Meet the Harlem Jets, A Non-Profit Making Noise On & Off the Field

At the Harlem Jets Sports & Development, their mission is to empower the Harlem community by leveraging the unifying power of sports to foster academic success and personal development for two generations. With a focus on ninth-grade students, the program recognizes that this critical transitional period can significantly impact high school graduation rates. Through their innovative sports programs and mentorship initiatives, they aim to cultivate a supportive environment that nurtures not only athletic skills but also academic excellence, resilience, and life skills. By instilling a sense of belonging and purpose within local youth, they strive to create a pathway towards successful high school graduation, opening doors to a brighter future and empowering the next generation of Harlem's leaders. The ShotCallers had an opportunity to interview Vice President, Jamel Wright, see below!

Question #1:

Thanks for the time Jamel! Can you share how you got involved with the Harlem Jets?

In 2006, the team I was playing for the Giants of Harlem went under. My father and the other founding members decided to bring back the program as the Jets of Harlem which soon transitioned to the Harlem Jets. 

Question #2:

Many of your participants have gone on to do a variety of great things after graduation, how do you measure the impact of your programs on participants and the community?

Of Course, there are numbers; we have a 95% HS graduation rate and a 75% college matriculation rate that is steadily increasing. However, we measure impact in a few different ways. The level of competition in NYC Football, the number of kids we have going to college and graduating college, etc. We know that the majority of the kids will not become professional athletes, but they will become different-level professionals in Life. We have teachers, accountants, fashion designers, investors, and so forth and so on. Also, impact is measured by the effect it has on our kids and their families. Having a high retention rate year after year is the staple to our program's success. 

Question #3:

Harlem has always been known for being a tight-knit community, how do you leverage that community to keep parents and mentors involved on an ongoing basis?

The parents are everything in our organization. At our current form, Our organization is 100 percent volunteer, so we are completely made up of parents and family members who understand the mission and purpose of the Jets. 

Question #4:

Health & wellness is a key component within the sports and youth culture today, what role do you see your organization playing in promoting the overall health and well-being of the community?

Health & Wellness is everything today. All aspects of Health: Mental, Physical, Emotional, and Social Health are all areas that we focus on for our Athletes and their families. In all honesty, that's a constant challenge that we as a community are always hoping to solve. Although it was going on before the pandemic, childhood obesity, and other adverse health disparities have been crippling our neighborhoods for some time. In combination with the Mental and Emotional issues that the current generation is facing, we are always educating not only our student-athletes on everyday fitness and nutrition but more so targeting their parents who are tasked with making difficult decisions around the lives of their children every day. We are subject to so many challenges and difficulties regularly, that maintaining a certain standard of life can be hard for us all, so that community aspect is huge. We are pushing all our constituents to do better and better, not to accept our normal circumstances, but to inspire each other and aspire for more.  At one point, we were providing free fresh produce to our families, but that ended before the pandemic. We are looking to bring that program back soon

Question #4:

How can volunteers get involved with your organization?

We are constantly looking for highly capable and motivated volunteers. Although we have been doing this for some time, you can never run out of good help. 

Question #5:

What are your plans for future growth and expansion of your programs?

Expansion is the keyword. Expanding the reach of the Harlem Jets Football brand: More Athletes and Coaches. Expanding our Diversity and Inclusion efforts: Sports like Girls Lacrosse, Cheerleading, and other educational programming for young women and leadership. Expanding our physical footprint, hoping to secure land or building to open Harlem Jets Facilities

Question #6:

What are some of the challenges your organization faces, and how do you overcome them?

There are two main challenges: Financial, Space  

The Harlem Jets is always looking for different streams of income. We have major overhead, and we are always looking for ways to scale our organization. Also, like everyone else living and working in NYC, space is a major concern. We have to constantly fight to secure permits for fields and we are hoping to open our own facilities soon. 

Question #7:

What is one of the most memorable highlights from your time working with HJ?

There are too many to count, literally every year is memorable. As a player, my favorite highlight comes from playing against the Brooklyn Tomahawks. I was 13 and I was having the game of my life, I had a couple of sacks, some critical tackles, and one really big hit that changed the momentum of the game. As a part of the Harlem Jets Leadership, my favorite comes from going to HJ football in 2017 and the transformational process that happens at every camp. Watching Boys Mature and taking that next step in life is always a major highlight for me.