Skateboarding has countless parallels to everyday life. Outside of getting kids off their phones for a while as we teach skate techniques, we’ll also be having open discussions about how the lessons relate to other aspects of life. For example, learning that failure is a part of the process, or that impressive skills are often a result of compounding smaller, simpler fundamentals.

“The GRIND Program” was created to reach interested youth, particularly at-risk youth, by meeting them in an area of common interest. We use skateboarding, a sport that often attracts the disengaged and sometimes rebellious youth, to create an opportunity to speak truth into their lives. With this program, we can provide them with the feeling of being counter-culture within the walls of a safe and positive environment that is actively encouraging positive behavior instead of reinforcing negative ones.

What makes “The GRIND Program” truly special is our partnership with MISD and their after-school tutoring program. Students who meet their behavioral and academic goals during tutorials are rewarded by being able to spend their last 15 minutes with our skate club or they can even “graduate out” of tutorials and join us full-time.