the scene [profile]
Steve’s Club
Local clubs nationwide
By Liz Wolfe with Lee Knight and Steve Liberati PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE BRYANT
socially awkward, overweight teen walks into Steve’s Club for This impact is now felt at more than 10 local clubs across the United the first time, with so-called “anger issues” and a self-esteem States. The coaching, mentorship, and positive environments they problem disguised as a bad attitude. Four months later, that provide are placing the tools for success squarely in kids’ hands–and same teen has a whiteboard’s worth of accomplishments, new friends, they are thriving. and a ready smile. Steve’s Club Camden, located outside Camden, NJ, one of the What changed? nation’s most crime-ridden cities, has developed pilot programs to In truth, it’s still the same kid. It’s the same school environment and offer templates to other local Steve’s Clubs, including an annual career the same life challenges. But two key things are different: the kid has a day, a mentorship and tutoring program, a rewards program, and a brand new set of tools, and he has the willingness to use them. Steve’s Club store. The true “tools” of CrossFit aren’t the bars, kettlebells, or rings. The With the support of multiple CrossFit affiliates in Sacramento, a local tools are the coaches, the challenges, California club called FIT (FirebreathersCrossFit begins as an outlet and the work itself. CrossFit begins as an in-Training) works exclusively with at-risk outlet for the pent-up energy of a kid with young women, many of whom are from for the pent-up energy of a kid few options and low expectations and the state juvenile justice system. FIT strives with few options and low turns into a place to grow in both physical to expose young women to a wide variety strength and mental fortitude. expectations and turns into a place of CrossFit activities, including Olympic The keys to success at Steve’s Club are to grow in both physical strength weightlifting. no different from the keys to anyone’s Kelly’s Champions, a local club led by and mental fortitude. success, whether from a disadvantaged Kelly McQueen with the sponsorship of community or one at the highest level of CrossFit Cypress based in Houston, TX, opportunity. At Steve’s Club, the core values of integrity, respect, has provided goal-setting workshops, participated in local CrossFit self-improvement, teamwork, support, positivity, discipline, competitions, and recently started an all-girls program (FitGirls) at the character, and a sense of community are pivotal to lasting success local elementary school. and a strong sense of self. We teach these values with our motto in Steve’s Club King of Prussia, with sponsoring CrossFit affiliate mind: “One kid at a time.” CrossFit King of Prussia in Bridgeport, PA, has established valuable We know that CrossFit is a powerful vehicle for personal change. We mentorship opportunities for its youth, including a partnership with the know that change requires just a few committed individuals. We also local Police Athletic League. know that the sum of small details, done with consistency and care, Steve’s Club NYC, with sponsoring CrossFit affiliate CrossFit can have the greatest impact. Virtuosity, provides athletes with opportunities to train to be mentors
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PHOTO: George Bryant