Bridgeport Caribe Youth League Inc

TO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES VIA THE SPORTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PLATFORMS; AND EXPOSING THEM TO ROLE MODELS, MENTORS AND SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR THEM TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL AND HAVE A CLEAR PATHWAY TO ATTEND COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL PROGRAM OR WORKFORCE UPON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN BECOME SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

SPORTS:BCYL SPORTS PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LARGEST PARTICIPATION. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE SPORTS PROGRAMS IS TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, INTEGRITY AND TEAMWORK THAT WILL ENABLE OUR YOUTH TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON AND OFF THE FIELD/COURT. 230 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN BCYL'S OFFER BASEBALL FOR YOUTH AGES 5 TO 15 AND GIRLS' SOFTBALL AGES 9 TO 17 FROM APRIL TO AUGUST. WE INCORPORATE DEVELOPMENTAL CLINICS TO ENSURE ENGAGEMENT AND FOSTER GAINS IN PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE. ALL COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO PASS THE CAL RIPKEN / BABE RUTH CERTIFICATION AND PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS; IN ADDITION TO BEING CPR AND VIRTUS CERTIFIED.FALL BASEBALL/SOFTBALLDURING SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 48 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE FALL BALL PROGRAM.BASKETBALLTHE BASKETBALL PROGRAM SERVED 106 YOUTH FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 8TH GRADE FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER. BASKETBALL GAMES TAKES PLACE AT MCGIVNEY COMMUNITY CENTER WITH PRACTICES AT MCGIVNEY, BRIDGE ACADEMY AND ACHIEVEMENT FIRST. COACHES AND PLAYERS OF THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL CLINICS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON. ALL COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS; IN ADDITION TO BEING CPR AND VIRTUS CERTIFIED. THE BASKETBALL SETTING ALLOWS THE LEAGUE TO HAVE A CAPTURED AUDIENCE PRIOR TO, DURING AND AFTER GAMES. THIS HAS PROVIDED US WITH AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED WITHIN THE BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY. EDUCATION:ON THE EDUCATION PLATFORM CONTINUES TO GROW AS 189 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT FROM SEPTEMBER TO JULY UNDER THE CARIBE YOUTH SATURDAY ACADEMY. THEY INCLUDE:BCYL'S MATH AND READING TUTORING PROGRAM IS HELD 3 TIMES PER YEAR FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 TO 8. THE 1 TO 3 TUTOR TO STUDENT RATIO ALLOWS TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE STUDENTS' NEEDS. EACH COHORT HAS DEMONSTRATED AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR POST-TEST COMPARED TO PRE-TEST. THE SAT PREP PROGRAM PREPARES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THE SAT EXAM. EACH COHORT HAS REALIZED AT LEAST AN 80 POINTS IMPROVEMENT IN THE POST-TEST VERSUS PRE-TEST. THE GIRL POWER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM TEACHES GIRLS AGES 12 TO 18 THE VALUE OF SELF-RESPECT, BOUNDARIES AND ETIQUETTE. THE PROGRAM IS RUN BY WOMEN ONLY WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMEN AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. CARIBE GAMBLING AWARENESS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE SIGNS AND IMPACT GAMBLING CAN HAVE ON A YOUTH AND FAMILY. THE YOUTH MAKE FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS. BCYL'S SUCCESS (STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE & CAREER EXPECTATION TO SUCCEED) PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS AGES 14 TO 24 ENGAGING WORKSHOPS AND COLLEGE/WORKPLACE TOURS TO CURRENT AND PAST GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOCUSED ON COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION. THE PROGRAM ASSISTED PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY THEIR POST-SECONDARY GOALS AND HELP DEMYSTIFY THE COLLEGE PROCESS AND CAREER PATHWAY. PARTICIPANTS TOOK A SKILLS ASSESSMENT SURVEY TO ENSURE THEIR SKILLS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR CAREER GOALS. THEY VISITED LOCAL BUSINESSES TO LEARN THE REQUIRED SKILL SETS EMPLOYERS ARE SEEKING AND VISITED LOCAL COLLEGES TO LEARN ABOUT THE ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID PROCESS.THE BRIDGEPORT CARIBE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT, UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT AND EASTERN CT STATE UNIVERSITY OFFER BCYL STUDENTS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. OVER $1,000,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO BCYL STUDENTS. ALL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A 2.5 GPA AND VOLUNTEER 20 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO BCYL ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE PROCESS WORKSHOPS AND COLLEGE TOURS ARE OFFERED FOR BOTH PARENTS AND YOUTH. BCYL'S HONOR ROLL PROGRAM STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF STRIVING TO GET A'S AND B'S IN SCHOOL. WE RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS WHO MAKE THE HONOR ROLL AND TREAT THEM TO A PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS OR THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE. COMMUNITY:BCYL STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. VARIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF GIVING. THE IDEA OF COMBINING SPORTS AND CHARITY HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPACT SOMEONE CAN MAKE "BEYOND THE GAME". IT IS QUITE AN ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR YOUTH AND VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL FOOD AND TOY, BONE MARROW DRIVE, PARK & NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP AND CARIBE DAY.