BALTIMORE CHAPTEr

BEAT

The

STREETS 

YOUR DONATION CAN CHANGE A LIFE

WE ARE HIRING

ABOUT US

founded in 2012

Beat the Streets – Baltimore (BTS) was founded in 2012 and partners with Baltimore City Public/Charter Schools to organize after-school wrestling programs. The wrestling programs are used to ‘hook’ or engage students in the program, school, and mentoring opportunities. BTS crafted the following mission statement to focus its after-school programs, community programs and hybrid summer academy:

The Beat the Streets Wrestling Program of Baltimore is committed to providing a positive environment that nurtures physical and mental development through wrestling, mentoring, and tutoring programs. Our goal is to develop a network of BTS programs throughout the Greater Baltimore area schools and communities. Since 2012, BTS has created programs at 18 Baltimore City schools, including Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School, Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, and City Springs Elementary/Middle School. In conjunction with its wrestling programs, Beat the Streets- Baltimore provides its wrestlers with mentoring and tutoring opportunities, driving them to higher academic achievement and college admission.

Our Programs

The Beat the Streets Wrestling Program of Baltimore is committed to providing a positive environment that nurtures physical and mental development through wrestling, mentoring, and tutoring programs.

BTS creates after-school programs, community programs, and hybrid summer academies to help promising youth from economically disadvantaged households to fulfill their academic, athletic, and personal potential. Our year-round intervention programs and academic enrichment services start as early as the second grade to develop positive character traits leading to enhanced social and personal development, and ultimately, better life outcomes in the youth we serve.

Community Programs

We offer a full range of Education and Community Engagement programs.
BTS-Bmore is dedicated to providing resources for their coaches.

As the coach you set the tone for the BTS student-athletes. And in order for you to do the work that is required to shape the minds of the student-athletes proper tools are needed. Below are links to resources. We will continue to add to the resources available.

Leadership Skills

We identify the children’s interests and encourage their participation in group activities. Participating in sports or community activity teaches valuable lessons about teamwork and commitment.

After School Programs

Kids achieve more, productivity goes up, and risky behaviors go down. BTS offers after-school programs in Baltimore to keep kids safe, boost student success.

SUMMER CAMP

Beat the Streets – Baltimore (BTS) has developed summer camp opportunities that continue to utilize the sport of wrestling as a hook to develop students’ personal, academic, and social skills, while also incorporating relevant, 21st Century financial knowledge and skills through engaging, cutting edge learning experiences.

Mental Health Mentoring

Mentoring can provide easy access to supportive relationships with caring adults when they are in need. They also may provide a positive relationship that could act as a corrective emotional experience.

Tutoring

We are dedicated to providing our students with supplemental tutoring services so that they can catch up to grade level in both math and English language arts.
We provide a range of study support services, including a dedicated Personal Tutor, extensive online resources and supportive staff who can help the children gain the skills they need to need to do well in the classroom. Our support services is one of the reasons that our students thrive.

OUR BOARD

Our Volunteer Board of Directors is made up of recognized leaders across many areas of expertise. They represent the broad diversity of our membership and contribute significant amounts of time, talent, and energy to further the mission of the organization.

Rudy continues his longstanding support for Beat the Streets – Baltimore, while also supporting college, career, and life readiness in communities across the country through his work as a partner in the firm FourPoint Education Partners.

Rudy Ruiz

Board Chairman

Mr. Mike Z. Benoit graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland in 2002. He also received a Master’s Degree in 2005 and a School Leadership and Improvement certificate in 2007 from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

Mike Benoit

Baltimore Board Treasurer

Lydell is a dedicated to the Beat the Streets wrestling and the Baltimore community. His tireless efforts and his desire to discuss issues, solve problems, and create meaningful programming for Baltimore youth is changing lives of the young people in his program and through out the city. 

Mr. Henry holds a BS in Chemistry , Analytical Chemistry from Morgan sstate University.

Lydell Henry

Executive Director

Robert A. Douglas is a native Baltimorean who has dedicated his life to uplifting the voices of marginalized men and children through various expressions of art. To date, Douglas has published  four books titled: Fertile Concrete, Fertile Concrete 2, The New Souls of Black Folk, and On the Border and has produced and directed the documentary, New Souls.

Robert A. Douglas

Member at Large

Kurtis Palermo is a highly driven professional working to close the equity gap, advance social justice and reduce violence in urban settings across the country. He is committed to working with community and criminal justice partners, local organizations and government entities to best serve young people and their communities.

Kurtis Palermo

Member at Large

Jake Weinfeld is a social entrepreneur interested in starting and growing programs that empower young people to become leaders in their community. After graduating from University of Miami, Jake worked in business development, while leading an entrepreneurship education program for high school students. This experience led him to leave the business world and join Teach for America in Baltimore.

Jake Weinfeld

Baltimore Board Vice Chair

Nicole Watford is a passionate educator who shares the importance and value of education to as many young people as she comes across. Her passion stems from the negative experiences she encountered as an elementary school student many years ago.

Nicole Watford

Baltimore Board Secretary

Larry Shaw is a Social Entrepreneur and the Community Coalition Coordinator for Outward-Bound Baltimore, with a focus on youth and community empowerment.

Larry Shaw

Baltimore Board Member

Kurt McHenry is a co-founder of Cycurion, holding the position of President and COO. Mr. McHenry also holds COO roles in Cycurion’s two subsidiaries, Cloudburst Security and Axxum Technologies.

Kurt McHenry

Baltimore Board Member

Brian Saval is the Vice President of Saval Foodservice, the largest independent broad line foodservice distributor in Maryland. He is also the founder and managing partner of Hollins Market Properties and serves on the board of Hollins Roundhouse. Brian was named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s “40 under 40” Class of 2020.

Brian Saval

Treasurer

Work

Bigger.Faster.Stronger

Beat the Streets

MISSION

The mission of BTS is to provide disadvantaged youth with a positive environment that nurtures physical and mental development through wrestling, mentoring, and tutoring programs. Our goal has been to develop a network of BTS program sites throughout the Baltimore area’s underserved communities.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE