As of September 2018, MetroLacrosse has merged with Harlem Lacrosse!
Mission
Harlem Lacrosse’s mission is to empower the children who are most at risk for academic decline and dropout to rise above their challenges and reach their full potential. Harlem Lacrosse inspires children to dream about tomorrow while working hard on the field and in the classroom today.
Our History and Merge with Harlem Lacrosse-Boston
MetroLacrosse began as a community, sports-based youth development program whose mission was to foster positive life enrichment, character development and healthy life choices among urban youth through enhanced participation in the team sport of lacrosse. Formally established in 2000, MetroLacrosse’s initial goal was to diminish the disparity between sports programs available to Boston’s urban youth as compared to their suburban counterparts, and evolved over the next 18 years as it further identified specific outcomes deemed most critical to the success of young people. In 2018, MetroLacrosse recognized the opportunity to achieve a more profound impact on urban youth by merging its existing programs with Harlem Lacrosse and adopting its school-based model here in Boston, which places program directors in each of its partner schools throughout the school year. We currently operate in 5 Boston Public Schools and continue to run programs at our community sites in Dorchester and Chelsea for the several hundred "returning" boys and girls, 5th grade through high school, that do not currently attend our partner schools. The merge has significantly increased our opportunities to motivate, inspire, and support the youth in Boston and we look forward to what is to come in 2019!
Metro-Harlem Merger Announcement
Harlem Lacrosse - Boston
“We feel comfortable talking to the coaches and they open up to us and help us with our problems because they care about you, even if you’re struggling in class.” – Male, 5th Grade
“There is nothing like Metro. It’s more than a sport, it’s a family and I feel like there’s nothing like that at school and everyone really cares for you along with the coaches caring and make you the best you can be that is what makes it so great.” Female, 7th Grade
“MetroLacrosse taught me how to be a leader. It happened over time because you have to set an example for your team.” – Male, 8th Grade
“Metro helped me finding a sport I liked and Metro helped me be a better teammate and person in general and it made me commit and have a passion to something even after high school. It made me realize I could love something a lot” – Female, 9th Grade
“MetroLacrosse inspires you to do a lot. And they’re helpful, our coaches, they’re helpful. They tell you you should put school before anything.” – Male, 6th grade