CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Among the 800 kids who have participated in this season's ice skating programs with the Chicago Youth Foundation, WBBM caught up with 8-year-old Yesenia and 11-year-old Brillit at a recent skating session.
“I'm in figure skating, and I'm trying some new moves, like spinning and all that” said Yesenia.
Brillit added: “When I'm on the ice, it feels like I'm really free, and it feels really good to glide around.”
The organization was founded in 2011 by hockey player and humanitarian Ray Lilja, who hoped the Chicago Youth Foundation could help remove barriers to accessing youth sports.
“It's four programs, which are: Learn to Skate Chicago, Hockey on Your Block, Figure Skating on Your Block, and Pathfinders,” he said. “We currently have over 2,000 kids since the inception that have gone through our program.”
Today, the Chicago Youth Foundation is a women-led initiative, and executive director — a former figure skater and a physical medicine doctor — Dr. Ami Parekh said the programs specifically target low-income and minority kids.
“By giving them free ice time and resources to target them, having an organization specifically for them has I think really opened up diversity on the ice, but it's also good for the community to see diversity in the sport,” she said.
Parekh said it's especially important that those from underrepresented backgrounds have access to sports.
“If you look at the statistics, they have a lot of higher levels of diabetes and hypertension and psychological concerns,” she said. “They struggle with school more, and so all these things can come back to sports. Sports can be the hook to help these kids and can help them be physically active in a way they may enjoy.”
Hockey coach Erin Proctor said it also lifts the financial barrier families may face when signing their kids up for sports.
“Winter sports and ice sports tend to be very expensive and very inaccessible for a lot of families, so being able to provide the lessons for free, the ice for free, all the equipment for free to the students who actually need it the most, it's really opening doors for these kids,” said Proctor.
Another coach, Athena Wenger, said being able to see the kids learning and growing on the ice is what she loves the most.
“Nothing is more rewarding, as a coach, than being able to give advice and see the ‘Ah-ha’ moment when it finally clicks for them,” said Wenger. “So, that, for me, is one of the best parts of coaching here.”
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