A Greater Washington - Fields of Dreams

Fields of Dreams (FoD) is an after school and summer camp program, located in D.C. Public Elementary Schools in Wards 6, 7, and 8. The mission of Fields of Dreams is to develop the athletic, academic, and life skills of youth in economically underserved areas of Washington, D.C. while building character, physical fitness, and nutrition awareness. The vision of FoD is three-fold: introduce and/or promote baseball to inner-city children, provide physical fitness/nutrition education, and support their academic goals. Consequently, students will develop and enhance their athletic skills, and build a foundation to become a student athlete, one who learns how to successfully balance their commitment to academics and athletics.

Established in 2001, Fields of Dreams is an initiative of A Greater Washington (AGW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. During the school year, we serve approximately 120 2nd-5th grade students at six elementary schools in some of the most underserved communities in D.C. Over ninety percent of students at each of our schools receive free or reduced price lunch. We also serve approximately 70 students in the summer program, which is located at a DCPS site.

The framework of the program is centered on the values of Jackie Robinson, as written about by his daughter, Sharon, in the book Jackie's Nine. These values (courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence), supported by the tangible- youth driven conversations, writings, and artwork, are directly related to the intangible outcomes- teamwork, losing and winning graciously, and baseball comprehension. Specifically, the values promote a sense of self-worth, because students learn the importance and the impact of dedication to their goals, whether that is in the classroom, on the baseball field, or in life.

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