Community Organization Activities

Lost Boyz Inc. Interview with LaVonté Stewart Sr., Director/Founder

 

Lost Boyz Inc. is a non-profit community organization based in South Shore. We offer youth baseball and softball for ages 4-18.

Founded in September of 2008 by LaVonté Stewart Sr., Lost Boyz Inc. is a non-profit located on the South Side of Chicago. Our organization services youth ages 4 to 17, focused primarily on ultra high-risk youth, incarcerated youth, alienated youth, low income youth, and abused youth. As a result of our efforts since 2008, 129 children from the South Shore community and 32 children detained in the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) have stayed trouble free for a range of four to nine months while occupied with our athletic and youth leadership activities.

The first phase of the program, Winter Clinic, is conducted indoors, from January until early March. Participants are taught appropriate behavior and safety on and off the field, the history of baseball, and physical conditioning. Game skills enhancement is the goal, but improving academically, increasing one’s baseball knowledge, and giving back to the community are all important as well; this is accomplished through Tutoring and Service Learning activities (involves community service and academics). Past activities have included Earth Day and Worm Composting.

The second phase of the program is Spring Training & Summer League, which moves from indoors to outdoors for 10 weeks of training and competitive play. Here, all players are assessed by a series of measures; new players are drafted by an interested team or lottery, and returning players are either traded or returned to their previous team. From May until August, each team plays approximately 30 games in competitive play and faces teams from the Chicagoland area. All teams will make the playoffs, which is a three round, best-of, round-robin tournament. Again, players will participate in Service Learning activities, but will also participate in fun outings, such as a trip to a White Sox game.

Located at Rosenblum Park on 75th & Jeffery

Lost Boyz Inc.’s mission is to decrease violence and improve the social conditions among the youth in the South Shore community. Our mission is achieved by providing quality athletic and leadership training, re-entry assistance, and innovative ideas geared for at-risk youth to align income and entrepreneurial opportunities.

– Youth Boys Baseball Program for ages 4-17
– Youth Girls Softball Program for ages 11-14
– Successful Youth Leaders Program for ages 14+
[email protected]