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In celebration of Black History Month (BHM) in the U.S. and Canada, and yesterday’s World Day of Social Justice, we’re thrilled to highlight Head In The Game grantee, Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH). Operating in Harlem in New York City, the organization is helping transform the lives of girls and young women of color through figure skating, confidence-building, leadership development and academic enrichment.
FSH combines education with access to the artistic discipline of figure skating to help girls achieve their dreams, become effective leaders and lead healthy and financially independent lifestyles. It was created in response to increasing requests from community members to have figure skating lessons for local Black girls who had minimal access to the traditionally white-dominated sport. By expanding access, the nonprofit promotes equity and inclusion, showing girls that they can overcome obstacles through discipline and perseverance. The nonprofit also offers academic and leadership classes, college and career support activities and overall social-emotional support. FSH’s interdisciplinary curriculum also connects social justice and community impact to promote activism and social change in local communities.
The confidence, resilience and determination that comes with setting and reaching goals on the ice is the cornerstone of FSH’s model. Since 1997, it has equipped thousands of girls with tools to make positive choices for their futures through holistic programs. For 19 years, it has also offered and supported synchronized skating teams to participate in competitions through its Harlem Ice program. The program helps students perfect new skills on the ice and learn invaluable lessons in leadership and teamwork. Harlem Ice is currently being spotlighted in a five-part docuseries of the same name on Disney+. The series, which debuted February 12, follows the skaters as they prepare for competitions, go through the program and take part in a life-changing international experience. The series powerfully displays the dedicated skaters, coaches and administrators who are collectively “breaking the ice ceiling” and showcasing their talent on a global stage.
We spoke to Founder and CEO, Sharon Cohen, about the docuseries, the challenges facing Harlem youth, addressing inequity and social justice through figure skating and more.
How does it feel to have your work highlighted globally through the “Harlem Ice” docuseries?
It’s unbelievably exciting to share our secret sauce with the world; our sisterhood and letting our young women find their voices each day on and off the ice with the guidance of our team members and coaches. It’s an honor to share these sacred relationships on screen with people around the world. We hope our entire community inspires others to be their authentic selves and reach for their personal best.
What do you hope this exposure will do for Figure Skating in Harlem, especially for girls of color looking to get into the sport?
Our students and team members are true role models with their grit, grace and resilience. We hope they will greatly inspire girls around the world to follow their dreams and make their dreams happen by moving past fear and stereotypes and into opportunities and possibilities to define themselves. In the series, our girls say, “when we fall down, we get back up.” What a powerful mantra for all!! We hope this exposure also encourages those with means to invest in all girls, their leadership, their physical and mental health through sports. Beyond a mission, it takes resources at every level to grow our impact. Our dream is to have a home of our own and with our partners we’re getting closer to reality.
Why is it important for FSH to address social justice issues?
Our students live in the real world and at FSH they are changemakers. They are encouraged to use their voices effectively and to persuasively fight injustices; simply by participating in a predominantly white sport, they are on the vanguard of equity issues. As a community-based organization, it is important for all of us at every level to address social justice issues because our community, including our students, has been negatively affected by racial stigmas and systemic racism. Our curriculum, activities and community partnerships are designed to combat prejudice wherever it is and help students be critical thinkers, strong speakers and gain the confidence and the tools they need to communicate their ideas to the world.
What are the biggest challenges your participants are facing?
The three biggest challenges we address are:
- Employment and education opportunities – Despite significant economic advancements over the past few decades, research highlights numerous barriers to economic progress. A report by McKinsey, “The State of Black Residents: The Relevance of Place to Racial Equity and Outcomes,” highlights persistent economic and political disparities in urban communities such as Harlem and the Bronx. The racial income gap has remained virtually unchanged for more than 20 years, with Black Americans earning on average only 64% of what their counterparts make.
- Barriers to equity for women of color – The same study highlights challenges such as uncertified and inexperienced teachers, limited professional growth opportunities and a lack of mentors and corporate connections.
- Barriers to entry in figure skating – Figure skating is an expensive sport, and many young girls of color do not have the resources to access training and opportunities.
At our core, we provide a youth development program focused on opportunity, education and leadership—resources that are not always easily accessible due to systemic barriers. Our work is critical in helping young people become change agents in their communities while contributing to the overall socio-economic development of Harlem.
Can you share the impact Harlem Ice has had on the local community over the last 19 years?
Harlem Ice gives students a chance to work as a team and compete against other skating teams. It’s been very successful! These young women, over time, commit even more to their skating and to FSH. They become true leaders over time, they travel and meet other competitive teams and from this they grow substantially. They are often the ONLY team of color and that brings with it more lessons. I couldn’t be prouder of these young ladies who strive together, practicing at 6am on Saturdays, bonding and upholding the highest values of sport.
How does figure skating build leadership skills?
One step in being a leader is learning how to lead yourself toward your own goals and victories. Our students, while supported by many mentors, are self-directed. By learning to skate, an often very hard, tedious step-by-step process, our students build competency, expertise and a sense of accomplishment. Then, they share their knowledge with other skaters and lead them to victories. No one succeeds on our ice alone. Teamwork is critical – a skill that is developed on and off the ice in all our classes. Leadership, similarly, is developed daily at FSH, both in the smallest gestures and with opportunities like being the captain of a synchronized skating team. We had a cohort of students travel to South Africa as a team who taught a cohort of girls there to skate for the first time, taking initiative and becoming leaders themselves. It’s baked into everything we do.
How is FSH recognizing Black History Month (BHM) this year?
As an organization rooted in Harlem, we have a lot to celebrate during BHM and we strive to engage with our community by supporting ongoing events and infusing Black history in our curriculum. Our students also have a special “Career Week” where they visit a range of workplaces to meet women of color who are in high level positions and share their experiences with our girls. We also celebrated the premiere of Harlem Ice last week and our students’ incredible work.
How is Head In The Game (HITG) supporting your work to improve girls’ mental wellbeing?
HITG is amazing because it provides materials and training courses for our coaches and teachers that make them better and feel part of a broader sports youth development field. This year, we participated in the “TapTalk” Training and were incredibly grateful to receive ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) certification. We have several teachers who are eager to complete next year’s ACT certification, as it is an invaluable tool for working with children.
Beyond Sport is proud to help support Figure Skating in Harlem’s youth mental wellbeing programming as part of our Head In The Game program. Visit the campaign’s Resource Hub to access diverse mental wellbeing resources for teens.
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