In the heart of Chicago’s Woodlawn community, a new partnership is launching transformative opportunities for its youth. The Lyric Foundation, celebrated for its commitment to empowering young lives, has joined forces with Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association (PBJG) to develop an innovative program that addresses childhood obesity, promotes sportsmanship, and introduces STEM education through golf. In Chicagoland, one in five young people faces obesity-related health challenges and physical deconditioning, creating a vital need for accessible physical activity and educational support.
This collaboration integrates directly with local elementary and middle schools, providing physical assessments that inspire youth to increase their activity levels. By offering real-time data to educators, this partnership also helps schools enrich their limited physical education programs. Bella Noir’s 12,000-square-foot fitness facility will further support this effort, offering fitness and STEM programming both on school grounds and in their dedicated fitness space.
The program introduces students to local golf courses, fostering lifelong fitness habits and demonstrating the value of physical activity. Regular movement and exercise activities, such as golf outings and indoor programs at Bella Noir’s 47th Street wellness center, encourage mindfulness, patience, and persistence. Alongside these benefits, students will enjoy additional physical assessments and cultivate a love for healthy movement.
This unique initiative also utilizes golf as a vehicle for STEM education, transforming concepts like force, trajectory, and velocity into engaging lessons. Students sharpen their mathematical skills by calculating scores and analyzing the geometry of shots, while lessons in environmental science and golf course maintenance introduce biological and chemical concepts rooted in real-world applications.
Beyond the greens and classrooms, this program opens doors to scholarships and educational opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. It bridges communities and promotes values like integrity, respect, and responsibility. More importantly, it creates a supportive environment where young participants are encouraged to pursue higher education and personal growth.
Through this partnership, the Lyric Foundation and Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association are not only teaching golf—they’re equipping Woodlawn’s youth with the skills to challenge societal barriers and envision a healthier, more prosperous future. With every swing, these young individuals are not just hitting a golf ball; they’re driving their ambitions forward, setting their sights on dreams and potential beyond the fairway.
Director Dedric Holmes