Girls' Empowerment Sports Events ($45,000)

Committee: Youth

Cost: $45,000

Location: War Memorial, CPS building gyms, and others for up to three years.

Short Description: Expand the Cambridge Sports Night for Girls to include multiple events each year for youth in elementary and upper school. These fun events let young girls try different sports in a supportive community setting!

Long Description: 

For the past four years, the Women’s Commission and the Recreation Department has organized an annual Cambridge Sports Night for Girls to engage elementary school-age girls in grades K-5, and their families. The event is organized in partnership with the Cambridge Girls in Sports Committee (CGiS), led by the Women’s Commission and the Rec. Dept., and has the support of CPS, the Mayor, and the City Manager. 

Given the wonderful success of the events, this proposal aims to support an expansion of the program to an additional Cambridge Sports Night for Girls for K-5, plus a program or event aimed at middle school students. All three events (two K-5 nights and a middle school day) would provide food, t-shirts, swag, speaker fees, etc. The proposal could also potentially include tickets to local university or professional women’s sporting events to all participants. The middle school event could include participation from trainers, nutritionists, mental health support, etc.

Previous Cambridge Sports Night for Girls have reached between 150-200 youth per event. If another event was offered in late summer/early autumn with additional resources and support, impact would expand. In addition, other sports with summer or fall sign-ups such as fall soccer, ice hockey, and basketball could be included.

A young Cambridge community member practicing basketball skills at a Sports Night for Girls event.	Young community member practicing softball at a Sports Night for Girls event.