Emanuel Community Center

THE CINCINNATI SQUASH ACADEMY IS A SPORTS AND EDUCATION NONPROFIT THAT SEEKS TO CREATE A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON A SELECT GROUP OF MOTIVATED, UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. SQUASH IS THE HOOK, YET EDUCATION IS THE HEART OF THE PROGRAM.THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GUIDE STUDENT-ATHLETES ON THE PATHWAY TO POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS AND BEYOND SUCH THAT THEY CAN LIVE INDEPENDENT, CHOICE-FILLED LIVES.WE RECRUIT STUDENTS AT PARTNER SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE FREE, YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SQUASH COACHING AND GUIDANCE TO OUR SCHOLARS.

EMANUEL COMMUNITY CENTER RUNS AN URBAN SQUASH PROGRAM THAT SERVES MANY UNDER-PRIVILEGED STUDENTS. THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH RESIDING IN THE OVER-THE-RHINE COMMUNITY BY HELPING THEM REACH THEIR FULL ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC POTENTIAL. URBAN SQUASH IS A NATIONALLY TESTED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OVERSEEN BY THE NATIONAL URBAN SQUASH ASSOCIATION. THE PROGRAM COMBINES ACADEMICS, MENTORING, FITNESS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND COLLEGE PLACEMENT FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. IT IS AN INTENSIVE, YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER SCHOOL, ON THE WEEKENDS AND IN THE SUMMER. IT ENGAGES STUDENTS FROM THE TIME THEY JOIN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL UNTIL THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. CINCINNATI SQUASH ACADEMY, THROUGH ITS URBAN SQUASH AND ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, STRIVES TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF ITS PARTICIPANTS. CINCINNATI SQUASH ACADEMY GOES THROUGH AN EXTENDED TRYOUT PERIOD BEFORE A STUDENT BECOMES A FULL MEMBER (ACHIEVES GOLD STATUS). THIS TRYOUT PERIOD GOES ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHERE ATTENDANCE, ATTITUDE AND COMMITMENT ARE MEASURED. EACH STUDENT RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 HOURS OF ACADEMIC TUTORING AND ENRICHMENT AS WELL AS SQUASH TRAINING. STUDENTS COMPETE IN SQUASH TOURNAMENTS AROUND THE MIDWEST. ADDITIONALLY, OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACHIEVED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME STUDENTS BEING AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS OR ADMISSION INTO HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS. FURTHER, THE STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT (LOCAL ARTS, SERVICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ENGAGEMENT). DURING THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR, THE ACADEMY PROVIDED 296 HOURS OF SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAMMING AND 100 HOURS OF IN-PERSON SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING. THE STUDENTS HEARD FROM FIVE GUEST SPEAKERS, TOOK FOUR OFF-SITE TRIPS AND ENGAGED WITH FIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE MAJOR OUTCOMES FOR THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR:100% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS MATRICULATED TO COLLEGE82% OF STUDENTS MAINTAINED A 3.0 OR HIGHER GPA 50% OF THE STUDENTS WERE ACCEPTED AND ARE ATTENDING HIGHER-PERFORMING CINCINNATI SCHOOLS74% OF STUDENTS GREW IN THEIR ABILITY TO REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS AND BEHAVIOR (PER HELLO INSIGHT ONLINE SEL EVALUATION SURVEY)72% OF STUDENTS GREW IN THEIR DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY (PER INSIGHT ONLINE SEL EVALUATION SURVEY)90% ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGE AMONG OUR PARTICIPANTS 95% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE RESUME-BUILDING SUMMER OPPORTUNITY3 INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST PLACE WINS AND 1 RUNNER-UP RONA GIRLS UNDER-13 A DIVISION WINNER ELLAD BOYS UNDER-13 A DIVISION WINNER LAELL GIRLS UNDER-15 A DIVISION WINNER FIKIR BOYS UNDER-11 A DIVISION RUNNER-UP TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL A DIVISION (2022)TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP BOYS HIGH SCHOOL B DIVISION (2023)