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The program was founded by CEO Khali Sweeney, who wanted to give the kids in Detroit’s east side a safe place to go outside of school to learn and grow into mature adults ready for life after high school.
Downtown Boxing Gym helps kids in three spaces: the classroom, the ring and in life. In their first year in the program, students improve their academic standing in school by an average of one letter grade. DBG provides daily tutoring, help with homework, test preparation, project completion and math/literacy intervention.
When it comes to the ring, the kids learn about discipline, fitness and how to form lasting relationships. Even parents are encouraged to get involved and take on the role of “head coach” in their child’s life, strengthening familial bonds.
The values and lessons learned in the classroom and in the ring are applied to everyday life by requiring the students to partake in community service. They work with Detroit’s Forgotten Harvest, a nonprofit organization that works to end hunger and food waste in Metro Detroit. During the summer, the kids work in Forgotten Harvest’s gardens and, during the school year, they help sort food in the warehouse. In addition to Forgotten Harvest, the kids also play baseball with The Miracle League, a baseball team in Plymouth for children with special needs.
Attending the gym is free for kids that are accepted into the program, which is made possible by donations and fundraising. The cost to provide one child with one year of services is $1,800. With limited resources, DBG serves a limited number of students. More than 150 kids are enrolled in DBG at any given moment, but there are hundreds of other kids waiting to join. Fortunately, anyone can make a donation to the Gym or apply to volunteer.
