPLE
THAN THIS SUMMER THAT SUMMER TRAVEL TEAM WE HAD KIDS FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS ABOUT AS DIVERSE AS YOU COULD GET. WE HAD KIDS FROM BELLA O'BRYANT
BULLS, SOUTH BOSTON COLLABORATIVE ALL OVER. WE HAD PLAYERS THAT HAD PLAYED WITH US IN THE PAST CAME BACK AND THEY HAD A WONDERFUL SEASON AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE KIDS COULD PLAY COLLEGIATELY IF IT WAS IN THEIR MINDSET THAT THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NOT THE END GOAL. THE END GOAL IS THE SOCIAL RIGHT, THE CONNECTION AND I
THOUGHT WE WERE DONE BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE KIDS ARE SENIORS. THEY ASKED HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THIS SUMMER AGAIN. RIGHT? SO THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO HERE AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SPREAD THE GOOD WORD AND HOPEFULLY ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
HELP GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MORE AND MORE INVOLVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR KIND OF NAMING THAT THE CHALLENGES. RIGHT. I KNOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE
PANELISTS COME IN AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SIT THERE AND SOUND AS THOUGH YOU'RE COMPLAINING. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU WHO ARE LIKE DAY TO DAY DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, THE PHONE CALLS FROM
PARENTS AT THE FIELD WHEN YOU FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FLOODED OR ALL OF THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING AGAIN.
I'M ALLISON SAUCIER FROM BOSTON SCORERS AS OF COURSE WE HAVE THE UNIQUE POSITION OF SERVING BOTH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS NOW SERVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH SOCCER SENSE WITH THESE FC AND WITH OUR
SCHOOL PROGRAMING AND WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER FOR FREE TO FAMILIES AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ONE OF THE BARRIERS THAT RIGHT AWAY ALLOWS FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE UNDER-RESOURCED TO ACCESS
OUR PROGRAMING BECAUSE OF THAT WE SEE A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION ACROSS OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMING AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN LINE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SPOKEN TO TODAY
IS DECLINE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS GIRLS PARTICIPANTS ACROSS ALL AGES OF OUR PROGRAMING BUT ESPECIALLY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
KNOW, I DEFINITELY TO SPEAK TO IS HELPING TO BETTER ALIGN NONPROFITS LIKE OURS WITH SOME OF THESE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN BEPS WITH THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS MOVING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEMS BECAUSE WE'RE KIND
OF IN THIS IN-BETWEEN RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO NECESSARILY SERVE THE SAME NUMBER OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE NOW AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS MEANING THAT WE HAVE LESS ACCESS TO SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS AS WE NAVIGATE YOU KNOW, PARTNERING WITH NEW VPC
PARTNERS IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AROUND THE CITY, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH THE SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THAT GAP BECAUSE WE KNOW IF WE LOSE ESPECIALLY GIRLS AT SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE IT'S HARD TO PICK THEM
BACK UP ON THE FIELDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AND WE PROVIDE EXCELLENT FREE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMING SO IF WE LOSE THEM IN THE SCHOOL PROGRAM WE DON'T WANT THEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WHEN THEY MIGHT
NOT BE AFTER A VARSITY OR JV SPOT AND COME TO, YOU KNOW, SEMI COMPETITIVE LEVEL WITH US ON THE SOCCER PROGRAMING SIDE. SO WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND JUST SAY WE ARE IN LINE WITH THAT NATIONAL
TREND AND WE WANT TO FIND WAYS TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO BOOST THOSE NUMBERS. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S BEEN RAISED BY BOTH SETS OF PANELS TODAY IS THE PERMITTING AND SPACE CONFLICTS. I THINK THERE'S A REAL
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT AND TO SAY OKAY, YOU KNOW WE USE DAISY FIELDS FOR A LOT OF OUR GAMES AND TO SUPPORT RGV AND DORCHESTER SCHOOLS.
A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES COMING ON AFTER US. IF WE KNEW WHEN WE PERMITTED THAT WHO THOSE PARTNERS WERE MAYBE WE COULD GIVE BACK 15, 20, 30 MINUTES TO THE PARTNERS COMING ON AFTER US. BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON BEFORE AFTER AND WE MIGHT HAVE A GAME CANCELED THAT WE COULD GIVE BACK A WEEK IN ADVANCE TO OTHER PARTNERS AROUND THE CITY. SO I THINK MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THAT PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY FOR BOTH
OUR SCHOOL BASED AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SOCCER BASED PROGRAMING. AND SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. ON THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM SIDE, AS I MENTIONED, WE JUST LOST LAUNCHED IS BOSTON FC WHICH IS
OUR FULLY RECREATIONAL IN-HOUSE LEAGUE AS WELL AS TRIBAL SOCCER TEAMS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOSTON SOCCER LEAGUE IS PART OF THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE AND WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO BE BENEFACTORS OF THAT TO HAVE
PROVIDED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EAST BOSTON IN OUR INAUGURAL SEASON JUST LAST SPRING WE IMMEDIATELY HAD 270 EAST BOSTON KIDS PARTICIPATE. SO IT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE PROGRAMING GAP IN EAST
BOSTON WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHO'S INVESTED IN SOCCER CULTURALLY AND SO WE WERE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THAT BUT NOW WE NEED TO THINK HOW DO WE MAKE THAT SUSTAINABLE?
HOW DO WE TAP INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE CITY WHO MIGHT NEED THAT SIMILAR SET UP WHERE SOMEONE LIKE SCORES CAN COME IN AND HELP SUPPORT ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO PART OF MY JOB IS PROVIDE THE
ADMINISTRATION OF RECRUITING COACHES WHICH YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE STARTING A NEW PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SO I CAN INVEST A LOT OF MY TIME IN THAT AND BRING IN VOLUNTEERS WHO SPEAK FROM A COMMUNITY LEVEL AND FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD TO
WHAT THESE BOSTON COMMUNITY NEEDS. BUT I CAN PROVIDE THE LEGWORK OF BEING OUT IN THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT PROVIDING THESE ARE THE RESOURCES WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AND BE ABLE TO ALLOW THOSE VOLUNTEERS TO
KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST OKAY, I'M SIGNING UP TO COACH BUT THIS IS WHAT COACHING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR ME. THIS IS WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I WANT TO TOUCH AS WELL ON SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD RAISED ABOUT THE YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU SIGN UP FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS? YOU HAVE THREE KIDS OF DIFFERENT AGES. YOU KNOW WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IN THESE BOSTON IS TRYING OUR
BEST TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS BRANCHES AND ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S BEEN PARTICULARLY GREAT TO WORK WITH IS BOSTON LITTLE LEAGUE AND WE'VE ALIGNED SO
THAT THEY DO THEIR FARM LEAGUES AND MINORS AFTER OUR 8 A.M. SOCCER SESSION SO ALL OF OUR THREE YEAR OLDS TO SIX YEAR OLDS PLAY FROM TO NINE AND THEN THEY WALK FOUR BLOCKS OVER THE FESTIVE FIELD IF THEY'RE DOING
LITTLE LEAGUE JUST HELPS THE PARENTS TO KNOW YOU KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO DO SEASONALLY OBVIOUSLY I KNOW IT'S A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE THAN THAT AS WAS RAISED EARLIER BUT THE MORE THAT THE CITY CAN HELP BRING
TOGETHER THE HEADS OF THESE LEAGUES, I THINK THE MORE YOU KNOW, COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WE CAN HAVE TO COMMUNICATE OUT TO FAMILIES LIKE HEY YET IS BOSTON FC IS COMMUNICATING WITH THESE BOSTON LITTLE LEAGUE YOU WANT TO DO
BOTH PROGRAMS HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU RATHER THAN SOMEBODY A FULL DAY OFF TO GO. OKAY, WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR? WE DON'T HAVE THAT SCHEDULE YET. I THINK DO WEDNESDAYS IT'S GOING TO BE FRIDAYS, RIGHT? SO THE MORE FLAHERTY WE CAN PROVIDE AND SYSTEMS AND
CONVERSATIONS WE CAN FACILITATE I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO ALSO SAY ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT I THINK IS GREAT IS THE MAYOR'S CUP AND WE'VE PARTICIPATED THAT IN THE LAST
TWO SEASONS AND AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS BOTH AT THE GRASSROOTS, THE RECREATIONAL LEVEL WHO ONLY PLAY AGAINST OUR OWN IS BOSTON KIDS TO SEE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY YOU KNOW PLAY AGAINST OTHER KIDS THEIR AGE
BUT ALSO A GREAT WAY FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND I THINK THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, BRING IN AND
BRING TOGETHER THE LEADERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEAGUES AT THESE EVENTS SO THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE AND GO, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER? HOW DO YOU RUN YOUR ADVISORY BOARD? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY? AND WE'VE STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN
DORCHESTER THAT PLAY FOR EAST BOSTON FC BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR THEIR PARENTS COMMUTE FROM WORK OR THEY GO TO ONE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS NEARBY AND THEY NEED A LOW COST PROGRAM SO YOU KNOW HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER?
AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE EVENTS CAN BE TRUE MELTING POT FOR THAT AND AN ABILITY FOR US TO REALLY COLLABORATE. I KNOW I FOUND THAT AT THE EVENT THIS TIME AROUND WITH CHARLESTOWN THERE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN-HOUSE YOU KNOW,
SCRIMMAGES FOR THEIR TEAMS AND SO ARE WE YOU KNOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TALK ON THE SIDELINE AND BRING THAT TOGETHER BUT I THINK A MORE FORMALIZED APPROACH TO THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO HIT A
COUPLE OF THE SYSTEMATIC AND COLLABORATIVE WAYS THAT WE'VE RAISED, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS IN HOUSE PREPARING TODAY I THINK CONTINUING TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT REDUCE COSTS FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY.
THE BOSTON SOCCER LEAGUE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THAT. BUT YOU KNOW FOR US WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LONGEVITY OF THAT, THERE'S A GRANT RIGHT NOW THAT HELPS TO COVER THE REGISTRATION FEES THE BOSTON SOCCER LEAGUE
EXISTS AND B'S WHICH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE MAYBE MORE EXPERIENCE IN THE SOCCER FOLKS THAN I DO BUT YOU KNOW BS YOU PAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND $800 PER TEAM TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE. THAT CAN BE A REALLY BIG COST
RIGHT NOW FOR US THAT'S COVERED BY A GRANT YOU MIGHT SAY YOU KNOW BOSTON SCORERS OBVIOUSLY YEAH WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING THAT COMES IN BUT WHEN YOU ABOUT PURELY RECREATIONAL SPORT A LOT OF THOSE GRANTS THAT WE GET FOR
SCORES ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS SO WE'RE STILL FUNDRAISING AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS WE'RE FEELING THOSE SAME BURDENS THAT JP MIGHT BE FEELING OR PARKWAY MIGHT BE FEELING AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THESE
SYSTEMS THAT REDUCE THE COST FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY SO WE CAN KEEP COSTS LOW? UM, YEAH. AND LASTLY I THINK YOU KNOW JUST TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE FIELDS IN THE
MAINTENANCE, THE BATHROOMS IS A BIG ONE BUT ALSO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIKE QUALITY OF PLAY YOU KNOW A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE BEGINNERS WHEN YOU GO PLAY ON A FIELD THAT'S A MUD PIT IT MAKES THE GAME EVEN MORE DISCOURAGING. SO IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT MOWING
AND RESEEDING SOME OF OUR RESOURCES, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN INCREASING THE QUALITY OF PLAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH.
SO AGAIN ALF CRAIG I'M FROM JAMAICA PLAYING YOUTH SOCCER SO THE MAYOR SPORTS INITIATIVE CERTAINLY GETS THE DIAGNOSIS RIGHT ONLY 34% OF BOSTON HIGH SCHOOLERS WE'RE JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE HIGH AGE PLAY SPORTS COMPARED TO 63% STATEWIDE. SO THE GAPS BY INCOME, RACE AND GENDER ARE REAL AS FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS TO
FOCUS ON. BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST BRING THE FOCUS BACK AGAIN TO TO FACILITIES AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SOCIOLOGIST ERIC KLINENBERG
CALLS SHARED PUBLIC SPACES PARKS, LIBRARIES, RECREATION CENTERS. HE CALLS THEM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AND HIS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN THESE SPACES ARE ROBUST,
COMMUNITIES ARE MORE CONNECTED AND RESILIENT ATHLETIC FIELDS AND GYMS AND ICE RINKS AND SWIMMING POOLS. THOSE ARE ALL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE WERE A KID FROM MISSION HILL MEETS A KID FROM WEST ROXBURY WHERE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES CONNECT WITH LONG TIME RESIDENTS AND WHERE GIRLS WHO'VE NEVER PLAYED DISCOVER THAT THEY CAN. BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE
HERE IN THE CITY WE ACCEPTED THAT OUR ATHLETIC FACILITIES WOULD BE INFERIOR TO THE SUBURBS. WHY DID WE ACCEPT THAT? WHY SHOULD A KID IN BOSTON HAVE
ACCESS TO WORSE FIELDS THAN A KID IN NEEDHAM OR NEWTON? SO IT COMES DOWN TO TWO THINGS I BELIEVE AVAILABLE AND QUALITY
UNAVAILABILITY. AS AN EXAMPLE, OUR ORGANIZATION YOUTH SOCCER SO WE PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN
PORTABLE LIGHTS TO RUN AT PAGEL FIELD. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AT THE FIELD. WE CAN'T RUN OUR PROGRAM
WITHOUT THAT FIELD SPACE AND WE JUST HAVE TO BRING IN OUR OWN LIGHTS. THAT'S WHAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH IT. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND IT'S IT'S THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. OKAY. SO ACROSS THE CITY PERMITS ARE
SCARCE. INDOOR COURT TIME AS BRAD TALKED ABOUT AND OTHERS AS WELL. IT'S EXPENSIVE AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS RUNS THROUGH
A SINGLE OVEREXTENDED STAFFER. PROGRAMS END UP PITTED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. JP USED SOCCER. YOU KNOW WE HAVE THE FIELD ALL FALL WE HAVE ENGLISH HIGH
SCHOOL PERMITTED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE WE RUN PROGRAMING THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BUT IT'S THREE OR FOUR SUNDAYS EVERY FALL THAT POP WARNER HAS THE FIELD PERMITTED TO THEM.
NOW OF COURSE THEY NEED THE SPACE AS WELL LIKE WE WE HAVE NO YOU KNOW WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE ANOTHER YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM BUT IT MEANS WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY CANCEL OUR PROGRAMING ON THE SUNDAYS WHEN THEY'RE
THERE. SO ON QUALITY THIS WAS SPOKEN TO I THINK REALLY ELOQUENTLY A MOMENT AGO ABOUT WE BUILD THINGS BUT WE DON'T MAINTAIN
THEM. WE LET THEM DETERIORATE. WE DON'T FUND THE MAINTENANCE THAT KEEPS THE FIELDS PLAYABLE AND SAFE AND THAT'S A POLICY CHOICE. SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A
COUPLE INITIATIVES TO GET FIELDS RENOVATED OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS. ONE WAS PIG FIELD, THE OTHER IS MURPHY FIELD WHICH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHICH IS GOING TO COME BACK ONLINE IN THE SPRING.
BOTH OF THOSE RENOVATIONS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE WE BROUGHT IT TO THE CITY ATTENTION AND YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT THE THE NEW
MAPPING PIECE THAT WAS DONE THE FIELDS AND FACILITIES. THAT'S GREAT. BUT THAT'S JUST A STARTING POINT THAT'S ONLY TELLING US WHAT WE HAVE. LIKE WE SHOULD ALREADY KNOW
WHAT WE HAVE THAT SHOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, TOUTED AS A BIG WIN FOR YOUTH SPORTS LIKE THAT'S JUST HOW WE'RE AT THE BASELINE ,RIGHT?
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY I THINK THERE'S STILL FOLKS HERE YOU KNOW LET'S WHAT ARE WE LEARNING? I THINK THE QUESTION WAS ASKED EARLIER LIKE WHAT ARE WE LEARNING? OKAY, WELL WE HAVE THESE SPACES. YOU CAN SEE THEM ON THE MAP BUT HOW MANY KIDS CAN THAT SERVE WHAT OURS IS AVAILABLE?
WHO ELSE IS USING IT? YOU MENTIONED TRANSPARENCY IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS. THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT YOU GET YOU KNOW ALLOCATED AS A PERMIT SO MORE TRANSPARENCY CAN ALLOW PROGRAMS
TO TO HELP ONE ANOTHER WITH FIELD SPACE BUT IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S OPAQUE TO SAY THE LEAST. SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN NIBBLE
AROUND THE EDGES WHICH IS I THINK WHAT WE'RE KIND OF DOING IF WE'RE HONEST WITH THE YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW AND I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS I DON'T I'M NOT DISPARAGING ANYONE'S WORK BUT LET'S BE HONEST. RIGHT? IT'S REALLY JUST NIBBLING
AROUND THE EDGES OF A MUCH, MUCH LARGER PROBLEM. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO PRIORITIZE SPORTS AS A CITY AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IN AND WE BELIEVE HAS GREAT SOCIAL BENEFIT WHICH I THINK EVERYONE HERE IN THE ROOM
AGREES WITH THAT STATEMENT. WE HAVE TO I THINK LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE HOLISTICALLY AND MORE STRATEGICALLY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE RESOURCES SO THE
CITY NEEDS A REAL STRATEGY FOR ITS ATHLETIC FIELDS. ONE THAT ASSESSES DEMAND, IDENTIFIES GAPS AND STOPS TREATING YOUTH PROGRAMS AS COMPETITORS FOR SCRAPS, THEN
FUND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE TO EXECUTE IT. BOSTON KIDS DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN THAT.
