I Challenge Myself Inc

I CHALLENGE MYSELF ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EMBRACE CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW, TO DEVELOP HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND THE WORKFORCE.

I CHALLENGE MYSELF'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR BODIES, MINDS AND SPIRITS. OUR THREE NONCOMPETITIVE SPORTS-BASED-YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE CYCLING SMARTS, 4TOFIT, AND YOUTH CYCLING APPRENTICESHIP. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, I CHALLENGE MYSELF FITNESS, CYCLING AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 450 6TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS, AGES 10-19, ENROLLED IN 6 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH BRONX, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND THE LOWER EAST SIDE. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED AT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF ATHLETIC OR ACADEMIC ABILITY. IN SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023, THE ORGANIZATION RAN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE 4TOFIT PROGRAM WITH 251 STUDENTS ACROSS TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND THE BRONX. ICM COACHES MET WITH STUDENTS TWICE A WEEK FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, WITH THE GOALS OF INCREASING ACCESS TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROVIDED, AND USING A GAMING CURRICULUM TO DECONSTRUCT COMMON GAMES SUCH AS SOCCER TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, ESPECIALLY WITH GIRLS. THE STUDENTS WORKED TOWARDS AN END OF YEAR FIELD DAY AT WHICH THEY PLAYED THEIR DECONSTRUCTED GAMES, PARTICIPATED IN CHALLENGES OF THEIR OWN CREATION (EG FOOTBALL ACCURACY), AND COLLECTED POINTS FOR COMPLETION OF THESE CHALLENGES. I CHALLENGE MYSELF, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, STAFF, AND SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE FIELD DAY. CYCLING SMARTS INTRODUCES OUR STUDENTS TO ENDURANCE BICYCLING AIMED AT HELPING STUDENTS INCREASE PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ENDURANCE, IMPROVE SAFE CYCLING SKILLS AND INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF NUTRITION. I CHALLENGE MYSELF OFFERED THE CYCLING SMARTS PROGRAM FOR THE 18TH YEAR AT THREE PROGRAM LOCATIONS: EASTSIDE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL (15 STUDENTS), GEORGE WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS (COMPRISED OF FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS; 20 STUDENTS), AND UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL (15 STUDENTS). STUDENTS MET TWICE A WEEK FROM OCTOBER TO JUNE, AND COMPLETED FIVE OUTDOOR WEEKEND RIDES IN THE FALL (TO PLACES LOCAL TO THE SCHOOL.) STUDENTS CYCLED IN SEVEN OUTDOOR SPRING BIKE RIDES TO PLACES FURTHER AFIELD LIKE ORCHARD BEACH OR CONEY ISLAND PLUS TO NYC-BASED COLLEGES LIKE COLUMBIA, BARUCH, AND CITY COLLEGE. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: 100% OF STUDENTS LEARNED BIKE SAFETY AND FELT COMFORTABLE ON THE BIKE BY THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER 93% OF STUDENTS FELT THE PROGRAM CREATED A SAFE AND SUPPORTED BY ONE ANOTHER (HELLO INSIGHTS) 100% FELT LIKE THEY WERE CHALLENGED TO WORK THROUGH A DIFFICULT PROBLEM HELLO INSIGHTS ALSO TOLD US THAT ONLY 64% OF STUDENTS FELT LIKE THEY WERE ABLE TO SET THEIR OWN GOALS. THUS, WE REALIZE THERE CAN BE OTHER GOALS THAN THE 100 MILER AND STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE DISSUADED BY ONLY SETTING THAT GOAL. 40 STUDENTS RODE 25, 65, AND 100 MILES BIKE ROAD ON JUNE 4, 2023. YOUTH CYCLING APPRENTICES: WE ONBOARDED FOUR YCAS IN SY 2023. YCAS FACILITATED SPIN CLASSES AT OUR YEARLY CYCLE FOR YOUTH FUNDRAISER EVENT. THEY DEMONSTRATED GREAT MASTERY OF CYCLING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. YCAS AND GWEC STUDENTS WORKED WITH THE DOT THROUGH A SERIES OF SEVEN WORKSHOPS TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY (EG, INSTALL BIKE LANES) ON AMSTERDAM AVENUE FROM 181- 185. STUDENTS AND DOT COLLECTED DATA IN THE FIELD, ANALYZED AND INTERPRETED DATA, CREATED A PLAN BASED ON THEIR DATA, PRESENTED THEIR PLANS TO THE DOT COMMISSIONER AND WILL PRESENT THEIR PLANS TO LOCAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS. STUDENTS GAINED AN UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE AS AN URBAN PLANNER YCAS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE BACK HALF OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WHEREAS IDENTIFYING THEM EARLIER IN THE YEAR WOULD HAVE CREATED MORE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. WE DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ONBOARD YCAS EARLY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AND HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE IN SOME ASPECTS OF STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ON A FINAL NOTE, IN APRIL, 15 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TOOK THE METRO NORTH TRAIN TO VISIT YALE UNIVERSITY. IT'S AMAZING TO HEAR STUDENTS THINKING THAT ATTENDING YALE IS ACHIEVABLE.