Former Olympian’s Mission to Help Chicago Youth Boxing Club

By: Ashmar Mandou

 Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local NewsFormer U.S. Olympian and lightweight world titlist (WBC), David “Dangerous” Diaz, visited the Chicago Youth Boxing Club (CYBC) on Monday to help in their efforts to stop gang violence and crime in Little Village. Diaz, along with members of CYBC, and community activist Raul Montes Jr., are determined to bring community violence to a halt by increasing the visibility of what CYBC has to offer youth in Little Village. “Boxing clubs like Chicago Youth are instrumental in brining youth together and off the streets,” said Diaz.

Montes believes Little Village has witnessed enough ‘outlandish and destructive behavior of gang violence’ leaving many of its residents vulnerable. Thirty-three percent of Little Village is composed of 11 to 19 year-olds in dire need of additional after-school programs to help keep them off the streets, he stated. CYBC is one non-profit organization rooted in offering a healthier alternative for youth to take advantage. Open most days out of the week, CYBC keeps at-risk youth away from violence by providing work-readiness skills, nutrition, and discipline, all while promoting confidence and non-violent tactics. “Chicago Youth Boxing Club is a great resource for children to walk in and not think about the problems in their neighborhood,” said Diaz. It is Diaz’s mission to bring more awareness to CYBC that will help boost funding to continue to provide pertinent programs to the Little Village community. If you would like to learn more about what CYBC offers, visit them at www.chicagoyouthboxingclub.org.

Comments are closed.