Youth Leadership
Alternatives to Violence Boxing Program
The goals of this Alternatives to Violence Youth Boxing program, also known as “Keep It Real,” are to prevent and reduce violence among youth that attend the program, to foster understanding and respect across ethnic, linguistic and gender lines, and to develop youth leadership skills.
The Keep it Real groups meet at Jubilee sites on weekday afternoons and early evenings. Activities focus around boxing training and practice, with health and fitness education, anger management training, and leadership development woven into most sessions. The boxing has proven to be popular with the youth, many of whom are referred to the program by teachers or the police after an episode of fighting. Boxing provides the initial draw and allows the other activities to take place in a natural way without placing the kids in the position of being “uncool”.