by Rama K. Ramaswamy
“Straight Outta School Sports,” a new community building program designed by Community Investors, held the first ever Girl Power Hour on April 7 at Wellesley Middle School (WMS). During the event, girls were invited to join an hour of no-fee fun, including basketball, double Dutch, cheering lessons, and kid-directed free play. Special guests included Odessa Sanchez (WHS cheerleading coach), Erin Stickle (varsity field hockey coach), and WMS teachers as well as members of the Babson women’s basketball team, all of whom added to the afternoon’s excitement and access to mentorship.
“Recreation, free play and unstructured down-time with friends are all important for de-stressing, and for the physical and mental health for all teens,” said Community Investors founders Joseph P. Roberts, Jr. and Christopher Cavallerano. “Challenge Success at WHS is emphasizing Play as an important aspect of life as a teenager. Currently, Community Investors’ ‘Straight Outta School Sports’ is addressing this need by offering play for all at WMS: coed ‘Straight Outta School Sports’ programs including dodgeball, flag football, soccer, three-on-three basketball, and now Girl Power Hour.”
Furthermore, according to Roberts, President of Community Investors, who ran the program, “both the WMS and the Babson girls had fun playing together! It was our first attempt at a girl-focused program at WMS, and all of us who were there looked at each other and said ‘Wow, this is really good!’ We know we can develop it even more with other Babson and Wellesley College teams, and look forward to the concept providing many more ‘Positive Impactful Experiences’ to Wellesley’s Middle School, Wellesley High School and local college students!” Roberts also expressed thanks to the “generous grant from the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club” for the Girl Power Hour after-school program. Roberts plans to “continue this as an ongoing program at WMS next fall and winter.”
“The WHJWC is proactively recognizing the importance of an hour of pure recreation at the end of a stressful school day for all middle school students,” Roberts said, “and that girls sometimes need their own space to feel comfortable just playing. Community Investors is excited to offer a program that fills a need in the WMS community for girls and helps with making them physically and mentally healthier.”
