Akron, Ohio, Invests $100K in Youth Sports to Curb Violence Among Younger Generation

This week, the mayor of Akron, Ohio, announced a $100,000 grant to fund youth sports organizations throughout the city. In releasing these funds, Shammas Malik hopes to combat youth violence in Akron.

According to Ideastream Public Media, last week a shooting injured 15 minors at the Mason Community Learning Center. The tragedy marks a continued increase in youth violence throughout Akron, and Malik sees youth sports as a potential answer to that problem.

The grants will cover program fees, equipment, coaches’ stipends, additional safety equipment and expanded outreach for roughly 50 youth sports programs across the city. Each program will receive between $1,500 and $5,000.

Following the shooting at Mason CLC, Eufrancia Lash, president of 100 Black Men of Akron, pleaded with city leadership. "We need tangible investments and programs, sustained funding for safe spaces and committed mentorship for our youth," he said. "We need you to open your doors, share your resources and demonstrate for our young people that they are not forgotten."

Raymond Sibley, director of Akron East Youth Football, sees the youth sports funding as the perfect investment. “It helps a lot of the kids stay out of trouble, prevents a lot of crimes in the neighborhood during the day,” Sibley said. “We do things like try to feed them after practice so they don’t go home hungry or anything like that.” 

Akron East Youth Football is one of the organizations receiving a grant from the city of Akron. About $2,000 will go toward providing a safe space for 75 to 150 youth football players, purchasing equipment like helmets and shoulder pads, and covering fees for low-income kids. Akron East Youth Football also organizes mentorship and study tables for homework help.

“The spirit, the energy, the heart, the passion of everyone working together on this issue – I have no doubt that we are going to address it,” Mayor Shammas Malik said.