EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION
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Mission Statement
The East Oakland Boxing Association was established in 1987. Since its inception, EOBA has provided free services to over 50,000 underprivileged youth and their families. EOBA’s mission uses boxing as a model of discipline, courage, and perseverance. EOBA provides high-quality programming and services that promote mental and physical wellness, academic achievement, and build vital life skills. We create space for youth to practice, hone, and internalize the tools and attitudes needed to be exemplars of wellbeing for their peers, families, and communities. This is accomplished through a set of uniquely intertwined programs that together provide a safe and enriching after-school and summer break program for more than 750 children and youth each year.
About This Cause
In conjunction with our mission to provide a free, safe and nurturing environment in which the youth of Oakland can feel secure as they achieve success in school while learning life skills and building self esteem in preparation for their futures EOBA developed the Smart Moves after-school program. Each day after-school 75-90 youth ages 5-18 from the Elmhurst District attend the Smart Moves program to receive individualized tutoring and homework assistance. Many of these students face a number of challenges that has affected their abilities to succeed in school. In addition to homework assistance Smart Moves provides a variety of self-esteem and youth development activities that link this academic support with mentoring, art, nutrition education, gardening, community service, field trips and physical education. Standing strong in the belief that “It Takes a Village,” EOBA forms a strong liaison between the school, parents, youth and our after-school program to ensure the academic and behavioral needs of each student is being met. This relationship ensures a continuum of support to help each student succeed academically and assists parents in taking an active role in their child’s education. Many of the students enter the program reading below grade level and struggling to obtain passing scores in many of their core classes. Working with educators to identify areas in which students are not succeeding EOBA develops a tutoring, reading and/or activity path for each student. Children reading below grade level are provided with opportunities to read both individually and with a mentor, participate in reading related activities and utilize computer software that assists with making reading fun. Students struggling in core subjects such as math, English and science are provided the opportunity to work individually with tutors who walk them through lessons being taught in class. In addition to this, tutors work one-on-one with student’s to complete homework assignments ensuring that students understand their homework and that homework is being completed daily. Last year we expanded our education program to include specialized support services for our youth ages 13-18 in the form of required homework and study sessions, resume and job interview workshops as well as SAT preparation. This year we are taking it a step further to include Care Coaching. This new educational support program is a partnership with the Alameda County Public Health Department. In an effort to impact the disparaging graduation rate, our program goal is to have youth progress from grade to grade with a grade point average of 3.0 of better, and to all youth who are care coached graduate from high school and apply to college. SmartMoves: Focuses on providing children the support they need to succeed academically. Each day children arrive and are provided a healthy and nutritious snack and then work with tutors to complete their assigned homework. Youth who do not have homework spend time reading individually, with a mentor or in a group. All youth are required to spend this time doing some form of educationally enriching activity. After homework time youth break away into their groups/clubs. The children are divided into groups of 10-15 depending on their chosen activity and will rotate through various activities throughout the week. Activities include: gardening, cooking and nutrition, boxing, karate, chess, art, theatre and special projects that are available throughout the year. Youth are also exposed to outdoor activities such as sailing, rock climbing, hiking and camping. Health and Wellness: Children assist in preparing a healthy and nutritious snack or meal, and learn about the importance of eating a healthy and balanced diet. This provides an opportunity for children to be introduced to new fruits and vegetables, learn about the health benefits of consuming these foods and also are introduced to healthy alternatives to foods they consume on a regular basis. Gardening: EOBA’s garden program is one of our staple programs that sets our after school program apart from others. Committed to beautification of the East Oakland community EOBA took the first step through leading by example and transforming an old auto repair parking lot to a beautiful and bountiful on-site garden where we cultivate fresh vegetables and herbs. The items produced are made available to community members free or very reasonably priced. The youth assist in all aspects of the garden from planting to pruning to everyday maintenance. While participating in this program they have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, the health benefits of each, the responsibility of caring for something and invaluable skills for maintaining their own sustainable food source. Physical Education Program: Youth participate in a wide variety of physical recreation activities and trainings including: boxing, martial arts and self-defense. This opportunity not only provides the youth an opportunity to exercise each day but also helps with self-discipline and confidence levels.