SO YOU KNOW, BIGGER PICTURE ZOOMING OUT WHAT CAN THE CITY DO? YOU KNOW, I DO THINK AGAIN, I APPLAUD THE YOUTH SPORTS INITIATIVE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BUT I
ALSO FEEL LIKE IT'S PROBABLY UNDER-RESOURCED AND UNDERSTAFFED. PARKS AND REC IS UNDER-RESOURCED AND UNDERSTAFFED SO THAT I GUESS IS
THE ISSUE I WANTED TO PUT IN FRONT OF OUR CITY COUNCILORS. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS BUT YOU KNOW I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY TO YOUTH
SPORTS FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT. WHAT IS THE SENTIMENT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT? IS THAT ADEQUATE? ARE WE ARE WE BUDGETING ENOUGH
OR DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF BUILDING AND MAINTAINING ATHLETIC FIELDS? IT'S EXPENSIVE. I GET THAT. YOU KNOW, WE MAKE IT WORK IN
JAMAICA PLAIN. YOU KNOW, WE WE MAX OUT THE SPACE EVERY SEASON ON THE FIELDS THAT WE HAVE THERE ISN'T AN INCH OF SPACE AVAILABLE
FRANKLY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY MAYBE THERE'S MORE FIELD SPACE AVAILABLE BUT THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. THEY DON'T HAVE THESE PROGRAMS UP AND RUNNING WHERE YOU KNOW,
LET'S BE HONEST WE'RE PRIVILEGED IN JAMAICA PLAIN, WEST ROXBURY, OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE YOU'VE GOT DEDICATED ADULTS AND FOLKS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HAVE MORE TIME ON THEIR HANDS AND ARE
AVAILABLE TO PUT THEIR TIME TOWARDS THESE THESE PROGRAMS AS VOLUNTEERS. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER SET OF ISSUES. BUT NONE OF IT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT FACILITIES. AND SO TO NOT START THE
CONVERSATION THERE AND TO BE CLEAR EYED ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED TO DO WHAT WE ALL WANT TO DO AND BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE DOING AROUND YOUTH SPORTS THERE
JUST HAS TO BE A NEW STRATEGY PUT FORWARD AND EXECUTED ON AROUND FIELD SPACE COURT SPACE ATHLETIC FACILITIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING YOUR VOICES AND YOUR INSIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO SOME QUESTIONS NOW. GOT A LITTLE THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. UM, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PARKS
AND IN TERMS OF THE THING THAT COMES UP IN OUR BUDGET YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF HEARINGS ARE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANCIES IN PARKS AND SO FOR JUST FOR EXAMPLE JAMAICA
POND I'LL SAY LET'S DO SOME MAINTENANCE AT JAMAICA POND AND THEY'LL SAY WELL YOU CAN GIVE US MONEY FOR BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AND IT'S GETTING THESE ARE THE YOU KNOW, OFTEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOWEST PAID JOBS IN THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN BOSTON TO HAVE THESE JOBS AS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT. SO WE WE BUMP UP AGAINST GETTING THE STAFF TO DO IT.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE REASON WHY NOTHING HAPPENS BUT THAT'S A SIGN TO THAT I'M SURE WE'LL ALL BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE BEEPS
IS BETTER AT STAFFING. THEY DON'T HAVE VACANCIES LIKE IN PARKS. YOU KNOW THEY CAN USE THOSE FUNDS, YOU KNOW, AND AND GET THE JOB DONE BECAUSE UM BUT YOU
KNOW I JUST IN TERMS OF I GUESS FOR MR CARTER FOR BASKETBALL, YOU KNOW I SAW JOE CASTRO I FAILED TO MENTION I ALSO PLAYED VARSITY BASKETBALL IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND I HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL RECORD FOR THE MOST BRICKS IN A SEASON I'M SURE. BUT YOU KNOW SO I JUST WHAT WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH?
YOU KNOW, ARE THERE ENOUGH YOU KNOW, I ASSUME YOU HAVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR BASKETBALL IT JUST FOR INDOORS BASIS BECAUSE THOSE ARE MORE LIMITED YOU KNOW DO
YOU DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GYMS TO DO YOU MAX OUT IN THE SPACE THAT LIKE ALFORD WAS JUST SAYING IN IN JP FOR SOCCER I DON'T KNOW JUST GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR YOU TO
MAKE IT THROUGH A WHOLE SEASON AND THE HEADACHES OR YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HEADACHES, A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
YOU KNOW SO PART OF MY ROLE IS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOL LEAGUE THAT WE WERE RUNNING AT MATCH CHARTER
SCHOOL BUT AS OF TODAY IT'S HIGH SCHOOL SEASON SO WE JUST LOST ASSETS ACCESS TO THAT GYM BECAUSE NOW NOT ONLY DOES THE
HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY JV BUT ALSO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE THE GIRLS VARSITY AND JV USE THAT SPACE. SO NOW WE'RE WE'RE SCRAMBLING TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE GROUP
OF KIDS. WE HAVE ABOUT 150 MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE KIDS THAT PLAYED ON THURSDAY NIGHTS SO SCRAMBLING FOR THAT. BUT YEAH, FINDING SPACE IS IS
NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO I WOULD SAY IS HAVING TO FINANCE THEM BECAUSE YEAH, WE LIKE TO USE VOLUNTEERS BUT NOT EVERYBODY CAN, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME EVEN
IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A STIPEND YOU KNOW LIKE $50 A WEEK THAT'LL COVER AT LEAST THEIR GUYS TO OUR PROGRAM AND BACK. RIGHT. BUT YOU KNOW, ALSO PAYING FOR
LIKE THE REFEREES I KNOW A LOT OF GUYS DO LIKE REFEREEING OUR KIDS COMPARED TO THE MEN'S LEAGUES IN THE CITY. SO YOU KNOW IF WE COULD IF WE HAD THE FUNDING TO YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET PAID,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM OF SCARING REFS. BUT YEAH, THE THE FUNDING BEING FUNDING THE SPACE. AND THEN LASTLY A LOT OF A LOT OF THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, DON'T
HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING TO THE PROGRAM BUT THEN YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THE NIGHTS ARE GETTING LONGER IT'S 430 AND IT'S DARK OUTSIDE. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE JUST
TELLING A KID JUMP ON YOU KNOW ,WHETHER IT'S THE 2433 TO GO TO MATTAPAN AND THEN TAKE WHATEVER MBA SERVICE. SO FOR US IF WE WE HAD TRANSPORTATION WHERE WE CAN AT
LEAST GET THE KIDS CLOSER TO WHERE THEY GO AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE WEEK THE WEEKEND IS NOT A BAD THING IT'S IT'S IT IS TRYING TO FIND THE VOLUNTEERS
SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WE KICK OFF A LITTLE ROOM PROGRAM SO IT'S FOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND ONE SO WE HAVE THE BEANTOWN SLAM, WE HAVE HER 42 SKILLS AND DRILLS THE HOOP COLLABORATIVE
80 SO WE ALL COME TOGETHER OH HILL BOSTON WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO DO A LITTLE RAMP SO WE'RE TALKING KIDS AS YOUNG AS FOUR YEARS OLD 4 TO 7 HERDING CATS.
RIGHT? BUT THEN WHAT WE DO IS SO IF THAT PROGRAM GOES FROM LET'S SAY 10 TO 1130 FROM 1130 TO 2, WE WORK WITH THE KIDS THAT ARE
LIKE 9 TO 14 AND WE DO SKILLS AND DRILLS AND SCRIMMAGES AND AND IT'S COED SO IT'S NOT JUST JUST FOR THE BOYS BUT JUST
FINDING THE YOU KNOW THE STAFF FOR THE SPACE AND FOR AGAIN THEY THINK THANKFUL FOR THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH MATT OF SCHOOL SO THEY DID SET ASIDE
SATURDAYS FOR US FOR FOR THE PROGRAM BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TRYING TO YOU KNOW MANEUVER WITHIN THE CITY. I KNOW WE HAVE YOU KNOW THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS I KNOW WE HAVE THE YMCA IS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS BUT I THINK THE PROGRAM IN THAT WE OFFER IS JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MYSELF I WANT TO RAISE IN BOSTON PLAYED BPC WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO A CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FOR A YEAR ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP, WENT TO
MERRIMACK COLLEGE ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP SO I'VE COACHED LIKE CURRY COLLEGE. I'VE COACHED STONEHAM HIGH SO
I'VE HAD TO I LIVE OUT IN BROCKTON SO I'VE MY KIDS ARE 21 AND 16 SO I'VE COACHED IN THE BROCKTON COMMUNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN
THE THIRD GRADE SO I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY FOR MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MY KIDS BUT GROWING UP IN THE CITY, HAVING THAT SAFE SPACE THAT YOU
CAN GO TO. I'M AT DANIEL MA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB KID MIKE JOYCE AND DAVE SCANNELL AND THOSE GUYS I GREW UP IF I WASN'T AT THE LEAST AT
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN DORCHESTER I WAS AT THE SCHOOL THE PERKINS CENTER NOW SO I'M FROM THAT AREA WHERE YOU KNOW YOU GREW UP IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON. EVERY STREET WAS LIKE A GANG, YOU KNOW. I MEAN AND IF IT WASN'T FOR ATHLETICS AND HAVING A SAFE SPACE TO GO PLAY IN THE
BASEBALL, YOU KNOW NOW WE DO A PEEWEE AT ROLAND PARK WHO WOULD HAVE FIGURED LIKE THE WAY THAT IT WENT FULL CIRCLE BUT LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS YES, A
LOT OF IT IS US DONATING OUR TIME. BUT FOR OUR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME, I CAN'T I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR A LONG STRETCH OF TIME.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS TOGETHER FOR OVER FIVE YEARS PRETTY MUCH SINCE AFTER COVID BUT THE FUNDS
TOO YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID, SIMPLE THINGS I KNOW ROHNERT PARK WAS LIKE THINGS GRASS WAS GROWING OUT OF THE COURTS BECAUSE IT WAS UNDERUTILIZED, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE PARK AND
NOT HAVING ANYONE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO COME OVER THERE TO TO CLEAN IT UP WE HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS. IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP HAPPENING BUT I UNDERSTAND LIKE THEM NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES.
