Changing Lives Through Lacrosse and Academics, with Harlem Lacrosse CEO Mike Levin More Than A Club

Thanks to our special guest, Mike Levin of Harlem Lacrosse.
Mike Levin has an awesome lacrosse resume, from learning the game in Upstate New York to playing at Brown University. Mike Continued his career playing professionally in the MLL.
In our conversation, Mike shares his passion for teaching, specifically in urban education. His connections to lacrosse led him to change lives through both lacrosse and academics. 
Here are some notes to help you enjoy this new episode.
19:40 - What is Harlem Lacrosse, and who do you serve?
-Deep intervention and academic monitoring, a smaller number of kids with a higher number of hours
-Lacrosse is central to the experience, but the most important outcomes have nothing to do with lacrosse
-40 Program Directors, 1300 kids in middle school and high schools
-College placement and support
Alumni services post-college and carreer success
23:30, Challenges of resources - investment required to fill equity gaps and operate within school systems
26:00, Race and diversity within the lacrosse community 
27:00, Developing cultural competency and discussing systemic racism and inequalities 
30:30 Supporting the community through intense times through the pandemic and George Floyd protests 
33:00 Training, developing, empowering anti-racist educators
35:30. Impact Report on Academic Improvement and more
40:40 Personal pathing towards academic success 
42:00 Champions of Harlem Lacrosse
Youth Sports Hot Topics
43:25, For Coaches
-Culture trumps curriculum 
-Scaffolding
-Principles and variables
50:30, For Players 
-Be a great teammate
-Growth Mindset
-Sport Outcomes
57:00, For Parents 
-Where Harlem Lacrosse is headed and how to support
Rapid Fire NXT Homework (1:00:00)
For Parents: Let your kids find their joy within the sport
For Coaches: Think about what you want the sport to be, and think about your broader responsibilities to the sport. 
For Players: Spend time thinking about what it means to be a great teammate. What will your teammates say about the type of teammate you were?
For more on Harlem Lacrosse, click here.