Camille Hughes couldn’t catch or hit a ball when she first heard about Lost Boyz, a sports-based youth development program based in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. But she signed up for softball and baseball, and later, for a time, she was the only girl selected to play on a boy’s team. She later attracted the attention of recruiters in the youth division at USA National Women’s Baseball.
Camille, now 18, has returned to Lost Boyz every year. She is a paid coach in the Successful Youth Leaders Program, which also provides college preparation and career guidance. Beyond developing athletic skills, she has become more outspoken and more focused on her future. “They let me come out of my bubble,” she says.
South Shore resident LaVonté Stewart, Sr. founded the group in 2009 to prevent violence and other antisocial behavior among boys. He opened Lost Boyz to girls in 2014. About 250 youth participate in programs throughout the year: MVP Youth Baseball & Softball, for boys and girls 4 to 14, and Successful Youth Leaders, for teens 15 through 19. Lost Boyz uses sports to help youth in historically disinvested communities develop confidence, resilience, good decision-making and life skills. Additional services through partnerships help youth improve academic performance, develop a sense of community and experience cultural enrichment.
I like helping people and I want to give back.
Camille Hughes
“I love baseball, especially because it was the original ground zero for a lot of equality fights in this country, with many sports figures using their platforms for social good,” Stewart says.
Participants stay involved four to eight years, on average. “We’ve created opportunities for many of them to come back and work while they’re in college so they have ways to stay connected to the organization, transitioning from being beneficiaries to contributors,” Stewart says.
These are tough times for Lost Boyz. Due to funding losses, 10 of its 17 workers were laid off in July. The remaining staff have had their pay cut in half but still work full-time. The future is uncertain. Even so, “the love we have for the work, for the children, for the community, shines through,” Stewart says, “They count on us being in the community and know we will stay true to our mission.”
Camille’s experience ignited a desire to contribute in the future. “I like helping people,” says Camille, who graduated from Simeon Career Academy and plans a career in one of the trades, “and I want to give back.”
Through the Robert R. McCormick Communities Fund, dedicated people across Chicagoland help make sure that every child and family has opportunities to achieve their goals. With your support, we can create new possibilities and help make countless dreams come true. Funding from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Communities Fund assists organizations on the South and West Sides of Chicago to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, young adults, and families each and every day.
