COBA strives to bring the following programs to fruition for its Kids benefit but availability is sometimes subject to resources and limitations.
Rooted in 31 years of experience with at-risk youth, COBA programs seek to ensure youth remain alive, in school, crime, gang and drug-free—and progressing to some form of post secondary education. We want kids to have a safe place to learn, grow and succeed during out-of-school hours. With boxing as the central “hook,” we offer boys and girls the opportunity to become great athletes and "Champions in the Ring," and more importantly, "Champions of Life” outside the ring. As “Champions of Life,” we expect youth to have self-discipline, empathy and humility. We also expect them to be personally responsible, act as team players and be caring, compassionate citizens. COBA teaches young people a strong work ethic, problem solving skills, goal oriented behavior and the ability to think critically and with reason so to avoid and not perpetrate violence.
Our Approach
COBA has three types of programs: CORE PROGRAMS, WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SPECIALTY SUPPORT PROGRAMS. (Please see diagram attached.) Each program cluster is designed to complement the other. Our approach is holistic, to recognize the “whole” child. Our approach is also flexible. Adjustments are made along the way as children’s needs change, and youth can leave and re-enroll at any time. Also, no child or youth is expected—or forced—to box. In fact, COBA dissuades its youth from becoming professional boxers. Instead, we encourage those who to choose to spar and compete to become the best Olympic Style Amateur Boxers they can be. We use the vehicle of “amateur boxing” to instill the necessary personal qualities and life skills to be successful in all other aspects of their lives.
While many youths are attracted to COBA because of its USA Olympic Boxing Program, others enroll because of COBA’s outstanding community reputation and the fact it is a safe yet fun place to better themselves after school. It is also a place where kids can find emotional safety alongside trusting, caring adults. We try to make kids feel like they are part of “the COBA family.” As family members, they know they can count on us and each other. But also, they know they have responsibilities and need to be accountable.
All program instruction takes place in a universal, non–denominational way to respect participants' diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds. Girls and boys participate in our programs. No one is turned away. Though the majority of participants are from Hartford, we also have youth from surrounding towns. We welcome everyone!
CORE PROGRAMS
a. USA Olympic / Amateur Boxing Program
This program provides rigorous amateur boxing training by caring coach-role models, most of whom are COBA graduates. Participants learn boxing fundamentals, skills and techniques through drills like shadow boxing, bag work and sparring. They also learn conditioning, sports science and interval training. COBA's gym is fully insured and sanctioned by USA Boxing, Inc., the national governing body of “amateur boxing.” All coaches and competitive youth boxers are registered, certified and insured with USA Boxing, Inc. COBA is also registered with the Ct. Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Safety, which makes annual site visits to oversee safety measures, ethical standards and other procedures. COBA's Executive Director maintains close contact with the Commissioner of the Ct. Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Safety.
Youth take part in local, state, regional, national and international competitions, including the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships, USA Youth and Open Boxing Championships, Silver Gloves and Golden Gloves. Youth also participate in national boxing camps. COBA often hosts home competitions and community showcases, and co-sponsors state championships involving boxing clubs from around the state. Throughout training, coaches draw analogies between boxing and life so as to build character, work ethic and citizenship. Consistent competitions build ongoing goal-oriented behavior that is rewarded so as to reinforce pro-social behaviors. Extensive travel exposes youth to a world beyond the confines of city streets.
b. Body & Soul Fitness Program
This program strives to build physical and psychological strength among youth. It offers a tangible means by which youth can prepare for—and address—challenges at home, in school and in the community. By training kids how to care for their bodies and minds through proper nutrition, exercise, reflection and positive choices, they have an opportunity to regain control over their lives, analyze how things could be different and take steps to prepare for becoming upstanding citizens. In short, the program strives to stretch young people’s bodies and minds.
