Police Athletic League Inc

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, TOGETHER WITH NYPD AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, SUPPORTS AND INSPIRES NEW YORK CITY YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR FULL INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

CHILD CARE: THROUGH EIGHT EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START CENTERS PAL HELPS YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 2-5, DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL. THROUGH THE "BRIDGING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP INITIATIVE" THE PROGRAMS HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON LITERACY. PAL ADDED A SITE IN ROCKAWAY IN 2021 THAT ALSO ASSISTS PREGNANT MOTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL CENTERS REOPENED IN 2021 AFTER COVID LOCKDOWNS THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND STAFF CONTINUED TO FOLLOW ALL DOH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND CONTINUED TO CONDUCT HOME AND VIRTUAL VISISTS AS NEEDED.

CENTER OPERATIONS: K-8TH GRADE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMS AT 19 CENTERS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS. PROGRAMS HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM), LITERACY, NUTRITION, FITNESS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING. WHILE CENTERS REOPENED IN 2021, PAL CONTINUED TO USE A VIRTUAL/HYBRID MODEL FOR PARTICIPANTS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS SERVICES WHEN THE CENTER WAS CLOSED OR OPERATING IN A HYBRID CAPACITY DUE TO COVID-19.

TEEN PROGRAMS: PAL HELPS OLDER YOUTH, AGES 13-19 GAIN WORK SKILLS TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OUTCOMES. 10 TEEN CENTERS OFFER DROP-IN, SAFE SPACES WITHIN PAL COMMUNITIES WHERE YOUTH CAN CONNECT TO POSITIVE PEER AND ADULT MENTORS AND TAKE PART IN AN ARRAY OF HOLISTIC RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. THE COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT TWO CENTERS, HELPING STUDENTS TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL, ENTER COLLEGE AND DEVELOP SKILLS FOR SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGE AND FUTURE CAREERS. THE PAL ACTING PROGRAM ASSISTS TEENAGERS TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVE SIDE WHILE INTRODUCING THEM TO CAREERS WITHIN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND HELPING THEM TO ENTER AND SUCCEED IN COLLEGE. YOUTH LINK, OFFERED AT TWO SITES HELPS VULNERABLE TEENAGERS, SUCH AS THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, IN FOSTER CARE, TRUANT OR INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MAAP PROGRAM OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP TO TEENAGERS WHO ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE NYC ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES. PAL ALSO OFFERS JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENTS THROUGH THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOL YEAR WORK LEARN AND GROW PROGRAM. ALL PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO BE OFFERED VIRTUALLY IN 2021.

SPORTS AND RECREATION: PAL OFFERS SPORTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 9-19 THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO INCLUDE SOCCER, FLAG-FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, LACROSSE, STREET HOCKEY. SPORTS ARE OFFERED THROUGH PAL CENTERS, THE SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS PROGRAM AND COPS & KIDS SPORTS LEAGUES SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEER NYPD OFFICERS. PAL PLAYSTREETS WERE OFFERED AT NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY LOCATIONS FOR FIVE WEEKS OF THE SUMMER, BRINGING THE ELEMENTS OF A SUMMER CAMP DIRECTLY TO THE DOORSTEPS OF YOUTH IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. PAL CONTINUED TO OFFER POP-UP STREET GAMES IN WHICH YOUTH WERE OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY IN SPORTS DAYS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ALL SPORTS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES GAVE CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAFELY PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZED AND CAREFULLY SUPERVISED OUTDOOR PLAY ALIGNED WITH COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS.