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Grantee Spotlight: Jubilee Consortium

January 31, 2022  |  community programming, competitive jump rope, healthy living, jubilee consortium, jubilee jump, los angeles, national recreation foundation, youth coaching, youth development, youth recreation, youth sports
a group of young girls practice jump roping
Image courtesy of Jubilee Consortium

At NRF, we have the honor of working with many incredible community organizations doing important work across the U.S. One of these organizations is Jubilee Consortium, which is based in Los Angeles. One of the programs that Jubilee Consortium runs is Jubilee Jump, an exercise and youth development program centered around the sport of jump roping. With the support of NRF funding, Jubilee Jump has moved beyond a pilot program and has expanded into multiple jump rope teams that serve neighborhoods across Los Angeles.

The central mission of Jubilee Jump goes beyond increasing access to competitive jump roping. Young people in the program not only stay active; they also build community with their peers and learn about goal setting, leadership, resilience, and teamwork. As is true with many successful youth sports programs, Jubilee Jump is as focused on social emotional learning as it is on skill acquisition and winning trophies.

kids stretch at jump rope practice
Image courtesy of Jubilee Consortium

One key aspect of all of Jubilee Consortium’s programs is leveraging existing trusted spaces in communities. For example, Jubilee Jump teams meet in schools, churches, and parks that local community members are already familiar with so parents can feel more comfortable with their kids’ participation. Jubilee Consortium is also focused on providing culturally accessible programs for the largely Latinx community it serves. Coaches work hard to build trust with parents and develop relationships with other longstanding community organizations in order to have a better understanding of the specific needs of their team and neighborhood.

This focus on relationship-building means that Jubilee Consortium doesn’t just serve youth. Instead, the program often involves entire families through adult group fitness courses as well as nutrition and cooking classes. Coaches and other staff serve as conduits to a range of resources to help support the predominantly low-income families represented on their teams. The sport of jump roping also sets kids up for lifelong engagement. The low barrier to entry and limited equipment needs mean that young people who start out in the Jubilee Jump program can continue staying active as adults and spread what they learn throughout their communities by teaching their new skills to family and friends.

jump rope team warms up with their coach
Image courtesy of Jubilee Consortium

All of Jubilee Jump’s amazing work was disrupted, like everything else, in 2020 when the pandemic hit. The Consortium moved classes online and pivoted to providing mental health support for kids in addition to regular team practices. Coaches also tried to keep parents engaged in the new format through family-based programming and online portals where kids and parents could track goals and skill development. Even with all these efforts, it has been tough for coaches to maintain energy and motivation when competitions are cancelled and mentorship is limited to digital platforms. Jubilee Jump’s staff are constantly innovating and working to provide support for families as the pandemic continues to develop, nearly two years after practices first moved online.

Jubilee Jump is now on the tail end of its grant timeline with NRF, but Jubilee Consortium will continue its dedication to improving access to healthy living and youth development opportunities. NRF is proud to have been involved in a small part of that journey and is excited to follow all the meaningful work Jubilee Jump will continue to do in the LA community moving forward.

a girl is coached on jump roping by an adult behind her
Image courtesy of Jubilee Consortium