Welcome to Level Ground, the first and only nonprofit in the United States that uses Mixed Martial Arts as a vehicle for positive youth development and community transformation.

Our Journey in 2022

In July 2022, we opened our new Training Center in Fields Corner, Dorchester. In the last 4 months:

233 youth and adults have visited our gym for the first time - nearly 100 more individuals than the same time last year!
20 Student Trainers are now employed during the school year - our largest cohort to date!
5 new athletic classes have been added to the schedule for a total of 21 weekly classes, including Saturdays for the first time!
2 new full-time staff have joined our team, including UFC veteran Mike Rodriguez (see bios on our website)!

Why We Moved

As you may remember, we were based in Uphams Corner, Boston, for 5.5 years. Our quick move was due to unethical treatment by our previous landlord in March 2022 that led to $30K+ of damages. In just 3.5 months, we found a new location, fundraised over $100K for move out costs and to outfit the new gym, renovated the new space, and moved with the help of volunteers and our students. It was a 2 year project crammed into a few months, but with your support, our team has proven that we are more resilient than ever!

Fast Facts about our New Location

6,400 sq. feet, with 2 levels - meaning we can run various programs simultaneously and grow our community!
Visible: a storefront on a busy main street!
Accessible: across the street from the train station, and close to several schools and other nonprofits!

Where Your Support is Going in 2023

Please help support Level Ground, as we continue to build our youth professional development and athletic programs, finish our renovations, and more!

Here is a list of our greatest needs. If you would like your donation to impact a specific program or endeavor, please be sure to indicate that.

Student Trainer Workforce Development Program

Our Student Trainer Program is more popular than ever with 20 youth currently enrolled in our year-round program, with several more on a waiting list! In the summer of 2023, our cohort will grow to 35!

Our Student Trainer program aims to:

Certify youth as Fitness Professionals through hands-on skills development
Develop youth as our principal Gym Managers, equipping them with expertise in operations, administration, and client management
Provide individualized career guidance and mentorship
Support academic achievement through tutoring and post-secondary preparation
Connect youth to internships related to their career interests
Ensure every youth graduates from high school and transitions to a meaningful post-secondary or career pathway
Promote healthy living through nutrition and social-emotional development workshops

Athletic Program

Our 21 weekly athletic classes are completely FREE to youth 19 and under, and are heavily subsidized (as low as $30/month) for community members in financial hardship. Contrast this to the average Jiu Jitsu gym membership of $200/month. Our goal is to make MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Yoga accessible to any Boston resident that wants to train, no matter income.

Renovations

We are currently completing renovations for our new Training Center! We will be expanding our mat and turf areas, as well as investing in new equipment for both. We still need several more mats to replace ones that were destroyed in our previous location, and other vital pieces of equipment for martial arts. We will also invest in new weightlifting equipment for our students (all of our current equipment is very old, and many are barely functional.) Finally, we will make custom tables for our academic and professional development areas, and purchase new equipment and supplies so that our students receive the highest quality learning experience possible.

Key Expenses in 2023

Student Trainer wages [$1,056.20/month per student]: hourly wages for youth working with Level Ground for one year. This includes hourly pay for 15 hours of paid work per week during the school year, and 25 hours per week during the summer.
Professional Development Training for youth [$1,800/month]: for our year-long Personal Training certification program. In partnership with the American Academy of Personal Training, youth receive hands-on training as Fitness Professionals, are are empowered to work with their own clients and obtain internships in the fitness industry.
Community athletic classes [$2,720/month]: supports training for an anticipated 400+ youth and adults in 2023. Classes are completely FREE for all youth 19 and under, and heavily subsidized for community adults.
Martial Arts equipment [$9,580]: for new martial arts mats, heavy bag rack, cage panels, heavy bags, and wall pads. Full wishlist is available upon request.
Weightlifting equipment [$15,523.74]: to re-outfit turf space, including cardio equipment, squat racks, kettlebells, dumbbells, and more. Full wishlist is available upon request.
Academic and Professional Development area buildout [est. $15-18,000]: to build out custom tables, purchase 10 new laptops, install IdeaPaint wall, couches, chairs, and other furniture. Full wishlist is available upon request.

Unless specified, Level Ground may also channel donations towards Program and Executive staff salaries, rent, and other overhead expenses depending on our greatest needs. This is completely dependent on the funding we receive from restricted grants and donations. You may restrict your donation to a specific expense - just indicate this in the gift memo.

Your Impact

With YOUR help, we will accomplish the following in 2023:

400+ children, teens, and community adults served through FREE and affordable athletics
100% of Student Trainers that want to pursue a career as a Fitness Professional obtain their AAPT/LG Certification by program completion
100% of interested Student Trainers are placed in an internship
100% of college bound seniors transition to a 2 or 4-year program
100% of Student Trainers that do not want to attend college transition to meaningful employment, internship, and/or alternative post-secondary opportunities aligned with their career interests
90% of Student Trainers that complete the program score an average of 4/5 across all fields on the MA WBLP

2022 Results

Our 2022 Student Trainer program had a substantial impact on our Student Trainers, with significant increases in the students’ professional, interpersonal, and industry-based skills, with an average increase of 26.37% across all skills as assessed by the MA Work-Based Learning Plan.

2022 MA Work Based Learning Plan Results

Professional, Interpersonal, and Industry-Based Skills	Pre-Survey Average	Post-Survey Average	Average Percent Change
Attendance & Punctuality	3.7	4.5	21.62%
Motivation & Initiative	4	4.7	17.50%
Communication	3.7	4.5	21.62%
Teamwork & Collaboration	4	4.7	17.50%
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving	3.9	4.6	17.95%
Workplace Culture, Policy, and Safety	4.2	4.7	11.90%
Leadership	3.0	4.5	50.00%
Public Speaking & Presentation	3.2	4.6	43.75%
Progression in Fitness Training	3.1	4.6	48.39%
Average Total	3.64	4.6	26.37%

Next, according to a July 2022 independent evaluation called the Survey of Academic and Youth Outcomes (SAYO-Y) implemented by Boston After School and Beyond, Level Ground scored above average across all Positive Youth Development Indicators. On average, our Student Trainer Program received a 10.2% higher rating than the network average which represents 238 unique organizations, including 21.5% higher in Youth Feeling Challenged, 16% in Helping Youth Socially, and 14.11% in Helping Youth Academically.

Our 2022 APT Independent Evaluator made the following observations of the Student Trainer program:

“Staff were engaging and respectful of young people. There didn’t seem to be a lot of hierarchy in the program, but more of a spirit of collaboration between young people and staff.”

“The overall tone of this program was very focused, respectful, and group-led. It was difficult to tell the difference between staff and youth participants because everyone was fully engaged and taking on leadership in various scenarios. There was a clearly established routine, which made it so that very little time was required to explain instructions, and transitions were completed quickly and facilitated by young people.”

More About Level Ground

Founded in 2013, our work began in partnership with the Egleston Square YMCA where we offered martial arts classes once per week to teenagers living in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. We gradually expanded beyond athletics and developed our College Access and Workforce Development offerings to ensure youth achieve their ambitions off of the mat. In 2017, we opened our 6,500 square foot Training Center that is managed by our youth staff, called Student Trainers.

We offer 21 weekly athletic classes Monday-Saturday that remain free to youth and affordable for adults. In 2023, we will serve 400+ youth and adults through athletics. This social enterprise model bolsters financial sustainability and scales impact by increasing access to engaging physical activity options to community residents of all ages.

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts

By Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts

Help support Level Ground's youth jobs and athletic programs, and finish our renovations!