From being homeless to mentoring at-risk youth, a Chicago man is expanding his reach using boxing to engage teens and deter them from a life of crime and violence.
Derek Brown started Boxing Out Negativity back in 2009. The non-profit organization held a grand opening for a new space in the city’s North Lawndale neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.
“This space is going to change lives,” he told NBC Chicago.
Brown is helping to train young boxers in the ring, building their confidence and channeling their energy into something positive.
“Boxing Out Negativity is not just a program it’s a way of life and we’re not just teaching kids how to box we’re teaching them how to box their way through life,” he said.
The space allows them to serve even more young people through other services like workforce development.
“We want to be a catalyst for change and really spearhead the youth into doing what’s right in the community,” said Devin Murphy, executive director of Boxing Out Negativity.
For Brown, starting the organization was mission fueled by personal experience.
“I was born and raised in North Lawndale, at the age of 17 I went to the penitentiary. I’ve been shot, my friends ended up getting killed, and all while I was going through that ordeal I wanted to change,” he said.
Over the years he’s reached thousands of teens, partnering up with six schools in the area.
One of the teens is Michael Horn. The Golden Gloves champ joined the program years ago and has seen a personal transformation.
“It’s like the confidence, it brings out of you,” he said. “It brings out discipline.”
They want every teen who walks through the door to feel seen, heard, loved, and supported in the space.
“It means the world to us and when we see that it makes our heart smile, kinda keeps us going,” said Murphy.
The boxing ring is going to be installed next week. All the programs and services are free. Click here if you’re interested and would like to register your child.