Over 1.8 million nonprofits and charities for donors, volunteers and funders
52 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 51-0607378
- (612) 624-1810
- 725 Olive Ln N Plymouth MN 55447-4204 USA
- beyondwallssquash.org
- Add to Favorites
Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Racquet Sports, Sports
Mission: The key purpose of beyond walls is to develop an intensive program that combines squash playing, academic tutoring, and community service, in a manner that successfully transforms the lives of a select group of underserved youth in the twin cities. By working with a group of students beginning in sixth grade and continuing through high school, we will create outcomes and opportunities that would otherwise not be achievable. These outcomes include the assurance of high school graduation and post secondary matriculation and completion. We also strive to create significant personal development in each program participant that will positively contribute to his or her future.
Programs: Beyond walls students attend 3 program days each week. Monday through thursday, each school's group attends two sessions, on alternate days. Each session consists of approximately 90 minutes of squash and physical training, and 90 minutes of academic work related to their school program. All programs operate out of the university of minnesota's rec center. On saturdays, all 45 students attend ustc programs, and the time is split between a squash practice and ustc's literacy program. Similar to the weekdays, each part of the session runs for 90 minutes, with a full saturday lasting for 3 hours. Additionally, summer programs including squash, camps, and other enrichment activities are incorporated to continue our students' progression outside of the academic year. Students spend half of each weekday session focusing on improving their academic performance. Working with trained tutors, students complete homework assignments, enrichment activities, and may receive one-to-one instruction on challenging concepts related to their school programs. Students are accepted into beyond walls regardless of their academic ability, and must simply commit to working each day to make individual progress. Beyond walls participants play squash three times each week. Squash practices include drills, strategy work, match play, and fitness activities. Students train with the goal of competing in regional and national tournaments, and are given the opportunity to do so throughout the year. In addition to the scheduled sessions monday-thursday and saturday, students participate in community service projects. Based on a trimester theme, students may choose to work with the elderly or the homeless, to prepare blankets for an animal shelter, to raise money for breast cancer, to clean up a garden, or the like. Community service themes are generated by the students, and are ongoing throughout the year. Families and community members are encouraged to participate in beyond walls' community service projects.