SO EVEN IF WE CAN ALLOCATE THAT IN SOME OF OUR PROPOSALS WHERE WE'RE LIKE HEY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO TO DO THAT MAINTENANCE FEES, LET US BUILD IT IN AND WE'LL TAKE
RESPONSIBLE OF IT BECAUSE WE WE WE DON'T ONLY DO SPORTS WE ALSO DO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SO WE'RE TRAINING THE KIDS TO TAKE ON THE LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU KNOW, FROM AS SIMPLE AS SETTING UP THE THE COURTS TO MAKING THE SCHEDULE AND REACHING OUT TO DOING DOING THE
SCHEDULING. SO WE TRY TO TEACH THE KIDS, YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO TOO. SO YOU KNOW, IF AND GOD FORBID SOME HAVE THIS TO US THAT SO ARE WE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON DOING THE WORK THAT WE DO SO IF
IF IF THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO, WE'LL PUT IT INTO OUR BUDGET. WE'LL BE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE THE COURTS OR THE FIELDS AND GOOD
CONDITION AND I GUESS YOU KNOW ,FOR THE LIKE FOR THE OTHER SPORTS IN TERMS OF LIKE THE YOU KNOW I ASSUME I DON'T KNOW IT
IS FOR OUTDOORS I ASSUME BASKETBALL COURTS HAVE LIGHTS I DO SOME SOME DO YEAH WE HAVE TO BRING THE THE PORTABLE GENERATOR. YEAH. WITH THE LIGHTS. YEAH AND THAT'S BUT YEAH IF THE
OTHER PANELISTS HAVE HAVE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW I GUESS DRAINAGE IS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM ESPECIALLY FOR BASEBALL AND JEFFERSON IS THEY'RE
THEY'RE THEY'RE STARTING ON THAT PROCESS TOO BECAUSE THAT FIELD NEEDS WORK BUT WHAT OTHER THE WHAT ELSE ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF UM YOU KNOW COMMON
PROBLEMS AND WE'LL SAY PAYGO FIELD IS IN COUNCIL WHERE ELSE DISTRICT SO IT'S GOOD GOOD THAT HE'S HERE WE TALKED ABOUT
LIGHTS THERE BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS KIND OF UM THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD I GOT TO MENTION ONE THING ABOUT YOU
KNOW FACILITIES AND IS IS YOU KNOW HOURS OF AVAILABLE TIME SO WE TALKED ABOUT LIGHTS WE LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND YOU KNOW THERE'S
TURF FIELDS THAT HAVE BEEN IN I KNOW THE CITY BUT A PAUSE I THINK IT'S BEEN LIFTED BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW ON CAN NEW TURF FIELDS BE BUILT NOW NOW I
DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLEX ONE AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LEGITIMATE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD BUT THOSE FIELDS DO
PROVIDE HOURS AND HOURS OF ACCESS THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE AFTER A RAINSTORM. YOU CAN PLAY ON THEM DURING A RAINSTORM. YOU CAN PLAY ON THEM IN THAT MATTER.
SO THIS TIES BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT MAPPING. UM YOU KNOW WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THAT EARLY ONLY TELLS YOU LOCATION AND TYPE OF FIELD THAT IT IS BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT
MORE DATA THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF JUST LIKE HOURS OF AVAILABILITY I THINK ONCE THE CITY STARTS TO GET MORE SOPHISTICATED ABOUT HOW IT'S ASSESSING THE FIELDS THEN
THE RESOURCES AND COURTS WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT ARE IN PLACE AND THEN UNDERSTAND WHERE THE WHERE THE NEED IS LIKE HOW MANY KIDS ARE THERE, WHAT AREAS ARE NOT YOU KNOW, USING THESE FIELDS.
SO JUST GETTING MORE GRANULAR ABOUT THAT DATA AND SMARTER AND MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW WE USE THE IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE A RESOURCE RICH ENVIRONMENT. I THINK WE ALL ACCEPT THAT ON SOME LEVEL I WISH WE DIDN'T BUT WE DO AND WE HAVE TO SO DOING
MORE WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN PUSHING FOR FOR MORE. BUT YEAH I THINK SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT VOLUNTEERS MAYBE THAT'S A PLACE WHERE THE CITY CAN LEAN IN A LITTLE BIT WITH ALL OF THE
UNIVERSITIES THAT WE HAVE GETTING MORE YOUNGER FOLKS TO CONNECT WITH OUR PROGRAMS AS VOLUNTEERS, AS COACHES UM, KIDS LOVE IT WHEN THERE'S YOUNG
ADULTS WHO ARE TEACHING THEM RATHER THAN THEIR PARENTS. THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT NEARLY AS COOL AS THE YOU KNOW, THE 20 SOMETHING OR TEENAGE KIDS WHO GET INVOLVED. SO THAT'S A BIG AND MAYBE THAT'S WHERE THE CITY CAN JUST
HELP CONNECT CONNECT PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT IS A REAL STRESS AND STRAIN ON OUR PROGRAMS AND I THINK YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT
WITH OUR IN-HOUSE SOCCER PROGRAM WHICH ACTUALLY SERVES THE BROADEST DEMOGRAPHIC. WE GET MORE KIDS FROM OUTSIDE OF JAMAICA PLAIN AND MORE FAMILIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THE NO QUESTIONS ASKED FINANCIAL AID. SO THAT INDICATES THAT IT'S MEETING A NEED. PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR THE PROGRAM BUT WE ACTUALLY STRUGGLE WITH THE VOLUNTEER
RECRUITMENT IN THAT PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE ANECDOTE I WAS ON THE SIDELINE, I WAS OUT ON THE FIELD COACHING ONE NIGHT
THIS THIS PAST FALL AND I'M TALKING TO STEP OFF THE FIELD THERE'S A DAD HE'S THERE WATCHING HIS SON PLAY AND I SAY YOU KNOW WHO'S YOUR SON? HE POINTS OUT CALEB THERE.
SO WE'RE CHATTING. HE'S LIKE YEAH, I'M SORRY I GOT HERE LATE TODAY. I WORK FOR JOBS. OKAY? AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO GET HIM HERE AND I'M LIKE
I'M SO GLAD HE'S HERE AND I OFTEN GO TALK TO THE PARENTS BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITY IS LIKE HEY, MAYBE YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED. YOU KNOW? AND I'M LIKE THIS GOES YEAH,
BUT THIS GUY HE'S TELLING ME A STORY HE'S WORKING FOR JOBS. HOW CAN I POSSIBLY ASK THIS GUY TO TO TO GIVE MORE TIME? YOU KNOW, HE JUST NEEDS A BREAK JUST TO GET THIS KID THEIRS IS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP. YOU KNOW, I THINK PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY SEE THAT AND MAYBE THAT'S A PLACE WHERE THE CITY CAN CAN ALSO BE MORE INVOLVED.
OKAY. YEAH. YEAH I, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL SAY I ONCE SAW THIS A GERMAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
PLAYER JURGEN KLINSMANN WHO WAS ONE OF THE BEST FORWARDS IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY SPEAK AND HE WAS SAYING HOW OUR SPORTS ARE TOO STRUCTURED HERE, ESPECIALLY OUR SOCCER. THERE'S A LOT OF PAY TO PLAY. HE WAS LIKE I LEARNED
EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ON THE PLAYGROUND, YOU KNOW, WITH MY FRIENDS AND I DO FEEL LIKE THAT IS THE PATH TO SUCCESS FOR FOR ALL OF US INVOLVED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MORE KIDS IN TERMS OF LIKE GETTING THE RESOURCES
IN PLACE FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PLAY BASKETBALL OR BASEBALL OR SOCCER BECAUSE I THINK THAT MODEL IS YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT'S HONESTLY LIKE WE'RE MORE PEOPLE PLAY BASKETBALL WITH SOCCER WE HAVE
STRUGGLE. WE STRUGGLE TO LIKE DEVELOP THOSE PLAYERS BECAUSE IT IS JUST YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY STRUCTURE. I KNOW SOCCER HAS LIKE A MORE HANDS OFF BUS ESCORTS TOO.
SO JUST GETTING THOSE RESOURCES IN PLACE TO ALLOW KIDS TO GO OUT AND SORT OF EXPLORE THEIR THEIR OWN IMAGINATIONS AND MAKE UP THERE ARE YOU KNOW, AND HONE THEIR OWN GAMES AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT IT TAKES I THINK TO FOR YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WHO'S PLAYING BASKETBALL AT A DIVISION ONE SCHOOL THEY PLAYED A LOT OF BASKETBALL ON THEIR OWN. THAT'S KIND OF HOW I THINK ABOUT IT. SORRY.
THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU FOR THAT DIGRESSION. COUNCILOR FISHER THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST MR. CLERK AT THE GRASS AT ROWAN AND YOU WELCOME.
