BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Level Ground MMA in Dorchester has partnered with Boston Public Schools (BPS) for a summer program that combines fitness with life skill education. The program is called ‘Level Ground MMA - Summer Learning Academy.’
“This summer, 50 youth will engage in a super rigorous experience that combines academic learning with workforce development and athletic training, preparing them to lead in the classroom, in the workplace, and in their community,” Executive Director for Level Ground Ali Mercer said.
This program is a part of BPS’s 5th Quarter of Learning Initiative, which consists of 243 programs and 18,495 BPS students. This initiative is part of Boston After School & Beyond, which aims to offer multi-disciplinary programs for students all across Boston for the summer. Mayor Michelle Wu was at the kickoff event at Level Ground MMA on Monday, and learned some new moves from the students and instructors.
Mercer said Level Ground MMA offers martial arts classes that are normally tougher to come by for the average individual.
“Our athletics program is the only one in Boston that offers mixed martial arts and jujitsu, disciplines that typically cost over $200 a month and inaccessible to most folks, completely free for youth and affordable to our adults as well,” Mercer said.
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One of the instructors explained the program’s contents further, specifically how they combine the athletic aspects of MMA with real-life business skills.
“Students are becoming entrepreneurs in our 5-week, 5-cue program, through hands-on project-based learnings, they’re building a business from the ground up. We’re utilizing ELA skills where they can craft a real persuasive and nice business pitch, and utilizing math skills so they can really crunch the numbers and really see what it takes to build a business,” the instructor said.
More information regarding the 5th Quarter of Learning Initiative can be found here.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jared Brosnan (@JaredBrosnanWBZ) reports.