“By the end of the summer, I just want the community to be stronger together. For the kids to have a bond, the parents to have a bond, and the neighborhood to grow stronger together.”
By Luke Kellersohn
Following the launch of their new youth program in partnership with Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper, CLR Academy, AFC Ann Arbor have brought on a new staff member, Justin Harper. A longtime local paraprofessional and educator, Harper will serve as Director of the new academy, spearheading the weekly program as it aims to support youth in Washtenaw County. Standing for community, leadership, and revolution, CLR aims to use sports and mindfulness techniques to create strong relationships and positive habits for the youth involved.
A member of the Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper Steering Committee, Harper has had plenty of experience supporting local youth. CLR Academy’s goals of supporting kids’ right to dream, believe, create, and explore piqued his interest to get involved.
“Having something coming into their community is something that has definitely been a passion of mine,” said Harper, “to actually have it present and be doing it means the world to me.”
This passion that Justin has towards working with kids in his community is apparent to anyone around him. At CLR’s kickoff event this past Saturday, Harper spent the day running around and bonding with kids, teaching skills in basketball and football as well as bringing a contagiously positive attitude. Having positive role models is such an important factor for youth growing up, and Justin provides all of the kids at CLR with a great example for how to give back to those around you. Harper hopes that CLR Academy will help kids grow and develop as human beings and create an opportunity for them to explore who they want to be.
“[The academy] is about developing these children to be leaders and have revolutionary thinking to where they’re going to go ahead and take control of what they want to do in their lives in a positive direction,” said Harper.
Kids in CLR Academy are not only exposed to sports, but also benefit from lessons on nutrition, values, responsibilities, resiliencies and many more life skills. This part of the academy excited Harper due to the multiple facets of growth that this program presents for the kids involved.
Justin was especially excited to become part of the AFC Ann Arbor team due to shared passions and goals for community outreach as club Chair and co-owner, Bilal Saeed. Having launched their own community-oriented project, The Mighty Oak Youth Project, AFC Ann Arbor have been active in their local community by providing access to sports and mentorship to youth in the area. Harper was glad to join the AFC Ann Arbor team and work with Saeed, saying “[to know] that he was interested in helping out the youth, that inspired me to help out as well.”
Following their kickoff event this past Saturday, Justin will continue his goal of mentoring youth every week throughout the duration of the summer. With a great turnout at the kickoff, Harper hopes to continue to fortify the bonds and progress they have made in the coming weeks.
“By the end of the summer, I just want the community to be stronger together. For the kids to have a bond, the parents to have a bond, and the neighborhood to grow stronger together,” stated Justin.
CLR Academy meets every Saturday at Sycamore Meadows from noon to 1:30.