WE GOT THOSE OFF RIGHT BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT LAST SUMMER, RIGHT? A LOT OF IT WAS A LOT OF CALLS AND WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT DONE. I THINK THE FENCE IS NOW I DON'T KNOW IF THE FENCE IS FIXED TO YET BUT I KNOW THAT
WAS COMING GOOD THAT SINCE THE SUMMER I JUST THINK THE FENCE YEAH THE FENCE WAS DOWN BUT I THINK THAT'S FIXED AS WELL AND I'M PROUD THAT FOLKS FROM THE REGION LIVE HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW I KNOW I REPRESENT DORCHESTER BUT
I AM A REGAN LEAGUE ALUM AND I'VE SPENT ALL MY MY YOUTH THERE UP UNTIL 12 PLAYING IT WAS ACTUALLY MANNY DEL CARMEN'S CATCHER FOR A WHILE FROM FOR THE REDSKINS AND HE WAS JUST AS
GOOD BACK THEN. I ALMOST DIDN'T PLAY MY 12 YEAR OLD YEAR BECAUSE I WENT YEAH, NO THE CATCH GOES THROUGH. I ALMOST DIDN'T PLAY. I SAID DAD, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY BECAUSE THERE'S THIS KID
MANNY IN THE LEAGUE AND I DON'T WANT TO FACE HIM BECAUSE IF I GET HIT WITH ONE OF HIS PITCHES I MIGHT DIE. AND HE SAID SHUT UP AND GO PLAY RIGHT? WE'LL FIGURE OUT RIGHT THIS IS THIS IS LIFE SON.
AND HE SENT ME LOW AND BEHOLD YOU ENDED UP ON MY TEAM. BUT EVEN WORSE I WAS THE CATCHER SO I JUST GOT HIT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT REGARDLESS, HAPPY TO SEE YOU GUYS HERE AND ALL THE WORK THAT ALL YOUR LEAGUES HAVE
DONE. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING. I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION REALLY IS IN THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL FIGURE OUT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO
WHEN YOU'RE FILLING IN THE GAPS IN YOUR OWN LEAGUES OR FOR YOUR YOUTH. RIGHT. AND YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING SOME ALREADY WHAT
ARE ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WHERE THE CITY COULD HELP PLAY MORE OF A ROLE LIKE HEY, LIKE YOU SAID WE'RE TALKING TO EAST BOSTON LITTLE LEAGUE AND WE'RE COORDINATING THAT BUT YOU'RE
DOING THAT ON YOUR OWN, RIGHT? IS THERE ANY OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE THAT WHERE YOU'RE SAYING HERE'S HOW WE'RE SOLVING THE ISSUE, HERE'S WHERE WE COULD USE SOME HELP IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE THIS OFF OUR PLATE BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY AGAIN VOLUNTEER WORK YOU KNOW, THERE'S ENOUGH WE'RE ALL DOING MULTIPLE JOBS. WE'RE ALL DOING KIDS. WE'RE ALL DOING EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON REGARDLESS, CAN YOU GUYS THINK
OF ANYTHING ELSE WHERE YOU SAID WELL, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT'S WORKED TO FILL IN THAT GAP AND IF WE COULD GET SOME SUPPORT BEHIND IT AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'VE KIND OF ALLUDED TO SEVERAL OF THESE. JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY
MORE I COULD SAY I WOULD ANYWAY SO I WAS TALKING TO A COLLEGE BASEBALL COACH HERE IN THE CITY LAST WEEK AND HE SAID TO ME I'M
LOOKING FOR A BASEBALL FIELD AND I SAID WELL OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HE SAID IT NEEDS TO BE BE UP TO NCAA STANDARDS. I SAID WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT NEEDS A BATTING CAGE AND IT NEEDS BULLPENS.
AND SO I SUGGESTED WELL WHY DON'T WE TALK TO THE CITY ABOUT USE SPONSORING RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION OF A BALL FIELD THAT WOULD GIVE YOU ACCESS BUT
THEN BE A GREATER COMMUNITY BENEFIT. SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE BUT IT'S IT'S AN IDEA KIND OF LIKE THE CREATIVE THINKING THAT HELPS MAYBE FILL
MULTIPLE NEEDS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU KNOW ON THE FACILITIES PIECE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TURF AND NOT WANTING TO GO THERE. BUT I DO THINK TO HELP
EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT KIND OF SOME CREATIVE THINKING LIKE THERE'S BEEN ORGANIC FILL TURF FIELDS KIND OF UNDERSTANDING FROM THE TOP
LIKE WHAT'S WHAT'S THE DRIVER BEHIND THAT CAN WE EVEN EXPLORE THAT RIGHT? LIKE I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY KNOW THAT YOU KNOW AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE
BUDGETARY BUDGETARY ISSUES RELATED TO THAT AND SO THOSE AREN'T TWO THINGS THAT I'M DIRECTLY IMPACTING. BUT I THINK THE CREATIVITY AND KIND OF SOLVING FACILITY
PROBLEMS COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO SAY PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE ROAD. IT JUST REQUIRES KIND OF SOME ENGAGEMENT AND PIECING TOGETHER
DIFFERENT PARTIES AND HAVING A GROWING AUDIENCE. I THINK THIS THE CITY IS BASED ON THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT DORCHESTER SET UP. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S YEAH, WELL JUST RAISE I
GUESS BACK TO THE IDEA OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE DIFFICULTY RECRUITING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO THINK WE DO WELL IS THAT WE ENGAGE OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS IN OPPORTUNITIES TO COME AND BE A VOLUNTEER COACH AND WE TRAIN
THEM ALONGSIDE THE ADULTS WE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL KIND OF IN OUR INFANCY IN THIS BOSTON OF SEE WE HAVEN'T HAD A TON OF HIGH SCHOOLERS DOING THAT BUT ONE OF THE POOL OF STUDENTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IS WE PAY
OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS TO REFEREE OUR SCHOOL GAMES WHICH IS OFTEN A GREAT ENTRY POINT FOR THEM TO YOU KNOW, HAVE A FIRST JOB, HAVE THAT SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, CHECKING THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE.
AND THEN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE REALLY INVESTED IN THAT OR MAYBE CLOSE TO EAST BOSTON FIELDS AND GET THEM TO BE TRAINED SOCCER REFEREES HISTORICALLY THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF LIKE ACTUAL REFEREE TRAININGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF BOSTON TO FIND THOSE AND SO I THINK IF THIS CITY COULD HELP EITHER COVER THE COST FOR THOSE
STUDENTS TO SIGN UP, I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE LIKE 125 $150 TO ATTEND THAT TRAINING AND IT'S A GREAT FIRST JOB OPPORTUNITY AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT I MEAN THE LEAGUE WE PLAY IN PAYS I THINK MINIMUM OF $40 AN HOUR
FOR THESE HIGH SCHOOLERS TO REFEREES GAME. IT'S AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY. SO IF WE COULD HELP TO HOST SOME OF THOSE TRAININGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO BECOME
REFEREES, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT AVENUE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DID THIS SEASON WAS WE HAD A COUPLE OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO YOU KNOW, WE SIGNED OFF ON THEIR VOLUNTEER HOURS. THEY HELP COACH MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS AND THEN THEY DO THE IN-HOUSE GAMES AND WE PAY THEM
FOR THAT ON THE WEEKENDS AND THEY REF THOSE GAMES RATHER THAN COACH. SO TRY AND CREATE SOME SOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP HIGH SCHOOLERS ON A PATHWAY WHERE THEY'RE LEARNING TO COACH THEY'RE IN IT, THEY'RE SEEING
IT BUT THEN ALSO ABLE TO EARN SOME MONEY AND I DON'T KNOW THE FULL REACH OF THE SUCCESS PROGRAM BUT I KNOW WE USE THAT FOR OUR SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES. MAYBE THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE CITY CAN SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO PAY SOME OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOLERS AS REFEREES SOURCES OF RICHES. I JUST WANT TO SECOND THAT WE STARTED A A PROGRAM IN JAMAICA PLAYING YOUTH SOCCER WHEN WE SPUN UP OUR IN-HOUSE LEAGUE TO
WE CALL IT THE JUNIOR REFEREE PROGRAM AND THIS ACTUALLY GETS KIDS INTO THE REFEREE PIPELINE BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO BE ACCREDITED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY CAN REFINE OUR IN-HOUSE PROGRAM AND IT HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS. SO WITH JP YOUTH SOCCER IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, STATEWIDE THAT DOES NOT
HAVE A SHORTAGE OF REFEREES AND MY SON WAS A REFEREE LIKE THEY MAKE SOME MONEY IT'S GREAT AND ALSO THERE'S A REAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT ASPECT TO BEING A REFEREE. I'D SAY THE SAME ABOUT COACHING
AS WELL SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO TO LEAN IN ON ON THAT ON THAT PIECE IN PARTICULAR GREAT THAT'S ON THE
QUESTIONS THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH PANEL FOR BEING THERE. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I'M TARA. THANK YOU CHAIR AND AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU DO WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I LIKE ALL THE YOU KNOW, THE IDEAS AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS AROUND,
YOU KNOW, FUNDING RIGHT FOR US TO KIND OF GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MUCH MORE FUNDING FOR I I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE FORGOT THE GRANT THAT THEY JUST SAID THAT THEY HAVE.