As part of training, kids learn how to properly warm up and start their workouts. They also learn how to cool down at the end in a healthy manner. During each session, youth participants engage in aerobic and anaerobic exercises such as push-ups, calisthenics, isometrics, ply metrics, cross-training, breathing, mental preparedness, motivation and relaxation. They also learn cutting edge fitness techniques so that they can attain optimum mind, body and soul condition. Throughout the process, staff trains youth in positive choices and healthy nutritional regimens. In addition, they draw continuous analogies, or metaphors, so as to transfer participants' learning during workouts to their real, everyday lives. An unusual component of the program is the individualized design of a properly structured workout. In this way, youth participants can engage in a healthy workout no matter where they are or what equipment they have at their disposal.
As part of the program, youth learn about healthy living, the importance of good nutrition, what they can do to stay fit outside the gym and how to incorporate healthy choices in all aspects of their lives from a body, mind and spiritual perspective. Our aim is to integrate such knowledge through hands-on fitness activities. Once a month, an outside speaker is invited to hold a “rap session” with youth about healthy living, nutritional eating, conflict resolution, pregnancy/STD prevention and other topics critical to young people’s health and wellness. Speakers include nutritionists, health educators, nurses, youth workers, social workers and other professionals who work with young people in the community.
Led by seasoned coach-role models, the program takes place from Sept - June four days/week from 5:30-7:30 pm. On Saturdays, kids also have the opportunity to work out and practice what they have learned during the week.
WRAPAROUND SERVICES
Originating a decade ago, the wraparound approach differs from many service delivery strategies in that it provides a comprehensive, youth and family-driven way of responding when children or youth experience serious mental health or behavioral challenges. Wraparound services put the child or youth and family at the center. There is now strong evidence that, when wraparound programming is done well, young people with complex needs are more likely to be able to stay in their homes and communities, or, should a crisis occur, to be in out-of-home placements only for short periods of time. Also, wraparound services prevent time spent in out-of-home facilities like residential treatment centers or psychiatric hospitals, saving up to $3,000 a day. They also diminish the chances for adjudication, also very costly.
For COBA children and youth, such efforts are paramount to their development in that most come from circumstances of poverty and are subject to daunting challenges like crime, gangs, drug abuse, loss, racism and violence. As a result, nearly all of our kids experience some degree of low self-esteem, lack of confidence, depression/anxiety, behavioral problems, trauma and/or poor mental health. Wraparound programming provides the support and skills needed to place—and keep—youth on a healthy life course. Thus, COBA’s wraparound services give youth a holistic life education so they can become strong, responsible, engaged citizens, or “Champions of Life.” Each wraparound service is described below.
a. Academic Tutoring
Individual tutoring is offered on-site in COBA’s George A. Weiss Educational Center for all school-aged youth. It takes place Monday-Thursday, 4:00 – 5:30 pm, from September – June. Through special partnerships with Trinity College and University of Hartford, we rely on undergraduates to serve as tutors for COBA kids. Participants develop important relationships with undergraduates that not only help them do their homework and understand difficult material but also encourage them to see themselves on a college campus one day. In the future, we intend to establish a “learning loss” program during the summer.
COBA youth also work with adult reading specialists, who dedicate their time to breaking down barriers to reading, improving comprehension skills and fostering greater concentration ability. The latter come from “The Reading Partners/Reading Champions Program,” made possible by collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.
The George A. Weiss Educational Center is a state-of-the-art educational setting with ten laptops, internet connectivity and a large SMART interactive learning board. A smaller adjacent room can be utilized for quiet study and special tutoring assistance. The Center was established two years ago through the generosity of George A. Weiss, Chairman of the “Say Yes to Education Foundation.”
b. Mentoring
Mentoring is a key component of COBA’s wraparound services. It includes informal activities like going out to dinner or a concert; going to the beach or a show with a family; check-ins by phone, text and social media; and “hanging out” once in a while. It can also be more formal, such as helping youth develop career goals, figuring out ways to prepare for meeting them, and/or providing assistance on job or college applications. Undergraduate tutors serve as peer mentor-role models for youth, while coaches serve as adult mentor-role models. One of our goals is to recruit additional adult mentors through partner organizations like Hands on Hartford, Leadership Greater Hartford and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, as well as outreach efforts with COBA graduates, friends and families.
