When Heather Langerman (BS09) graduated from SESP, she wanted a job where she could make a difference and see how policy could help solve pressing issues in American cities. She found it with the AmeriCorps VISTA program and a small nonprofit called Up2Us.
Up2Us is a small start-up nonprofit dedicated to using sports as a tool for positive youth development by helping disadvantaged youth stay in school, stay out gangs and remain healthy. "As I read more about the connection between sports and positive youth development, I became a strong believer in the Up2Us mission. Research proves that youth who play sports complete homework more often, have a stronger connection to school, have a better chance of graduating high school, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, are less likely to become pregnant, are less likely to suffer from chronic health conditions like asthma and diabetes and are more likely to stay active as adults," says Langerman.
In the year she's been working with Up2Us Langerman has had considerable impact. In one year the nonprofit coalition has attracted more than 450 youth sports organizations serving more than 12 million youth, all with a mission of sports for social change. "Much of our success is because of the diligence of one of your recent SESP alumni, Heather Langerman," according to Paul Caccamo, head of Up2Us. "Given the First Lady's focus on childhood obesity and the concern nationally on the drop-out rates, Heather's story in helping us build Up2Us is quite inspiring."
At Up2Us, Langerman serves as the member services coordinator. Since Up2Us is an umbrella organization made up of sports-based youth development organizations, she works to bring these members benefits that will improve the quality of their program. For example, this year she worked on partnerships to help members in various ways, such as with an insurance provider who provides reduced-cost insurance. She also sends out communications to help members recruit employees and volunteers, and she disseminates resources to members such as toolkits, research and event information.
This year Langerman participated in two events she found particularly inspirational. In January, she attended the first training institute for Coach Across America, which places coaches in underprivileged communities. "Getting to meet and interact with the coaches who are doing this worthy and admirable work was extremely special - they are the people whose work will contribute to a lower obesity rate and higher graduation rate in some of the most dangerous and vulnerable communities in the country." In February, she accompanied 25 inner-city youth from an Up2Us member program to meet the president at the White House. "Attending the event was a huge thrill. The kids were really excited ... Hopefully it was an experience they will remember forever," she notes.
Langerman sees Up2Us as being very successful with many exciting programs on the rise. The Up2Us program model that uses sports as a tool for positive youth development is called Sports-Based Youth Development. "I was so inspired to read about a solution that works that I signed on in September to join the Up2Us team," she says.
She has also seen the positive impact of sports in her own life. "Playing sports in elementary, middle and high school taught me discipline, time-management skills and leadership skills," she says. "Most importantly, playing sports increased my self-confidence and academic focus and gave me a positive, encouraging environment where I could spend time with my peers."
Langerman views her work at Up2Us as a natural progression from her work at SESP. "One of the most important lessons I learned at SESP was the importance of being proactive and innovative in order to solve today's pressing public policy issues. To me, sports represents a creative way to solve the problems present in our communities today," she says. "In SESP, I also learned about the power of consensus - without agreement between people and parties, nothing will get done. I have found through my work at Up2Us that everyone can agree on sports, especially those who played sports as children and are active as adults."