WAS IT CALLED AGAIN THE PLAY GRANT YEAH LET'S PLAY GRANT RIGHT AND THEY GET $5,000 BUT YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IT JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR SOME OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS IF YOU
COULD JUST TELL US YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE COST OF RUNNING YOUR PROGRAM IN SO WE COULD GET AN IDEA OF KNOW HOW MUCH MORE FUNDING YOU KNOW THE CITY SHOULD BE AWARDING
ORGANIZATIONS. YEAH SO I'LL BREAK IT DOWN AND AND LIKE WHAT WE DO ON THE BASKETBALL SIDE OF IT SO FOR EXAMPLE JUST TO RUN A TOURNAMENT FOR A WEEKEND IT'S
GOING TO COST US ABOUT $10,000 AND THAT'S JUST A WEEKEND. BUT FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE THE POWER OUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
IT'S SIX GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS. WE HAVE BOSTON LIKE THE ACADEMY, WE HAVE O'BRYANT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE MATCH, BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY, NEW
MISSION. RIGHT. AND JUST COVERING THE COST FOR THE GYM, THE REFEREES THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE THE TABLE THAT YOUR JERSEYS TROPHIES AND
ALL THAT JUST FOR THAT ONE PARTICULAR PROGRAM YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $15,000 AND THAT GOES FROM FOR LIKE A 8 TO 9 WEEK INCLUDING THE THE
PLAYOFFS AND WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WE LIKE TO ADD ELEMENTS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WATERGATE ERA. WE HAVE A DEEJAY THERE AND A PLAY BY PLAY PERSON AS WELL TO
GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE. SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T MAKE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OR DON'T PLAY AT A COLLEGE LEVEL, WE TRY TO GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE
FOR A SATURDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM ESPECIALLY WHERE IT'S DESIGNED FOR GIRLS AGES SIX THROUGH 19 THAT THAT'S SOMEWHERE THAT'S
GOING TO RUN US ABOUT 10,000 TO GO FOR EIGHT WEEKS AND WHAT WE DO THERE IS IN A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS I HEARD YOU GUYS
MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT A YOU IN COMPETITIVENESS WE WE FIND A FINE BALANCE SO WHAT WE DO IS WE BREAK IT UP WHERE DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED OR ELITE
WE HAVE SOME FOR YOU SO WE ALL COME IN TOGETHER, WE ALL STRETCH TOGETHER AND IF WE WE DO LIKE A CHECK IN WE CHECK IN TOGETHER BUT THEN WE BREAK YOU UP, YOU KNOW BUT WE HAVE
DIFFERENT COACHES, DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS SO IF YOU HAVE ANSWER ELITE YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS COACHING ON A HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE LEVEL IF YOU'RE JUST
BEGINNING WE CAN HAVE A PARENT WHO IS THERE WITH THEIR FOUR OR FIVE YEAR OLD SET UP A LITTLE HOOPS JUST JUST GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT AND THEN YOU GOT THAT IN BETWEEN WHERE YOU WANT
TO TRY TO GIVE THEM THE SKILL SET, TRY TO PUSH THEM A LITTLE BIT BUT NOT TOO MUCH SO THAT HOW THEY QUIT SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONNEL SO A
LOT OF THE FUNDING IS YEAH, YEAH IS IT EQUIPMENT? YES. IS IT SPACE? YES. IS IT PAYING FOR THE YOU KNOW FOOD SHIRTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. YES BUT ALSO IT'S THE STAFF AND
I TAKE IT YOU GUYS TOUCHED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT IF WE CAN GIVE A STIPEND TO THOSE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS OR THE COLLEGE KIDS WHO ARE COMING BACK HOME,
ESPECIALLY OVER THE SCHOOL BREAKS, YOU KNOW, OR FOR THOSE COACHES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, DEDICATED, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF HOURS A WEEK WOULD DEFINITELY HELP US OUT.
SO I WOULD I WOULD SAY DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM IT COULD RANGE ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, TEN UPWARDS TO ABOUT $20,000 FOR A 8 TO 10 WEEK
SESSION AND WE STARTED OUT JUST IN THE SUMMERS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'VE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS THAT WE WE WE'VE FORWARDED OVER TO THE FALL THEN WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GO AND SEE THOSE KIDS
PARTICIPATE IN THEIR WINTER SESSIONS, IT MAKES US COME BACK IN THE SPRING BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS. THEY'RE LIKE OH WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?
SO IT GETS THAT BUY IN AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH MORE AND MORE ATHLETES NOT JUST THE GIRLS SIDE BUT ON THE BOYS SIDE AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU SO SO THE REGAN LEAGUE WE HAVE ABOUT 500 PEOPLE AND WE'RE UNDER $100 PER PER REGISTRANT BASICALLY FROM MID-MARCH ALL THE WAY THROUGH
MID-JUNE AND TO PUT THE $5,000 IN CONTEXT IF BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE GAVE OUT WE PROBABLY WOULD NEED CLOSER TO LIKE TEN GRAND TO COVER THAT BASED ON AND THAT
NUMBER HAS INCREASED THE SCHOLARSHIP REQUEST YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE CHARGING UNDER 100 BUCKS. WE'RE BASICALLY BREAKING EVEN MAYBE MAKE IN FIVE OR SIX GRAND A YEAR ON A GOOD YEAR.
BUT THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY WE DO PAY OUR UMPIRES WE DO GO OUT EXTENSIVELY AND YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT COUNSELOR WEBBER'S TEAM AND OTHERS SO YOU KNOW, WELCOME TO
JOIN ALL OF YOU INCLUDING FORMER COACHES OF MANY DEL CARMEN AND YOU KNOW SO IT WOULD ALLOW TO HELP WITH STIPENDS FOR
ADDITIONAL COACHING COACH TRAINING THINGS THAT KIND OF THE VOLUNTEERS DO AND STEP IN BUT YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S A LOT WE'RE AN ALL VOLUNTEER BOARD ALL THE COACHES AND PARENTS ARE
DOING IT AND YOU KNOW AS FOR THE MY MY SUMMER TEAM THAT'S LIKE A BREAK EVEN WE WE TRAVEL AROUND MASSACHUSETTS AND IT'S $1,000 REGISTRATION FEE AND
KIDS PAY WHAT THEY CAN BUT I'M NOT A5A1C3 SO I WOULDN'T EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE FOR THE FUNDS BUT ANYWHERE BETWEEN SOME KIDS PAY 50 BUCKS, SOME KIDS PAY 100 BUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
IS ABOUT 250 PER PLAYER. SO YEAH, I THINK FROM YOU KNOW BEING IN THE BOSTON SOCCER LEAGUE IS PART OF THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE. SOME OF THE COSTS THAT TO EVEN
BECOME MIGHT SOME MEMBER FOR AN ORGANIZATION WE'RE PAYING $22 PER VOLUNTEER SO MESA AND WE'RE PAYING BECAUSE WE'RE A NONPROFIT $11 PER PLAYER BUT THAT THE SET COST IS TYPICALLY
$22 PER PLAYER. SO LAST WEEK WE GOT AN INVOICE THAT WAS $6,000 JUST TO REGISTER ALL OF OUR PLAYERS WITH MYSELF. SO THAT ALREADY IS THOSE $5,000
IF WE GET THAT GRANT GOING JUST TO THAT ADMINISTRATION FEE. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING SUPPLIES OR WANTING TO INCREASE THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GIVEN OUT WE
GAVE OUT 32 SCHOLARSHIPS THIS SEASON WHETHER THAT COVERED THE COSTS WE CHARGE $100 FOR THE GRASSROOTS LEAGUE OR $200 TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAVEL WHICH HELPS TO COVER SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF THE TRAVEL PROGRAM.
BUT WE DON'T SAY NO TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS A SCHOLARSHIP. SO BEING ABLE TO INCREASE SCHOLARSHIPS I THINK IS OUR BIGGEST GOAL. BUT AGAIN WE'RE RIGHT NOW THE BENEFICIARY OF THE PSL HAS THIS GRANT THAT COVERS THE
REGISTRATION COST FOR THE TEAMS WE'RE NOT EVEN CURRENTLY PAYING THAT AND THAT'S $500 FOR THE IT'S LIKE 550 FOR THIRD GRADE BUT THEN UP TO LIKE 775 FOR THE OLDER TEAMS PER SEASON. SO THAT'S A PAYMENT YOU MAKE IN
THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING. SO JUST THINKING THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ALONE TO YOU KNOW, PLAY AGAINST OTHER BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS BUT YOU KNOW IN A NAMES LEAGUE THAT YOU KNOW CAN HELP PEOPLE ADMINISTER YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING
PROVIDE REFEREES ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS YOU KNOW THOSE COSTS AREN'T EVEN NECESSARILY COVERED BY THE LET'S PLAY GRANT SO BE GREAT TO SEE THAT EXTENDED TO HELP WITH SOME
OF THAT YEAH JP IS SOCCER 600 KIDS PER SEASON AND IT'S ABOUT $120,000 ANNUAL BUDGET SO YOU MENTIONED MELISSA THAT'S YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION THE STATEWIDE GOVERNING BODY SO THERE'S A PER PLAYER FEE YOU
PAY TO THEM IS ALSO A FEEDER BASE IT DOES GIVE YOU SOME THINGS IN RETURN LIKE THERE'S INSURANCE INCLUDED WHICH IS IMPORTANT. SO THERE IS A WHOLE REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THESE SPORTS NOW MAKE THEM MORE
EXPENSIVE AS WELL WHICH WE JUST YOU KNOW, NEED TO PRICE THAT IN. BUT YEAH, WE'RE A SIX FIGURE OPERATION. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE CPR
TRAINING OR YOU KNOW, ANY TRAINING ON LIKE START THE BLEED, DOES THE CITY PROVIDE THAT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR FREE OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE TO PAY FOR?
