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INCLUSION L
By Paul Ohanian
acrosse may not be the first sport that comes to mind in Minnesota quite yet, but if Homegrown Lacrosse has its
way, the Creator’s Game will soon join hockey, football and ice fishing among the state’s top recreational activities. Homegrown Lacrosse started in Minneapolis in the mid-2000s as an organization focused on camps, clinics and league play. But it now has expanded its reach to inner-city schools and community organizations. Staff members teach lacrosse in elementary and middle school physical education classes around the state, as well as in after- school programs and city community centers. Most schools are receptive to Homegrown Lacrosse’s outreach efforts, since it subsidizes most costs.
“Our goal is to get as many kids exposed to the game as we can,” said Matt Hourigan, chief financial officer. “Whether they stay with the game or not, we feel like we’ve already won if we provide the initial exposure.”
That philosophy made Homegrown Lacrosse a logical partner for US Lacrosse via Coach Across America (CAA). CAA helps train and place young coaches in underserved communities, and provides financial support for those coaches for up to a year. With the goal of diversifying the sport, US Lacrosse
now provides
additional financial support to lacrosse organizations, like Homegrown Lacrosse, that qualify for CAA. “This is a great strategic partnership to have with CAA to further assist urban programs in employing trained lacrosse coaches,” said Eboni Preston-Laurent, senior manager of diversity and inclusion at US Lacrosse.
In the first year of the CAA arrangement, US Lacrosse provides funding assistance for 12 coaching positions with six different organizations: Charm City (Md.) Youth Lacrosse, Harlem (N.Y.) Lacrosse, MetroLacrosse (Mass.), Dallas (Texas) Bridge Lacrosse, Oakland (Calif.) Lacrosse Club and Homegrown Lacrosse. “We feel blessed to have this additional
support,” Hourigan said. “We need more manpower to run these service- based initiatives. It made a ton of sense for us to partner with US Lacrosse. “
60 LACROSSE MAGAZINE June 2014>> A Publication of US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse finds willing partners in efforts to diversify the sport
©JOHN STROHSACKER (EPL); ©PPP LAX
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