Beat the Streets

A positive youth development charity advancing the education of low-income children & youth in the GTA through combat sports and skill-building opportunities.

 

Vision

A world where every young person is empowered to go after their dreams.

Mission

Advance the education of low-income youth in the GTA through fun and unique sports, life skills and employment-based development programs.

Values

Resiliency | honesty | fun | growth | self-leadership | community.

Building a community of resilient, confident and active youth.

Poverty can negatively impact a child's academic, social and economic outcomes.

 

We passionately believe that sports, skill-building and mentoring can change that.

Goals

  • To increase access to learning programs and tools to help low-income youth become productive and successful individuals because…

    More than 125,000 children and youth live in poverty in the GTA. In Peel, 52% of neighbourhoods are considered low-income, and in the Peel District School Board, 27,839 students live in poverty. Barriers to access can prevent children and youth from realizing their full potential.

  • To encourage growth and purpose-driven mindsets because…

    Empowering youth can help reduce poverty and crime and improve living standards. Empowered youth can make a difference and support healthy and vibrant communities.

  • To develop GRIT (passion and perseverance for long-term goals) through physical fitness, sports promotion and life skills mastery because…

    Physical wellbeing is a predictor of academic achievement and active lifestyles and a great place to learn life skills.

  • To champion youth voices and encourage youth-driven community action because…

    Youth need a place at the decision-making table.

Activities

  • 36% of Canadian children and youth meet the minimum level recommended for physical literacy…

    So we deliver fun and unique programs using combat sports (boxing, kickboxing and wrestling) to teach transferable movement skills and encourage physical literacy and confidence, building blocks for an active lifestyle.

  • The Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says “Bouncing back from today’s stresses is one of the best life skills children and youth can develop”…

    So all our programs use evidence-based approaches and experiential activities to teach social-emotional skills and improve the resiliency of BTS youth.

  • The workplace is changing at a fast pace, demanding new skills and competencies…

    So we deliver employment programs and provide youth with the opportunity to build the hard and soft skills needed to thrive and exceed in the workplace.

  • Mentoring can help youth feel more confident and make healthier life choices…

    So we provide BTS youth with coaching and life skill building opportunities to help them believe that anything is possible.

History of Beat the Streets: empowering youth through sports programs

Since its inception in 2014, Beat the Streets (BTS) has been on a remarkable journey, driven by a heartfelt commitment to youth development programs. Founded by former York University wrestling coach John Park, BTS was born out of a desire to share the invaluable life lessons learned through wrestling. Recognizing the need to provide tools and support for young individuals facing socio-economic barriers, John set out to help them dream big and reach their full potential.

Inspired by the impressive achievements of BTS New York and BTS Philadelphia, renowned for their impactful wrestling and mentoring programs with a remarkable 99% graduation rate, BTS modelled itself after these organizations. Over the past seven years, we have developed and implemented fitness and well-being programs that have touched the lives of over 28,300 young people. By combining physical fitness and life-skill building, we strive to inspire active and healthy youth, focusing on nurturing their mind and body.

Our evidence-based approach to advancing education has been instrumental in empowering low-income youth to develop their physical literacy, enhance their social-emotional well-being, and improve their employment skills. Within our safe and inclusive environment, we provide a supportive platform where young individuals can thrive and grow.

In April 2021, we achieved the significant milestone of becoming a registered charity, reinforcing our dedication to making a lasting impact on the lives of youth. Despite the pandemic, we adapted to the challenges by delivering our development programs online to schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Through partnerships with the Toronto District School Board, the City of Brampton, the Peel District School Board, and the Peel Catholic District School Board, we have reached out to many young people, bringing our unique youth programs to the communities we serve.

Join us on our mission as we continue to create transformative opportunities for young individuals. Together, we can empower youth, break down barriers, and build a brighter future. With Beat the Streets, we pave the way for a world where every young person can thrive and realize their potential through sports programs and holistic development.

  • Simply stated, my life, in every way, has been greatly enhanced through my involvement with sport. In my case, it was wrestling. In others, it can be another sport, music, drama or love of the outdoors. The key is passion, surrounding our youth with people of character and giving them the support and tools necessary to believe in themselves. Ultimately, the quest is inwards and helping youth find that inner power inside all of us.

    Through my coaching career, I learned firsthand how transformative sport could be. I saw it and experienced it first hand, and to this day, I love the relationship I have developed with so many of those athletes I had the privilege to coach and know.

    Once my business career was winding down, I felt it was time to give back, repay some of the coaching, mentoring, support and camaraderie I had received and enjoyed in my youth, and continue to enjoy and pay it forward to another generation.

    I believe in our youth. They are now the greatest generation, they are changing the world, and it is our duty and my duty to help them along the way and trust they will find themselves in the process.

    BEAT the STREETS is here to assist in that process.

    John Park

“The key is passion, surrounding our youth with people of character and giving them the support and tools necessary to believe in themselves.”
— John Park

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