I'LL JUMP IN. SO IT DEPENDS. SO A LOT OF THE TIMES A LOT OF OUR STAFF ARE ALREADY WORKING IN THAT LINE OF FIELD
SO AND IF I DO SEE SOME OFFERED BY THE CITY I TRY TO GET EITHER THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OR THE KIDS WHO'VE RECENTLY GRADUATED INVOLVED IN TAKING THOSE COURSES.
I KNOW THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THEY OFFER IT ALONG WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS. SO WHEN WHENEVER I SEE IT'S AVAILABLE I TRY TO YOU KNOW,
SEND SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS THERE SO THAT IT'S NOT FALLING ON ON OUR OUR BOTTOM LINE. YEAH YEAH ALL RIGHT THERE'S THERE IS SAFE SPORT TRAINING
AND CONCUSSION AWARENESS THAT ON THE SOCCER THERE'S A WHOLE COACH CREDENTIALING PROCESS AND THAT'S PART OF THE MASCOT SOCCER PROVIDES ALL THAT AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO HAVE A FEW KIND OF COMMENTS, MAYBE QUESTIONS BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU MENTIONED THE INVESTMENT RIGHT AND HOW WE DO
A BALL TALKED ABOUT BEING ON THE FIELD OR ON THE COURTS KNOWING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST MORE AND FOUR YEARS AGO NOW MY MAIDEN SPEECH WAS ON THIS LACK OF INVESTMENT AND
YOUTH SPORTS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AT SCHOOL LEVEL AT THE VOLUNTEER NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL THAT WE MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS AND
WHEN WE SPEND THE MOST PER STUDENT IN THE STATE AND OUR KIDS AS A FORMER TEACHER WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE MONEY BUT WE DO HAVE THE HIGHEST PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE.
BUT FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE ONLY SPENDING OF OVER 30,000 PER KID $76 PER KID TOWARDS OUR SPORTS. DURING THE WAVE OF ESSER FUNDING WE WERE ABLE TO BUMP IT
UP TO 96 BUT SOME TOWNS SPEND UP TO 800 RIGHT AND HAVE LESS PER STUDENT OR THE STATE AVERAGE IS DOUBLE WHAT WE INVEST. SO EVEN AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WE'RE JUST NOT INVESTING AND THAT'S WHY WHEN WE GO AROUND TO
THESE GYMS AND WE SEE, YOU KNOW, BUCKLES ON THE BASKETBALL COURT OR YOU KNOW, JUST EQUIPMENT THAT IS SO OUTDATED THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. IT'S LIKE YES, OUR DEPARTMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST BUT WE AS A CITY DEFINITELY HAVE TO RIGHT. WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO MCCONNELL PARK OR TO WALSH PARK
AND FEELING LIKE THIS. THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE EXCEPTION, RIGHT? ALL OF OUR FIELDS AND PARKS SHOULD LOOK LIKE THAT AND WE YOU SPOKE ABOUT A LOT OF THE THINGS WE COULD MAYBE SUGGEST YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE ALREADY
DOING. BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HIGHLIGHT LIKE I KNOW DORCHESTER BASEBALL THE CHALLENGER BASEBALL JUST HAS THIS AMAZING PEER COACHING PROGRAM WHERE THERE'S ALMOST
SOME SOME GAMES YOU GO TO AND THERE'S LIKE TWO KIDS PER PLAYER BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MANY KIDS WHO VOLUNTEER AND THEY COME BACK AND IT'S TIED IN MANY TIMES TO WITH LIKE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER HOURS SO
THEY MIGHT BE OUT OF SCHOOL THAT'S REQUIRING NOT ALWAYS HIGH SCHOOLS IT BUT IF WE YOU KNOW KIND OF TIE IN TO THAT MORE WITH THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS MAYBE OR SOCIAL
WORKERS AT OUR SCHOOLS LIKE HOW DO WE GET SOME OF THESE KIDS TO VOLUNTEER SOME OF THEIR HOURS BACK OR LIKE D Y H I KNOW YOU KNOW YOU CAN WORK AT THE SNACK BAR, YOU CAN GET PAID TO DO THE
CLOCK ON THE MORNING SO THAT FREES UP AN ADULT COACH TO BE ON THE ICE. IF A YOUNGER KID IS IN THE YOU KNOW, DOING THE CLOCK. SO I MEAN IDEAS WE HAVE MANY
BUT WE HAVE TO DEFINITELY DO A BETTER JOB I AGREE OF JUST INVESTING AND MAKING SURE ONE OF THE THINGS TO I MEAN THIS CONVERSATION IS AROUND BARRIERS FOR KIDS MAKING SURE MORE KIDS
CAN PLAY BUT ALSO HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS WHO ARE ALREADY SHOWING UP FOR I MEAN YOU SAID IT HUNDREDS THOUSANDS OF KIDS ARE ALREADY SHOWING UP AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE
THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. YEAH, I'VE HELD A HEARING FOUR YEARS IN A ROW NOW LIKE IN THE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE'LL HAVE ONE AGAIN WHERE LET'S GET AHEAD OF YOUTH SUMMER JOBS.
WE SHOULD BE MEETING IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY MAKING SURE AND ONE OF THE BARRIERS WE FIND OUT IS IT'S AS SIMPLE AS MANY KIDS JUST DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GETTING A COPY OF THEIR BIRTH
CERTIFICATE ON TIME. IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T WANT A JOB. IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T YOU KNOW, BUT THEY GO AND THEY MAYBE FIND A JOB. MAYBE THEY GO TO THAT GREAT JOB FIELD THEIR FRIENDS BUT THEN THEY FIND OUT LIKE THEIR PAPERWORK ISN'T UP TO DATE.
SO HOW DO WE WORK WITH LIKE I'VE ALWAYS SAID THE SCHOOL NURSES HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE ALLOW THEM TO GET THEIR THEIR WORKING PAPERS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH SPORTS SIGN UP LIKE COUNSELOR
FITZGERALD SAID, I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS RIGHT WHERE IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND YOUR FAMILY CALENDAR IS BUSY BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY, RIGHT? YOU MENTIONED YOUR DAUGHTER CAME HOME AND SHE'S GONNA RUN
TRACK AND SHE'S GOING TO MEET NEW FRIENDS. I REMEMBER WHEN MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME SHE WAS DOING ROWING AND ACADEMY DOESN'T OFFER ROWING BUT SHE FOUND OUT THAT YOU COULD HOP ON THE VAN THAT
BRINGS YOU OVER TO BRIGHTON AND YOU'RE DOING LIKE BOSTON ROW. SO THIS JUST KNOWING THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES BUT IS
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A FEW PUBLIC TESTIMONY SO QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE AND THEN WE'LL DO SOME CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
ETHAN GOLDMAN, JOHN HANNAH AND COLLEAGUES ARE HERE IF THEY WANTED IF THEY DID SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE SIGN UP THINKING HONESTLY BUT PLEASE
COME UP TO ONE OF THESE MICROPHONES YOU YOU WOULD HAVE YEAH YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES IF YOU COULD JUST STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. PERFECT.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOHN HANNAH AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF PARKWAY YOUTH SOCCER. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 25 YEARS. PARKWAY YOUTH SOCCER IS A 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE OVER 1400 CHILDREN THAT PLAY IN OUR PROGRAM BETWEEN OUR HOUSE LEAGUE AND OUR TRAVEL PROGRAM. BEING WITH THE PROGRAM FOR SUCH
A LONG TIME I'VE WATCHED ITS PROGRESSION FROM BEING AT HEINZ FIELD WHERE WE USED TO STORE THE SOCCER NETS UP IN SOMEONE'S GARAGE AND EVERY SATURDAY MORNING WE'D HAVE TO GO UP AND
BRING THEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND SET THEM UP ON HEINZ FIELD. IT WAS MUCH SMALLER AT THE TIME SO WE DIDN'T HAVE FULL SIZE FIELDS. NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
UTILIZE MILLENNIUM PARK. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS YOU CAN GO AND STAND AND LOOK OUT AND SEE THE
FOLIAGE AND SEE THE CHARLES RIVER AND ENJOY THE CITY. THIS IS A GREAT PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MAINTENANCE. EVERYTHING THAT WENT INTO THE
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UP THIS PARK REQUIRES MAINTENANCE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO REALLOCATE LARGE DOLLARS TO
BRING IT BACK ONLINE BECAUSE FERTILIZING, WATERING AND CUTTING THE GRASS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT MAINTENANCE WE PROVIDE ALL
OF THE GOALS WE PURCHASE ALL OF THE HARDWARE, THE EQUIPMENT, THE GOALS AND WE THEM UP FOR THE 20 WEEKS THAT WE PLAY AND DURING THE SUMMERTIME SO OUR
KIDDOS GET TO PLAY TEN WEEKS IN THE SPRING, TEN WEEKS IN THE FALL. ALL OF OUR COACHES ARE VOLUNTEERS SO WE UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET COACHES ONE OF THE THINGS IS
YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK AND WE FIND THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP ASKING AND WE FIND PEOPLE WE IF WE HAVE TO I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOLKS.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY. WE DO HAVE THE GRANT MONEY THAT GOES A VERY LONG WAY. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS MEETING IN 3 HOURS.
