The holidays are my favorite time of year at CitySquash. The office
fills with students returning from boarding schools and colleges. They
are team members we have worked with for as many as 12 years and I am
always moved by how excited they are to update us on their lives. Their
visits are reminders of how connected CitySquashers are to the
organization. In the last weeks, we have heard about Eric's first
season of football at St. George's, Manuela's summer job offer at
Morgan Stanley, and Criselys' plan to study abroad in Prague. Perhaps
most inspiring, Chris told us about the free program he launched at St.
Lawrence University to introduce squash to the local community.
Visiting with older students also makes me reflect on the future
journeys of our younger team members, some of whom are only eight years
old. The CitySquash staff is always working to better the program in
order to prepare our students for the ever-changing and challenging
world they will face. In the past year, we have enhanced our
programming in the following ways:
* A new set of laptops was purchased for students to
use in the classroom as part of our initiative to improve their skills
in science, technology, engineering, and math.
* An "Elite Effort" squash squad was established to
allow our most committed athletes to receive targeted and intensive
training through mandatory weekday morning practices and training trips.
* A social and emotional learning curriculum was
created to help students build strong character and give them the tools
they need to handle the challenges of adolescence.
* Tailored career guidance was provided by
CitySquash staff and supporters, enabling 23 students to receive
internships at companies such as Fresh Direct, Ogilvy & Mather, and
US Squash.
* Plans were finalized to launch CitySquash
Brooklyn, a satellite program that will enable us to increase program
enrollment by 50% over the next few years.
At its core, CitySquash's goal is to provide its students with roots
and wings. We want them to feel safe--rooted--in the haven of our
office on 187th Street. We want them to feel as though their hard work
and CitySquash experiences have prepared them for life after college.
And we want them to fly! We want them to see new places, meet new
people, and embrace new perspectives.
So, as you gather with your family this holiday season, think of the
CitySquashers gathering in the Bronx and catching up on all that has
happened over the past months. We are all very grateful for you, our
CitySquash family, for making our work possible.
