About Up2Us
Up2Us Sports is a national service organization working at the grassroots level. They use sports and coaching to address some of the most pressing issues facing youth across the country today: mental wellness, gender equity, social justice and economic mobility in historically marginalized and underserved communities.
Up2Us & PYSC
In 2023, PYSC launched a pilot partnership with Up2Us Sports to place 10 AmeriCorps service members at five Philadelphia Parks and Recreation facilities. The goal was to increase access to high-quality sports programming in public spaces across the city. These coaches received training in sports-based youth development and trauma-informed coaching practices. Topics included creating programs suitable for different ages, building healthy relationships and team culture, fostering positive learning experiences, designing effective practices, and turning sports skills into life skills. This resulted in facilitating programs in baseball, basketball, boxing, dance and performance arts, flag football, and softball, serving over 320 youth in the first six months.
In addition to their training, PYSC’s Up2Us Coaches receive observation and feedback from former college coaches, learn to collect participant data, and engage in group and individual career counseling sessions led by Up2Us Sports. As AmeriCorps members, they earn a service stipend and will receive an educational award upon graduating from the program this fall.
PYSC is thrilled to announce the expansion of the program for the 2024-2025 AmeriCorps service year. In August, we will onboard 20 coaches at four different Parks and Recreation sites.
Coaches Corner
Meet some of our Up2Us coaches who are dedicated to helping kids reach their full potential through coaching and mentorship.
Napoleon Evans, Jr.
Sierra “CeCe” Jones
Javier Perez
Eugene Pough
Rory Robinson
2024 Up2Us Coach of the Year
