InnerCity Weightlifting

InnerCity Weightlifting
Founded2010 (2010)
FounderJon Feinman
Location(s)
Websitewww.innercityweightlifting.org

InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW) is a 501(c) non-profit organization founded in Boston, Massachusetts. The organization originated as a gym, that wanted to keep youth off the streets, and now is as well a source of education, job-training, and employment in personal training for young people who have been imprisoned and/or connected to street gangs.

ICW focuses on working with the young people characterized as the highest risk population in Boston for violence.

History

InnerCity Weightlifting was founded in 2010 by Jon Feinman. Feinman has a background in Olympic weightlifting and personal training.[1]

In 2015, ICW expanded into a second location in Kendall Square, Cambridge. ICW's second location is designed as a fitness studio where its most devoted student trainers earn a living by training several clients a week, and traveling to nearby offices for corporate workout sessions.[2]

Services

ICW offers numerous services.

  • Educational services such as GED tutoring
  • Finding safe affordable housing
  • Job placement and training

Impact

Innercity Weightlifting has engaged with 150 "high risk students" and has seen a 78% reduction in student trainer arrests after joining ICW.[3] Many students of ICW have celebrated record periods out of prison.[4]

Personal training

ICW offers an apprenticeship program that primes its most dedicated students for a career in personal training. ICW opened a second location in Kendall Square, Cambridge in 2015 with the goal of improving the economic and social mobility of its student trainers.[5] In Kendall Square, student trainers are able to take on clients, and travel to nearby offices to train corporate employees.

Media and recognition

InnerCity Weightlifting has been featured in articles from The Huffington Post,[6] The Boston Globe,[7] Boston Magazine,[8] and has been featured in video segments of the CBS Evening News,[9] ESPN's SportsCenter,[4] New England Sports Network,[10] and ABC News.[11]

Additionally, ICW has received various local and national awards from the Boston Celtics,[12] Babson College,[13] Year Up, Good Sports, Cabot Creamery,[14] and Anytime Fitness.[15] Founder Jon Feinman was named one of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 2014 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders,[16] and was named a 2012 Social Innovator by Social Innovation Forum,[17] Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year;[18] ICW won the 19th annual Rosoff Award for workplace diversity.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ Waterman, Toni (20 October 2011). "Weightlifting Program Helps At-Risk Kids". PBS. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Leung, Shirley (4 December 2014). "Guys with criminal records get a new start in Kendall Square". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Guys with criminal records get a new start in Kendall Square". Boston Globe. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 "SC Featured: Redefining Strength". ESPN. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Benefits of Custom Weightlifting Belts". gunsmithfitness.com. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  6. ↑ Klein, Sarah (January 15, 2013). "nnerCity Weightlifting: How Gyms For At-Risk Youths Change Lives Through Physical Fitness". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Yvonne, Abraham (5 May 2013). "Staying alive, building a life after battling on streets". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Malamut, Melissa (13 August 2013). "From The Streets To The Gym". Boston Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  9. ↑ Glor, Jeff (23 December 2013). "Inner-city weightlifting offers oasis to ex-convicts". CBS Evening News. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Hartwell, Darren (6 March 2015). "T.Y. Green Using Boston's Inner-City Weightlifting To Turn Life Around". New England Sports Network. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Reinstein, Ted (11 December 2013). "Boston Strong: Inner City Weightlifting". ABC News. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Heroes Among Us- November 2012". NBA. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Babson College Recognizes Outstanding Students And Alumni With Changemaker Awards". Metro MBA. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Meet the Nonprofits, Men and Boys of color". Associated Grant Makers. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Anytime Fitness Honors InnerCity Weightlifting with 'Inspiration' Award". Club Industry. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "Boston Chamber Ten Outstanding Leaders" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  17. ↑ "2012 Social Innovators". Root Cause. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  18. ↑ "EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 New England". Ernst and Young. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  19. ↑ Chmura, Michael (20 May 2015). "InnerCity Weightlifting Honored With Ad Club's Rosoff Award". Babson Blogs. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "InnerCity Weightlifting". The Lynch Foundation. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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