The Inner City Athletic (ICAA) and the Joint Resident Council (JRC) has partnered together to start an athletic/meeting training program with youth in impacted areas of Roanoke City. The first step to accomplishing these goals is to engage the youth of Roanoke in a Summer Training Program at various locations throughout the Roanoke Valley to introduce the sports of basketball, football, baseball, tennis, track and any other sport the JRC feels would be of interest to residents.
ICAA is one of the oldest athletic associations in the Roanoke Valley. Starting in the early 1970’s, it has served thousands of inner-city youth while inspiring many kids to go on resulting productive college and pro careers! More important, ICAA ensures that kids participating in their athletic programs also perform well in school helping them to become productive citizens.
In 2009, ICAA, due to circumstances not of their choosing, became dormant. The effects of their lack of presence in the Valley have been felt over the past 5 years. The basketball and football programs at the two major high schools in Roanoke City are down in part to kids coming in to high school level unprepared to play for lack of training which the ICAA specializes in. Equally important it has left kids without mentors to ensure that their academics and socialization skills are also up to par. ICAA makes sure the youth understand that you can’t have one without the other.
The JRC serves over 1,276 children within a 5-mile radius of Roanoke. ICAA will begin to better track family data (dot surveys and children/family counts) in 2018 in order to more accurately estimate the number of people ICAA to be served.
ICAA is one of the oldest instructional athletic associations in the Roanoke Valley. Established in the early 1970s, it has served thousands of children in Roanoke and the surrounding areas. The children who participated in the ICAA programs also were required to uphold certain academic standards which were tracked by the coaches of each sport. ICAA, is further trying to meet its goals, has partnered with the JRC. The JRC gives ICAA access to each sponsored housing\Section 8 families to help further our academic and sports programs for children while introducing them to the arts as well.
