Boston

For Boston’s youth sports leaders, the work is personal

In Boston, efforts to expand access to youth sports are being driven not just by policy, but by locals who grew up in the system themselves.

At the center of that work are José Massó, the city’s Chief of Human Services, and Tyrik Wilson, Youth Sports Initiative Manager and the leader of Let’s Play Boston, a citywide initiative designed to make youth sports more accessible and equitable. Together, they are helping to shape how young people across Boston experience sports with a focus on expanding opportunity.

How Boston created a youth sports online directory

Last week, Boston became the 10th city to endorse the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports when Mayor Michele Wu signed the Project Play-developed statement at a public event and announced $300,000 in grants to support 55 community-based organizations. In adopting it, the mayor affirmed that “the City’s approach to youth sports will center the needs of youth, invest in play and qualified coaches, and commit to safe, healthy sports environments for all youth.”

The Aspen Institute recognizes Boston for its leadership and encourages other cities to take note of the experiment unfolding there – an example of how a municipality can unlock opportunities for youth through sports. Here, we explore one key innovation: a youth sports directory.