Peer mentoring entails daily dialogue with undergraduates during practice, workouts, travel to competitions and spending time together at COBA. COBA youth also make campus visits with their mentors, where they meet other students, attend sorority or fraternity-sponsored Halloween parties, and participate in a year-end dinner. College resources are made fully available to COBA youth, and undergraduates take a personal interest in youth participants' education and growth. Thus, studying and schoolwork become a priority, and COBA youth develop the confidence to envision themselves attending college one day.
Additionally, COBA organizes a series of guest speakers who discuss their careers—and their pathways in forging these careers. We ask speakers to share their stories, emphasizing any adversity that they encountered so as to motivate our youth. Included are professionals such as lawyers, doctors, teachers and social workers. In addition, we invite trades people, public servants, artists and others to talk about their journeys. Our aim is to expose youth to different career paths, and to learn how to go about pursuing them.
Through collaboration with the Governor’s Prevention Partnership (GPP), COBA will be adding greater structure to its mentoring program in the future. GPP will assist COBA adapt its nationally acclaimed curriculum to our setting. GPP will also aide COBA in training peer and adult mentors in the curriculum, and provide support implementing it with COBA kids.
c. Life Skills Education
Life skills are indispensable for all kids. While many city youth have excellent life skills to survive on the streets, they often lack appropriate skills to survive in the wider world. Due to family fragmentation, high mobility and/or family dysfunction, kids need extremely strong supports. They also require access to safe, caring places that teach life skills. COBA offers life skills such as health and hygiene, financial literacy, goal setting, navigating available services and what it means to be a responsible adult. We also offer education on gang and drug prevention, conflict resolution, ways to prevent pregnancy, STDs and now, COVID-19. Further, we provide guidance on how and where to seek help on matters ranging from family violence, to housing, to the court system. Presentations and multi-week workshops are led by professionals with expertise in the above mentioned topics. COBA relies on the World Boxing Council’s curriculum for life skills instruction.
d. College Orientation
Upon COBA’s inception in 1988, it became the first entity in the country to combine an intercollegiate boxing program with an amateur boxing program for city youth. COBA availed an inspiring and hopeful new option, and potential reality, for urban youth: “COLLEGE!!” By training, traveling and competing side-by-side with college students, youth who had never thought of college as a reality were being exposed to campuses up and down the east coast. They began realizing that by staying in school (Hartford had a 30% - 40% drop out rate at the time) and working hard, they too could go to college or university.
COBA’s Executive Director, then Head Boxing Coach at Central Ct. State University, conceived the idea, which led to a partnership with the university. Simultaneously, the Executive Director forged another partnership with the YMCA, which provided space for COBA at Charter Oak Housing Project. Today, in our new facility, COBA administers both Trinity College’s and University of Hartford’s boxing programs, which make their home at COBA and are committed to exposing COBA’s children and youth to life and study on each campus. Now, our kids can begin to feel comfortable in a higher learning environment and strive to obtain admission. In short, COBA kids become the college students with whom they train, travel, compete and experience life with day in and day out.
SPECIALTY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
COBA offers several specialized programs that further bolster young people’s confidence and growth. These efforts represent excellent opportunities for boys and girls to explore who they are and what they want, including new career paths.
a. Girls Empowerment & Leadership Program
This program is designed to address unhealthy behaviors among at-risk tweens (ages 8-12) and teens (ages 13-18). It offers participants a chance to learn about positive lifestyles and builds their capacity to make healthier life choices. They also learn to be responsible and accountable. In effect, girls learn to lead themselves, and in turn, lead others.
Helping girls and young women to achieve their full potential is the best way to prevent them from engaging in risky behaviors. Through this program, girls have a safe place to learn and grow. They benefit from academic enrichment, positive adult role models, career exposure, and ways to engage in community service. Further, they obtain information about existing resources and guidance on embracing healthy choices.
Expectations:
- Reduction in high-risk behaviors.
- Strengthening self-protective mechanisms and demonstrating resiliency.
- Development of positive skills and behaviors that lead to healthier lifestyle choices and increased self-esteem.
For girls only, the program takes place every other Thursday for nine months. The first group coaching session, held at 5:30 p.m., is for tweens. The second, for teens, meets at 6:30 p.m. A typical group session lasts an hour. Generally, 6-9 girls attend each session. The small group format facilitates discussion and helps build trust. Sessions feature personal development and leadership modules.
Every year, girls, along with their female family members, develop their own "Dream Board." A "Dream Board" functions as a visually focused goal setting and motivational tool for the upcoming year. The visual representation contributes to their motivation, commitment to self, and achievement of personal and educational goals. Another program highlight is the Annual Galantine’s Day Celebration of Sisterhood on February 13th. Guests include female family members, mentors and friends. The event recognizes the importance of female friendships. We believe strong friendships give a sense of belonging and purpose, improve self-confidence, lower stress, and help cope with trauma and life challenges.
Annually, the girls also participate in a six-hour weekend Conscious Leadership Workshop that focuses on the "we" rather than the "me.” During the workshop, girls realize that their role as leaders is to create a culture of trust, care, and positive influence on others. Further, they learn that as girl leaders, they provide skills and support to their schools, families, and communities. Toward the end of the workshop, each girl is expected to make a five-minute presentation to demonstrate her leadership skills.
Group coaching for tweens and teens is an excellent means of exposing girls to a resource they can turn to in college and beyond. The coaching process helps them learn how to figure out who they are, find their place in the world, and use their voices to define their paths. It also raises powerful, thought-provoking questions that encourage girls to create new habits, new thoughts, new desires, new values, healthy boundaries, and explore ways to live better, happier lives. Through activities, games, and discussion, girls are called upon to explore their worlds. They learn that they have the right answers to their questions and know what they need to do. However, stress, confusion, and pain often clutter their thinking, making it harder to see the way.
Some have likened the coaching relationship to a professional friendship. The coach's job is to listen without judgment and ask probing questions that help participants define who they are and who they want to be. Girls learn lifelong personal development skills for all areas of their lives.
COBA’s program is led by Carmen Britt, a professional life coach who grew up in New York City. Carmen has worked with girls and women of color in non-profit and for-profit groups in New York and Connecticut for over 30 years. She serves as an important adult role model for participants. Girls readily identify with her because she has had many similar experiences as them; they can easily share their concerns, life experiences, and aspirations with her.
This program also offers one-on-one coaching sessions when requested by participants. In addition, participants can remain part of the program in subsequent years. We encourage girls to remain involved if they choose to do so. At the end of the program is a graduation ceremony, wherein each girl receives a certificate and a professional bi-fold outlining her accomplishments.
b. Youth Franchise
Boys and girls inclined toward entrepreneurship are encouraged to join COBA's distinctive Youth Franchise. Under the tutelage of staff, several of whom are business owners themselves, these youth learn about finance, management, sales, marketing and other facets of running a business. Using a hands-on approach, kids take part in planning upcoming COBA events (including competitions) and selecting team apparel. Participants also learn how to merchandize various products related to boxing training and competitions. Our staff guides them in packaging these items and creatively marketing them to youth, families and the wider community. Youth oversee and document all sales of items sold at COBA.
Another facet of the Youth Franchise is teaching youth how to manage COBA’s reception area. This entails learning appropriate social etiquette, handling phone calls, responding to phone and in-person inquiries, scheduling appointments, doing follow-up, handling flow issues and ensuring things are running on time. Youth are also responsible for tracking and managing data on current and prospective students and other program activities. Last, youth assist COBA parents with the application process and respond to any questions they may have.
Responsibilities entailed in being part of COBA's Youth Franchise help participants to sharpen their business skills and expose them to other aspects of boxing that can lead to a variety of career paths. Each of the skills learned is transferable to a work setting. In the process, youth gain a deepened sense of personal and social responsibility and excellent teamwork and time management skills.
c. Summer Adventure-Based Learning Program
Adventure-based learning consists of highly structured physical activity with periods of reflection that help promote personal and social development. It offers many benefits:
- - the ability to trust others and oneself, and to develop feelings of trustworthiness in oneself,
- - a sense of empowerment, or perceived feeling of control in one’s life, and
- - improved personal relationships, teamwork, motivation, self-esteem and life skills
For at-risk kids such programming is a lifeline—a way to take risks in a safe, controlled environment, find the courage to tap one’s inner strength and develop the determination to fulfill one’s potential.
