AAU Leaders Meet with NYPD Chief to Expand AAU Urban Initiative
02/07/2023
Formal partnership will help bring sports to underserved communities
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 7, 2023) – The AAU Urban Initiative took a big step forward this week, as Amateur Athletic Union President J.B. (Jo) Mirza and First Vice-President Robert “Bobby” Stone met with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to discuss bringing sports to underserved youth.
The AAU Urban Initiative was created in 2015 to provide participation opportunities in urban environments that were historically underserved. The initiative partners the AAU with local government, law enforcement, faith-based groups, educational institutions and other groups to bring communities together through sports in service to America’s youth.
On Monday, February 6, 2023, President Mirza, First Vice-President Stone, NY Metropolitan AAU District Governor Jim Fox and AAU Urban Initiative lead Joe Armenio met with NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey to formalize the structure of bringing AAU and NYPD together into a program that could benefit thousands of youth athletes.
Photo from Left to right: Jim Fox (NY-Metropolitan AAU District Governor), J.B. Mirza (AAU President), Chief Jeffrey Maddrey (NYPD Chief of Department), Robert Stone (AAU First Vice-President), Joe Armenio (AAU Urban Initiative)
Armenio has worked with Chief Maddrey for five (5) years in organizing sports programs for young people who reside in high-crime areas – they’ve successfully operated programs first in Brooklyn, then throughout New York City.
“AAU is so fortunate to have Joe Armenio as the lead of our Urban Initiative. He not only has a tremendous work ethic, but also major connections inside the NYPD,” said Jim Fox, NY Metropolitan AAU District Governor. “It was my honor to be present at this momentous occasion and to have this great program in New York City.”
During the meeting, President Mirza and Chief Maddrey agreed that each of the five boroughs of New York City would have police coordinators assigned to form leagues and to offer training and clinics in multiple sports at New York City facilities. AAU’s role would be to help staff the sports with coaches and trainers, and each of the participants would become AAU members, which includes insurance.
“The Urban Initiative has been a dream of mine for the past 10 years. I wanted to bring sports, and the benefits of participation, to the youth who needed it the most,” said President Mirza. “Now with the formal partnership of NYPD, the Urban Initiative will take a giant step forward to bring AAU sports to many more young athletes from underserved areas, helping us continue our mission of ‘Sports for All, Forever’.”
Funding for the program would be secured through the NYPD Foundation and other grants from the Mayor's Office.
Besides the physical benefits, the AAU Urban Initiative provides a sense of community, achievement, and pride. Through mentoring, the program teaches life skills, character development, good citizenship and harmony.
For more info on the program, contact:
The AAU Urban Initiative was created in 2015 to provide participation opportunities in urban environments that were historically underserved. The initiative partners the AAU with local government, law enforcement, faith-based groups, educational institutions and other groups to bring communities together through sports in service to America’s youth.
On Monday, February 6, 2023, President Mirza, First Vice-President Stone, NY Metropolitan AAU District Governor Jim Fox and AAU Urban Initiative lead Joe Armenio met with NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey to formalize the structure of bringing AAU and NYPD together into a program that could benefit thousands of youth athletes.
Photo from Left to right: Jim Fox (NY-Metropolitan AAU District Governor), J.B. Mirza (AAU President), Chief Jeffrey Maddrey (NYPD Chief of Department), Robert Stone (AAU First Vice-President), Joe Armenio (AAU Urban Initiative)
Armenio has worked with Chief Maddrey for five (5) years in organizing sports programs for young people who reside in high-crime areas – they’ve successfully operated programs first in Brooklyn, then throughout New York City.
“AAU is so fortunate to have Joe Armenio as the lead of our Urban Initiative. He not only has a tremendous work ethic, but also major connections inside the NYPD,” said Jim Fox, NY Metropolitan AAU District Governor. “It was my honor to be present at this momentous occasion and to have this great program in New York City.”
During the meeting, President Mirza and Chief Maddrey agreed that each of the five boroughs of New York City would have police coordinators assigned to form leagues and to offer training and clinics in multiple sports at New York City facilities. AAU’s role would be to help staff the sports with coaches and trainers, and each of the participants would become AAU members, which includes insurance.
“The Urban Initiative has been a dream of mine for the past 10 years. I wanted to bring sports, and the benefits of participation, to the youth who needed it the most,” said President Mirza. “Now with the formal partnership of NYPD, the Urban Initiative will take a giant step forward to bring AAU sports to many more young athletes from underserved areas, helping us continue our mission of ‘Sports for All, Forever’.”
Funding for the program would be secured through the NYPD Foundation and other grants from the Mayor's Office.
Besides the physical benefits, the AAU Urban Initiative provides a sense of community, achievement, and pride. Through mentoring, the program teaches life skills, character development, good citizenship and harmony.
For more info on the program, contact:
- Joe Armenio, Program Coordinator - armeniojoe@gmail.co
- Jennifer Miles, Director of Combat Sports & Special Events - jennifer@aausports.org
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