The youth of Tioga have found a place they really feel at home at the Tioga United Baseball Field.
The Tioga United Baseball Organization has been an outlet for kids to get involved in baseball. With the help of coach David Fisher, this field is a safehaven for the boys that allows them to feel welcome while learning the skills of the game.
With the national juvenile crime rates among youth increasing between the times of 3 to 6 p.m., after-school programs decrease crime and increase student safety. A recent study found that over the course of six years, more than 5,000 youth in Philadelphia between the ages of 14-24 were either shot or killed.
Fisher mentioned that sports activities such as baseball allows mentors to build a strong bond with the kids.
“A lot of times, when you look at some of the things that are happening in the world today, I think our children have forgotten to build relationships,” said Fisher. “If we don’t teach them at this level, they’re really gonna have harder lessons when they get older.”
Philadelphia resident Tanya Bridges thinks after-school activities are a great way for kids to express themselves.
“You never know,” Bridges said, “your kid can be the next ‘whatever’ if they have the place and opportunity to learn and grow. After-school programs would be a wonderful thing for all kids.”
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– Text, video and images by Jennifer Joselin.
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