COBA’s summer adventure-based learning program focuses on teamwork, reflection and addressing unfamiliar challenges. An emphasis is placed on transferring new knowledge and experiences into participants’ personal lives and strengthening their support systems. Participants are held to the principles that make them a family: respect, emotional safety, physical safety, accountability for self and the group, and being positive, honest and supportive. Program activities consist of the following:
- -Outdoor Rock Climbing Day. Open to all participants. May
- -Team Building Day and Family Celebration, held at Riverfront Recapture (including a climbing wall and High Ropes Course Activity). Open to all participants. June
- -Three-day backpacking expedition for girls. Participation based on involvement, age, and maturity. July
- -Three-day backpacking expedition for boys. Participation based on involvement, age, and maturity. August
- -Graduation Ceremony - Fall
In its fourth year, the program is a partnership between COBA and Outside Perspectives (OP), a Connecticut non-profit that provides transforming learning experiences for young people in the natural environment. OP offers courses, rock climbing, expeditions, and team-building experiences for schools, youth organizations and other groups statewide. Its staff consists of seasoned wilderness educators with 15+ years’ experience working with high-risk youth. Expeditions and activities take place in state and national parks.
d. Vocational Arts Orientation & Work Readiness Program
In its early stages, this effort strives to prepare COBA youth for employment during summer, after school and, if needed, following high school graduation. Its aim is to introduce students to a range of trades like painting, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, property maintenance and general handiwork. Hands-on workshops and demonstrations take place so that kids develop a practical, working knowledge of each trade.
This program also offers training and support in how to search for a job, resume building, interviewing skills and appropriate workplace behavior. Further, participants learn how to obtain a driver’s license, library card and social security card.
The program is led by Jorge Santiago, an independent contractor who maintains COBA’s building and has a strong connection with COBA youth. It takes place for two hours every other week during the school year, and three half-days each week of the summer.
e. Building Champions Leadership Group
Leadership skills are invaluable in the 21st century. We want youth to learn what leadership means and how to advocate for themselves. We also want them to learn how to be role models, maintain healthy relationships and figure out personal and professional goals. Through COBA’s ties with the World Boxing Council (WBC), we have access to an outstanding curriculum called “Building Champions: A Manual for Boxing Coaches and Their Boxing Students Where Character Counts.” It focuses on character development and life skills, and serves as the roadmap for the group. One of its authors is Coach Callas, who has a Masters in Social Work and has effectively handled hundreds of difficult cases at the Ct. Dept of Children and Families for three decades. COBA relies on this curriculum for teaching life skills.
MODALITIES
While COBA’s programs offer a tangible means by which youth can become “Champions of Life,” how to bring about that change is a different matter. Through COBA’s broad experience working with at-risk kids, we understand the most effective methods to help them realize their potential. That includes assisting participants to address any anger, hurt or trauma in their lives, often expressed through defiant attitudes and anti-social behavior. We also know how to ensure youth are receptive to a different way of thinking and acting. Last, we recognize change is hard—and takes time. Our staff understands that moving forward occurs at a different pace for everyone.