YOU'VE COVERED A LOT BUT AS YOU CAN HEAR THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS NEED . I WOULD WELCOME YOU FOLKS TO
COME TO BOARD MEETINGS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO GET A REAL UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGETS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
COME UP TO THE FIELDS, SIT COME UP FOR A FULL DAY, NOT JUST TO PASS THROUGH BUT STAY ALL DAY AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY. SO WITH THAT I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOLKS VERY MUCH AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR COLLEAGUE DID YOU SIGN UP FOR TESTIMONY? ANYONE ELSE? YES.
YEAH. ARE YOU HERE FOR TESTIMONY? YES. OKAY. OKAY. YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. IF YOU COULD JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR COLLEAGUE. I AM A PARENT OF FIVE WHO WENT
TO BPI SCHOOLS. MY SON IS CURRENTLY AT TECH BOSTON. HE'S A JUNIOR. HE STARTED AT PARKWAY BY THE WAY. HE'S BEEN ON THE VARSITY TEAM
PLAYING FOR THE VARSITY TEAM SINCE A FRESHMAN. HE DID SOME BOSTON AND SCORES BUT IT CONFLICTED WITH HIS CLUB SCHEDULE. WE HAD HIM AT HAMMER CLUB.
HE'S NOW SECOND DIVISION EFA LAST YEAR WE ALSO WENT OUT FOR BASKETBALL AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THEY MISSED SOME GAMES BECAUSE BUSSES DID NOT SHOW UP OR COME
ON TIME THIS YEAR HE'S DOING TRACK SO HE'S DONE THREE SPORTS AT TECH BOSTON THEY HAVE NO REAL FACILITY. HE HAS TO THEY RUN UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS.
THEY RUN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO I AM HERE TO AS YOU ALL KNOW MY POSITION ON WHITE STADIUM. I AM SAYING WE COULD SAVE $30
MILLION WITHOUT THAT PRO SOCCER TEAM COMING TO WHITE STADIUM THAT COULD GO TO BOSTON SCHOOL FACILITIES AND TO BOSTON SCHOOL . WE DEFINITELY COULD IF WE JUST
BUILT BACK WHITE STADIUM FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR KIDS AND FOR COMMUNITY USE. WE ALREADY TOOK AWAY A BASKETBALL COURT BECAUSE OF THAT BIGGER FOOTPRINT
OF WHITE WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE PLAYED AT IN THE GOOD WEATHER THAT'S ALREADY GONE AND THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE THOUGH ALONE
I'M HERE ALSO BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE SPORTS MONEY AS YOU'VE HEARD CONSTANTLY IN THESE 3 HOURS AND SO THAT WOULD FREE UP SOME MONEY.
I WANT THE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM WE'RE A SOCCER FAMILY. MY BROTHER WAS A PRO SOCCER PLAYER. HE'S HEAD OF BUSINESS AND SPORTS AT TWO OF THE BIGGEST LAW FIRMS IN BOSTON. FIRST HE WAS THAT GOES IN
STORES NOW HE'S THE PRINCIPAL BELL SO YES, I WANT THE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM. WE KNOW WHERE IT BELONGS UP THE STREET FROM MILLENNIUM PARK AT
THE OLD WEST ROXBURY HIGH SCHOOL SPOT. THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING. IT'S OFF ROUTE ONE OR VFW PARKWAY.
IT IS A PERFECT PLACE AND IT WOULD BE REALLY A BOOST I THINK TO THE SOCCER PROGRAM THERE. BUT I'M ALSO HERE FOR ANOTHER REASON BOSTON SCHOOL KIDS DO
NOT GET LOOKED AT FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FOR PRO AND THERE IS A PERSON WHO IS HEAD OF THE B C Y F PROGRAM OUT
OF THE JOHNSON HE'S HEAD OF THE JOHNSON COMMUNITY CENTER ON 68 ANNUNCIATION ROAD IN MISSION HILL ANDREW ANGUS PLAYED
COLLEGE SOCCER AND HE ALSO PLAYED CAN I JUST HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE PLEASE? YES. ALL RIGHT. AND HE PLAYED PRO OVERSEAS.
HE'S TRYING TO GET BOSTON KIDS RECOGNIZED MORE BECAUSE HE'S HE'S TRYING TO GET COACHES AND THINGS. CAN WE SUPPORT HIM PLEASE?
HE'S THE HEAD OF THE JOHNSON COMMUNITY CENTER. HE'S TRYING TO GET KIDS TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND SOCCER AND SPORTS IN BOSTON TO HAVE COLLEGE COACHES LOOK AT THEM AND PRO COACHES.
WE NEED SUPPORT. I SPOKE TO THE CHIEF ABOUT HIM . HE KNOWS ANDREW. LOTS OF PEOPLE KNOW ANDREW AND THE OTHER THING IS I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M AN R.N. IN BOSTON OVER 48 YEARS.
I'M A VIOLENCE PREVENTION NURSE . I THINK EVERY CHILD IN BOSTON SCHOOLS IN EVERY SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE TAKING MARTIAL ARTS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY TEACHES YOU TO BE A
PEACEMAKER. IT IS GOOD FOR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR MENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND THAT SHOULD BE PART OF BOSTON SCHOOLS. RIGHT. THANK YOU.
OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO SHIFT TO ANY CLOSING STATEMENT. YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER
OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR BEING SHOWED SURPRISE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I JUST I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR
FOR HOSTING THIS HEARING. THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSOR JOHN FITZGERALD AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE ALSO THE CO-SPONSOR OF YES.
AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO COUNSELOR FLYNN, COUNSELOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA, COUNSELOR ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL THE PANELISTS I THINK YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS CITY
A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR KIDS. AND I YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO TAKE FROM FROM THIS I FOR ME THE TAKE IS THAT YOU KNOW ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN
MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS TO BUY BY SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS WHICH ARE YOU KNOW, RUN BY PEOPLE HERE IN BOSTON. AND SO YOU KNOW I'LL I'LL TAKE
THAT MESSAGE FROM THIS HEARING AND AND APPLY IT YOU KNOW TO MY WORK GOING FORWARD AND CERTAINLY THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BEST HELP OUR KIDS. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON
THE PANEL AND WHO TESTIFIED VIRTUALLY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SORT
OF A GREAT TRIP BACK IN TIME. I GOT TO ADMIT I PLAYED PARKWAY YOUTH SOCCER GROWING UP FOR MANY YEARS, PLAYED REGAN LEAGUE, PLAYED AT THE PARK IN SCHOOL AND BALL RIGHT IN THE
TOURNAMENTS UP AT RON AND SORRY EAST BOSTON. IT WAS JUST IT WAS JUST ONE TUNNEL TOO FAR RIGHT AND I ACTUALLY I HAVE A MEETING WITH DORCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE I'M ATTENDING THEIR BOARD MEETING
TOMORROW NIGHT AND JUST JOINED THE BOARD OF A MIXED MARTIAL ARTS PORTION IN DORCHESTER BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT'S A THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THAT.
SO MY PROMISE ALL TO YOU IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE OUR ADVOCACY HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND HOW TO FUND THIS. IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE THREE PILLARS LIKE THE CITY GETS A TRIPLE A
BOND RATING RIGHT FOR HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GRADED. BUT I THINK EACH INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN TRIPLE BOND RATING OF ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND ARTS.
AND SO IF WE JUST FOCUS ON THOSE THREE THINGS AND FUND THEM, I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME WELL-ROUNDED PEOPLE IN KIDS AND YOUTH IN THIS CITY AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT THE BEST CITY TO LIVE. SO LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU
GUYS FIND THE GAPS AND WE'LL REACH BACK OUT IF WE EVER NEED MORE ADVICE OR HELP UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GO. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR DEDICATION TO VOLUNTEER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING FOR OUR KIDS IN THE CITY. IT'S SO IMPORTANT I'M OF THE AGE WHEN MY MID-FIFTIES HERE OF WHERE THERE WEREN'T MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS BACK IN THE SEVENTIES FOR SPORTS AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY LIKE I MENTIONED I HAVE THREE BOYS BUT A DAUGHTER WHO PLAYED SPORTS GROWING UP PLAYED SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL YOU KNOW, COACHING YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO WHERE
SHE LEARNED HOW TO SKATE TO COACH THE KIDS AND IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT THAT WHO IS THAT'S WHO'S AT THE COURTS AND WHO'S ON THE FIELDS AND SHOWING UP PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO GIVE BACK SO
WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE ESPECIALLY COMING IN TO BUDGET SEASON THESE BIG INVESTMENT QUESTIONS ARE MAKING SURE WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY CORRECTLY BECAUSE LIKE I SAY WITH BP'S WE HAVE THE MONEY BUT I ALWAYS IT EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE
SURE EVERY KID GETS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THAT YOU ARE NOT UP NIGHTS WORRYING YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN A KID AWAY OR IF A GAME IS GOING TO BE COACHED OR NOT IF SOMETHING HAS TO BE CANCELED
BECAUSE OF SOMETHING LIKE OVERGROWN GRASS OR THINGS THAT WE CAN AVOID. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND THE HEARING ON
DOCKET 1852 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO