Mind Shift Sports is a nonprofit youth development organization that serves children. We prepare underserved young people—particularly youth from Title I schools and the foster care system—for successful transitions into adulthood, education, and the workforce. We teach kids that are in healthy families resiliency and empathy. Through structured sports programming, and trauma-informed mentoring the organization builds critical employability skills including communication, teamwork, leadership, accountability, and problem solving. By engaging certified educators as coaches and career mentors, Mind Shift Sports provides consistent adult support, peer monitoring, and exposure to career pathways that strengthen school engagement and workforce readiness. The program advances equitable opportunities for transition-age youth by connecting athletics to life-skills training, community service, and workforce development resources that promote stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term economic mobility.
Our mission is utilize sports as a
vehicle to empower youth, strengthen families, and build community.
Challenges Facing children in urban, rural communities which lead to significant challenges that hinder their academic, social, and physical well-being. These challenges include:
Low standardized test performance for grades 3–10
High rates of childhood obesity
Low community awareness and parental involvement in school activities
Limited partnerships between schools and local small businesses
Lack of inclusivity for gender, culture, and special needs
High suspension, expulsion, and truancy rates (grades 9–12)
Limited focus on character development and mentorship opportunities
Unstable home lives
These issues disproportionately impact students in the Baton Rouge and Shreveport area, creating barriers to success both in and out of school.
Goals and Objectives Goals:
Empower Youth Development: Increase critical thinking, grit, and resilience in students by fostering an environment that builds skills, character, and teamwork, preparing them for success both on and off the field.
Strengthen Families: Connect families with accessible services and resources that empower them to thrive within their communities.
Boost Local Economies: Generate revenue for small businesses by offering them vendor opportunities at MSS events, helping them market and sell their goods to a larger audience.
Cultivate Lifelong Skills: Instill essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork, and a growth mindset while promoting health, wellness, and a passion for lifelong learning and sport.
