Brendan O'Connor

Beat the Streets Providence

Beat the Streets Providence is a non-profit committed to inspiring urban youth for success in school and life through the vehicle of co-educational wrestling. We use our program as a hook to draw at-risk students into a positive after-school environment where they receive mandatory academic support, connect to strong mentors, engage in healthy physical activity, learn about nutrition and general health, and incentives to attend and succeed in school. Over the past three years we have brought wrestling, athletic and academic opportunity, and change to 13 Providence schools and over 700 students. Through our program we have measurably improve student attendance, overall health, self- confidence and grit.