Beat the Streets Cleveland

Beat the Streets Cleveland is a not-for-profit organization that was formed in 2016 by people whose lives have been positively influenced by the sport of wrestling. Through the sport of wrestling, Beat the Streets Cleveland teaches area youth, mostly from underresourced communities, the important concepts of respect, teamwork, leadership, integrity and perseverance by helping them to build relationships with coaches, who serve as mentors and role models. The valuable lessons these student-athletes learn help them to succeed both on and off the wrestling mat. Beat the Streets Cleveland is opening doors for youth that would otherwise be closed.

Following a successful model established by Beat the Streets National, Beat the Streets Cleveland creates after school wrestling programs in Cleveland public schools that include a structured mentoring portion and focus on the relationships built between the student-athletes and the coaches. We use coaches from the community, along with volunteers from nearby college wrestling teams. The programs provide everything that the student-athletes need, including wrestling shoes, headgear, shorts, T-shirts, and a healthy snack with each program holding practices typically 2X per week during a 6-week season in April/May with one site operating 5X per week during the winter season. In 2019, we had 2 sites and are expanding to 5 total sites in 2020, serving about 35 student-athletes per site, including the following locations:

Robinson G. Jones
4550 W 150th St,
Cleveland, OH 44135

Joseph M Gallagher School
 6601 Franklin Blvd,
Cleveland, OH 44102

Anton Grdina
2955 E 71st St,
Cleveland, OH 44104

Harvey Rice Wraparound School
2730 E 116th St,
Cleveland, OH 44104 

Cleveland Central Catholic High School
6550 Baxter Ave,
Cleveland, OH 44105

Amateur sports can play a critical role in youth development by teaching children work ethic and character traits that they will carry throughout life. Unfortunately, quality sports programs, especially wreslting programs, are far less prevelant in low income communities. The barriers to participating in sports that children living in impoverished communities face continue to increase. Beat the Streets Cleveland is working to change this trajectory. 

Wrestling is one of the world's oldest and most diverse sports and embodies the hard work and perseverance it takes to succeed in life. The sport has been a unifying force for nations throughout the world, and has had a positive impact on student-athletes from all walks of life. With your support, Beat the Streets Cleveland plans to make a lasting impact in underserved Cleveland communities, for many years to come.