Active City Inc

ACTIVE CITY STRIVES TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO TRANSFORM HARTFORD INTO AMERICAS MOST PHYSICALLY ACTIVE CITY FOR CHILDREN. WE SEEK TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL HARTFORD YOUTH IN ORGANIZED AND AFFORDABLE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

HARTFORD YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM THROUGH A $300,000 GRANT FROM THE CITY OF HARTFORD, USING ARPA FUNDS. FALL 2021 THROUGH JUNE 2022. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE JUMP START PROGRAM, ACTIVE CITY CONTINUED THROUGH ITS MANAGEMENT OF THE YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATIVE, TO BRING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A RANGE OF YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES FREE OF CHARGE TO HARTFORD YOUTH. THE PROGRAM ENGAGED 13 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND EXPANDED THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO 8, WHICH INCLUDED BASEBALL, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, RUNNING, TRACK, GOLF AND DOUBLE DUTCH. UTILIZING THE GRANT, ACTIVE CITY PROVIDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES, ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING NEEDED TO OFFER THESE ACTIVITIES TO OVER 1400 HARTFORD KIDS IN SPRING, 2022.WINTER GYM SPACE - DUE TO THE EXPENSE AND SCARCITY OF INDOOR FACILITIES, YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES TYPICALLY FALL OFF DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. TO COMBAT THIS, ACTIVE CITY CONTRACTED WITH THE CITY OF HARTFORD, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MAKE GYM SPACE AVAILABLE TO YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATIVE MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SPORTS ACTIVITIES TO HARTFORD YOUTH. THE COST OF THE FACILITIES, $71,703, WAS COVERED BY ACTIVE CITY, USING A PORTION OF THE ARPA FUNDS. THE PROGRAM OFFERED ACTIVITIES IN SOCCER, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND TRACK BY NINE COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER, TO OVER 800 HARTFORD YOUTH. BASKETBALL PROGRAM THROUGH HOOPWAVES FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 AT RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE BOYS. THE PROGRAM USED BASKETBALL AS A VEHICLE FOR MENTORING HARTFORD YOUTH IDENTIFIED AS SERIOUSLY AT RISK. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED A SUMMER BASKETBALL LEAGUE THAT FOCUSED ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION. ACTIVITIES WERE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN TOURNAMENTS AND LEAGUES. PROVIDED ONGOING SUPPORT FOR OTHER YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS IN OBTAINING PERMITS FOR FACILITY USE OUTDOOR FIELDS AND GYMS.

RESEARCH INITIATIVE HARTFORD YOUTH SPORTS LANDSCAPE - USING A PORTION OF THE ARPA FUNDING, ACTIVE CITY COLLABORATED WITH HARTFORD-BASED COMMUNITY RESEARCH FIRM ICR (INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY RESEARCH) AT A COST OF $37,000 TO COMMENCE RESEARCH DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FUTURE PLANNING FOR ACTIVE CITY ACTIVITIES. THE RESEARCH INCLUDED INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS OF HARTFORD FAMILIES AND YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE OF SERVICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, SERVICES DESIRED, AND CHALLENGES TO ACCESSING AND OFFERING SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR HARTFORD YOUTH. AN INITIAL REPORT WAS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 2022, AND WORK CONTINUES BASED ON ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS RESULTING FROM THE INITIAL WORK.