Community Skate Socials & Youth Programing- OutdoorSkates

What problem would you like to solve?

I would like to decrease violence in my neighborhood by increasing public health, community/civic engagement and access to public resources through the use of art cultural and roller skating community events/ programing.

I would like to do this by providing a STEM skate program for youth. An after school program that uses roller skating to explore Science. Technology. Engineering and Math. I would also continue to use our community skate socials to provide a space for positive social/community interaction, violence prevention and the promotion of local resources and underutilized parks and spaces.

Why is it important to solve? Why is it relevant for the community?

This is important to solve because youth and community members have a lack of engaging constructive events and programing that can promote healthy, physical and social recreation. As a result youth are left with idol time and community parks and spaces can become desolate.

promoting access and awareness to engaging programing/ events in the area we currently serve ( Bedstuy, Crown Heights, Brownsvilles, ENY and the greater Brooklyn borough) already provides a platform for local health and wellness resources, after school lessons and programing and regular community skate socials. Resulting in the reduction of park and community violence and an increase in exercise, healthy habits and positive community engagement.

What idea do you have to address the problem?

For the past two years I have partnered with community leaders, CBOs, Non profits and community members to produce over 130 community roller skating events. These events activate parks and underutilized spaces in and around Brooklyn with healthy, active and socially engaging programing that fosters community connections, provides meaningful and constructive activities and promotes local resources, like access to health, food, and after school programs. I have seen the impact that after school and community roller skate programing has had on my community and I would like to use roller skating as a tool to continue to provide youth & community programing that promotes violence prevention, health, wellness and social/civic engagement.

I would like to provide youth and community programing in parks, schools and underutilized community spaces.

Who would that help?

This would help youth and ultimately all Brooklyn community members because, we would be able to increases youth and community programing, prevent gun violence and provide a positive place for social and healthy physical recreation.

What NYC borough would benefit from your idea?

We are a mobil organization that has produced events in all five boroughs. However we are based in Brooklyn, that is the borough that benefits most from our idea.

Please Check out our Instagram to see some of the great community work we already do: @Outdoorskates