COBA employs three modalities to facilitate change among urban youth: Case Management, R.E.D. (Respect, Effort, Discipline) and P.R.I.D.E. (Pugilism, Respect, Integrity, Discipline and Education). While case management offers a window into a young person’s challenges and facilitates dialogue to help bring about change, R.E.D. and P.R.I.D.E. ensure youth stay on track and remain accountable. Put differently, we want to be as sensitive as possible to the life circumstances of each child, while encouraging them to “stay in the R.E.D. and have P.R.I.D.E.” as they participate in our programs.
a. Case management
Individual case management allows COBA to assess children’s psycho/social environment, personal strengths, areas for improvement and how they are experiencing the world. Through confidential communication, including supportive counseling with children and their families, we can obtain a fine-tuned understanding of our kids’ needs in the primary domains of their lives: school, extra-curricular activities, family, peers and the community. Case management also allows us to identify new needs, adapt existing activities and programs—and establish new ones. An example is the above-mentioned Vocational Arts Orientation / Work Readiness Program, which organically grew out of our 15- and 16-year-olds’ need for support at the prospect of entering the youth employment market last summer. Another example is the Girls Leadership & Empowerment Program, established based on the needs of our tween and teen girls.
Upon entrance to COBA, parents are ask to complete a comprehensive application/orientation packet in which they identify and sign releases for any professionals their children may be involved with, including child protection providers, juvenile justice workers, clinicians, educators, vocational trainers, etc. Parents are also asked to list which of COBA’s Specialty Support Programs and Wraparound Services they would like their children participate in. In addition, parents list what activities their children excel in, such as academics, sports, arts, drama, civics or something else. This includes any programs they may already be involved in that pertain to their strengths. Lastly, children are asked to complete an Individual Strengths Plan describing what they like to do that makes them feel good about themselves, what they are good at, what there dreams are and what they want to be when they grow up. On completing a two-month trial period and deciding to commit to COBA, children and their parents review the Orientation Packet with staff.
As youth participate in COBA programs, additional forms and notes documenting their participation in programs is submitted to their confidential file/case. If issues arise that are brought to the Academy’s attention by the parents or child, COBA refers the child to an appropriate provider. COBA serves as an active partner with providers and parents to uniformly address children’s needs. Parents are encouraged to meet with the Executive Director and respective staff between 7:00 –7:30 pm Monday-Friday to discuss their children’s past, present and future needs. Our aim is to see how the Academy can assist the child, who is our COBA Kid!
b. P.R.I.D.E.
For 31 years, positive reinforcement has been a hallmark of how COBA works with youth. Known as P.R.I.D.E., it is a strengths-based behavior modification program adapted from similar ones used in therapeutic settings for children and youth. Youth learn about important values like Pugilism, Education, Respect, Integrity and Discipline, or P.R.I.D.E. Through incentives, or rewards, P.R.I.D.E. affirms behavioral and attitudinal changes, as well as pro-social activities. Incentives motivate youth to participate in COBA programs as well as other endeavors like academics, sports, arts, drama, music and community service. For every 200 points earned, youth win a piece of team apparel or a hat, a water bottle and scholastic supplies such as book bags. Points are displayed on a large whiteboard next to the locker room where all can see. Ceremonies are held three times a year to celebrate participants’ accomplishments. Community acknowledgement of their accomplishments deepens young people’s sense of pride, and reinforces new ways of thinking and acting. The latter are often very hard.
c. R.E.D.
R.E.D. stands for Respect, Effort and Discipline. It is a redirection tool for coaches and staff to apply when youth digress from being respectful, give their full effort and do not following directives. It is an easy tool to apply because it reflects—and reinforces—COBA’s universal behavioral expectations. The tool provides a means to quickly hold youth accountable for their behavioral transgression. In addition, it allows kids to acknowledge their transgression and apologize.
Here is how it works. When participants fall short of R.E.D. expectations, they are asked to stop practice and sit alone in a quiet space to reflect about their lapse in behavior. This time-out period is brief, lasting for one boxing round, or three minutes. At the end of it, youth are required to report back to coaches or staff to explain their infraction and extend an apology. Each young person earns ten P.R.I.D.E. points for successfully processing a R.E.D. infraction. As indicated above, P.R.I.D.E. points are recorded on a large whiteboard, so youth and their peers can see where they stand in terms of points. Again, COBA always wants to take a positive approach with kids, even after an infraction. Public acknowledgement of P.R.I.D.E. points, by coaches, staff and peers, is an important means to reinforce healthy behavior.
R.E.D. was developed by Coach Callas through 30 years’ experience in implementing group work curricula for life skills groups among at-risk kids.