Sports for Social Change
SOUL
Did You Know...
SOUL wins at the Jordan Brand Classic
Our youth won hundred pairs of Air Jordan for SOUL during the half-time shooting competition at the Jordan Brand Classic! We thank Nike, Jordan Brand, and Events DC for that opportunity.
The Corporate Challenge
We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the SOUL Corporate Challenge. Please support us by registering a team to participate in our largest philanthropic event of the year.
2X-IMPACT Campaign
Help us engage 500 youth through youth enrichment programs, family outreach, and collaborations with community-based initiatives and organizations.
At Youth Sports Day 2024!
Fight for Children says 2,000 people attended Saturday’s Youth Sports Day. 37 nonprofit organizations from the Fight for Children Youth Development Institute were in attendance, like SOUL Programs.
Summer Impact Report
Thank you for helping us provide a SOULful summer for 147 low-income DC youth. Between June and August (2024) we dedicated 429 programming hours to youth enrichment, engaged 147 unduplicated DC youth, and saved low-income families a combined total of $129,810.00, which was accomplished by eliminating summer camp cost and activity fees.
Partnering with Nike Basketball Camp
We have partnered with Nike to facilitate a free basketball camp for 125 Ward 7 and Ward 8 youth. The camp runs from July 29-August 5. This opportunity with created in partnership with DC Parks & Recreations, Chase Your Dreams Academy, and SOUL Programs.
Back to NYC with NBPA
For a second several SOUL Youth were selected to attend the National Basketball Player Association (NBPA) and Five-Star Basketball Camp in New York City.
IMPACT Sportsmanship Summit
We are excited to announce the 2024 SOUL IMPACT SPORTSMANSHIP SUMMIT will be held in Washington DC on Thursday, June 27th
SOUL SELECT Basketball Academy
We currently have five SOUL Select Teams!
Boys: 9u, 11u, 15u, 16u, and 17u
Contact us for more information and practice times.
Sports Analytics Programs
SOUL Programs in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton is launching an 8-week Sports Analytics Program for DC high-school students. The group will meet on Fridays at HD Woodson High School.
IMPACT Fellow
Jaylen joins the SOUL Team via our IMPACT Sportsmanship Fellowship!
SOUL Supports the Triple Threat High School Basketball Classic
SOUL continues to provide access for local student-athletes through our sponsorship of the Triple Threat Classic. This annual high school basketball classic places a spotlight on some of the DMV’s best basketball players.
Reds Against Racism Panel @ NMAAHC!
Damion Thomas [Sports Curator, NMAAHC-Smithsonian] and Herbert Hainer [President, FC Bayern-Munich] invited Donald Curtis [SOUL Programs], DeMaurice Smith [President, NFLPA], and Taj Tashombe [Oakland Athletics] to serve on a panel to discuss sports and racism.
SOUL collaborates with DC United via Soccer & Soar
SOUL recognized by the ASPEN INSTITUTE!
We are proud to announce that SOUL Programs was selected as an Aspen Institute Project Play Champion for 2022!
Volunteers Needed!
Calling all tutors, coaches, and mentors! We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to join the team!
Prioritizing Life Skills As We Return to Play
Events of the past few months have brought high anxiety, grief and trauma for kids and families. As we return to play, what actions can we take to ensure that life skills and mental health are central to kids’ sports experiences? What role can adults play in shaping these experiences?
Connecting in a time of disconnect.
The Washington Post wrote an article on Donald Curtis and SOUL’s mission to supporting youth through COVID-19. The article was written by Sports Writer Ken Babb. This article was featured on the front page of the Sunday Sports page (5/31/2020).
DC United raises a toast to SOUL
Latest News
“Between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m., or 3 and 7 p.m. sometimes, 8 o’clock sometimes, those kids are with us,” said Donald Curtis, founder and executive director at Soul Programs. “You don’t have to worry about those kids being in the street, being somewhere where they don’t need to be.” Access article: Youth Sports […]
For the past seven years, Curtis has been gathering at-risk young people — mostly African American boys who live in public housing and play sports — for a once-a-week group chat with SOUL, his community outreach program. Sometimes attendees discuss basketball, Curtis’s first love, but often the former coach steers the conversation toward education, business […]
When you think of a superhero, what comes to mind? Oftentimes, people envision someone with superhuman powers soaring through the sky doing heroic deeds. Within our own communities, there are everyday people with superpowers, though at first glance, we may miss their heroism. Too often, the people on the ground doing good aren’t recognized for […]