Founders and Colorado State Legislators, Colorado State Senator James Coleman (D) and former Colorado State Representative Colin Larson (R), had worked across the aisle on bipartisan policy, working from different party ideals toward the same common goal: to make their state of Colorado a better place for their friends, families, neighbors, and fellow citizens.
They’d even mutually sat on the House education committee, working with kids as State Representatives. But it wasn’t until a mutual friend tipped them both off that they had similar goals outside of the legislature that they connected (in the hallway of the Colorado State Capitol) and discovered that they had more in common than a bipartisan vision to improve the great state of Colorado.
James and Colin had a vision that crossed more than party lines and aligned on a mutual passion for using their downtime during recess from legislative duties to build up their communities in another way: through the concept of giving kids a chance at competitive athletics and the powerful life skills that come with that participation – believing that two sides could come together to help level the playing field.
Just as with bipartisanship, sports are an American thing; it’s not blue or red. It’s red, white, and
blue.
Ver un problema, crear una solución
When not representing his community in the State Senate, James can most often be found supporting his son and daughter as the complete in basketball and track and field respectively. Early morning workouts, practice most nights after school, and travel tournaments during weekends and throughout the summer—this is the life of a young competitive athlete and their family. It’s an all-in commitment.
Pero James se dio cuenta de que había un problema: el coste de estos clubes de viajes competitivos, desde las cuotas de los clubes hasta los viajes, el equipamiento y el entrenamiento adicional, pone fuera del alcance de demasiadas familias esta oportunidad que les cambia la vida. Esto no sólo afecta a los niños que no pueden jugar, sino a todos los jugadores y a la fuerza general del equipo, ya que los atletas con talento se quedan al margen no por falta de voluntad o talento, sino por falta de recursos económicos.
After seeing the problem, they envisioned the solution: provide scholarships to families with financial need to allow a more diverse range of participation and opportunity and to elevate the discussion about youth sports as a gateway to future education, engaged citizenship, and community leadership.
Igualdad de condiciones
James knows personally what an impact a scholarship can make, having received a need-based education scholarship himself in grades 7-12. Because of his experience, he went on to volunteer (and later work) to pay that experience forward—something he’s still actively committed to as a legislator. The vision for Chance Sports is a product of his first-hand experience as a student athlete, and that of his children, as a parent and leader.
It struck a nerve with James and Colin that, while sports and athleticism have long been a great equalizer, modern changes to the cost to play are building new walls even as we’re tearing down old ones. The mission with Chance Sports is to open doors that have been closed due to a lack of disposable income – to youth that have the drive and talent to compete. They bring the preparation and we bring the opportunity to come together so that everybody wins.
Juntos, ganamos. No sólo lo creemos, sino que nos comprometemos a ponerlo en práctica, alumno por alumno. Esperamos que te unas a nosotros.