NO HOOKS BEFORE BOOKS A boxing gym where education comes first.
THIS IS A
“
TOUGH
CITY
TO GROW UP IN” -GLENN, AGE 21
Zachary and Zoria Cunningham, ages 13 and 8, help each other with their headgear.
Every afternoon at four o’clock, UMAR becomes full of life. Stepping inside, you automatically feel enveloped with its positive energy. The sense of community remains thick in the air as the older boxers begin their rigorous training and the younger children gather in the adjacent classroom to eat snacks and work on their homework. Shouts of encouragement from one boxer to another blend with the mingled vibrations of speed bags, jump ropes, and laughter. Kids carry out their warm-up routines in rhythm to the music sounding from the radio in the corner. The bonds are clearly strong between the training staff, teachers, and kids whom they so enthusiastically mentor. All the vocal support among the boxers themselves is refreshing in a city where kids are “brought up to be rough.” For those youths who have little to look forward to beyond the gym, UMAR is a haven and a stronghold in their daily lives and personal development. It gives them hope and teaches them to set goals. Every day when they leave the gym, they walk underneath a big gold and black sign that says, “Put the Guns Down, Put the Gloves On.” Located above the Cash USA and Pawn Shop on West North Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, UMAR is not your typical boxing gym. Founder Marvin McDowell wanted to give kids the same opportunities he had through boxing in his youth—“boxing saved me.” Since 1998, UMAR has been a center for fitness training and educational development that is unique in its mission to serve inner city youths. The non-profit after-school program fuses boxing with academic and social development. The “No Hooks Before Books” motto says it all—active and structured academic time is set aside for the 13 and under children in the program; afterwards they can participate in the boxing. Not only does UMAR produce successful amateur boxers, but it also compels children and young adults to stay in school and off the streets. Boxing gives kids something they love to do in the afternoons while providing a safe and supportive arena for them to finish their homework and continue learning.
“TO BE A GOOD BOXER, YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD THINKER” - MARVIN MCDOWELL Founder and President of UMAR
A busy work day typically ends for most people at 5pm. Not for Marvin McDowell. Every evening after a long day of working at his barbershop in Mondawmin Mall, he and his two youngest sons Uswa and Kofi head over to UMAR. Mr. McDowell can be seen both in and out of the ring, actively exercising and sharpening the skills of UMAR’s young boxers. An accomplished boxer himself with many welterweight championships to his name as well as being a Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Mr. McDowell instructs all his students with passion, and they listen with high regard. He and the other trainers inspire them all to be strong, focused, and dedicated, not only in the ring but also in the classroom. On a more competitive level, UMAR has sent many boxers to prestigious amateur events, including the National Silver Gloves and Golden Gloves Championships. On an everyday level, Mr. McDowell and his students work and train hard, endlessly reaffirming his belief that boxing is truly a thinking sport. Encouragement is at the heart of Mr. McDowell’s program. He channels a positive attitude to each and every trainer, teacher, and student that walks through UMAR’s doors.
Marvin: the boxer
South Atlantic Champion: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981 Maryland State welterweight champion: 1980, 1981 Region IV welterweight champion: 1981 Rated No. 6 welterweight, USABF, 1978 to 1981 Outstanding Boxer Award in the South Atlantic
THIS IS ONE SPORT
“
THAT WILL
HUMBLE
THE TOUGHEST KID
YOU COME ACROSS”
- MARVIN MCDOWELL
At UMAR, everyone works hard. Really, really hard.
At UMAR, the kids who are thirteen and under take tutoring in the afternoons before they start their fitness and boxing routine. Ms. Dunston and Ms. Tapp are extremely qualified and dedicated, and highly respected by the kids. They set aside time to help each individual child understand their regular school curriculum, and also uphold an academic agenda of their own. The bright classroom setting is happy, comfortable, and interactive, and the kids themselves are attentive and productive. They also never fail to get very excited for the daily snacktime!
Learning is a Knockout!
This boxing book adornes the classroom wall.
Joyce V. Dunston was an educator in the BCPS system for 36 years. She holds a BA in early
childhood education from Morgan State University and an MA from Coppin State University. She’s been with UMAR for 10 years.
Gwendolyn R. Tapp was an educator in the BCPS for the 30 years and an adjunct professor at Baltimore City Community College. She has a BA in special education from Coppin State University and an MA from University of Maryland.
Dennis James is always present, active, and well respected at UMAR. For four years, Dennis has been setting up unique exercise programs for UMAR boxers of all ages. A professional fighter himself from 1978 to 1994, he has also developed many contacts with well-known professional boxers and trainers across the country.
Dauda Elamin, says, “age doesn’t matter here. If they consistently come, you see them grow. I’d rather see them here than out there in the streets getting in trouble.” Dauda was the Spanish Golden Gloves Champion in 1969. He knew Mr. McDowell for many years before becoming an UMAR trainer.
Gerald “weezy” McEachern III, 7 is a promising young athlete at UMAR.
Antione Robinson, 16, won a 2009
international title fight in Washington, D.C.
ANTOINE watches Dennis as he works with Gina. “You can learn from anybody here. You even learn from the little kids,” says Dennis.
Glenn Dezurn is ranked 5th in the country, was the State and
Regional USA Boxing Champion, and fought in the US National semi-finals in 2008.
William Brown, 7, helps brother Bishop, 2. “They’d choose boxing over cartoons,” their father says.
Dennis, Ronnie, and Glenn talk about Glenn’s next fight. The boxers both work hard and joke around.
When she is not working out or boxing, Dominique, 16, helps out in the classroom by tutoring the children.
“WHEN I
GROW I WANT UP TO BE A BOXER AND WIN EVERY FIGHT”
-Jonay Cunningham, age 7
Gina D’Andrea, 25, won the State Golden Gloves Championship, was Regional and State US boxing
champion, and reached the National Semifinals in 2008. The younger kids at UMAR often look up to its very talented older boxers for inspiration.
“A LOT OF KIDS DON’T KNOW HOW TO GIVE THEMSELVES ”
A CHANCE
- MARVIN MCDOWELL
Youth of every age are the lifeblood of UMAR. Some are there to box, some to learn, and others just to spend time with each other. Shaikira, 13 says it perfectly:
“it is a happy thing for me to do.” PLEASE CONTINUE THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM
SUPPORT
UMAR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO:
UMAR Youth and Boxing, Inc. c/o David Schorr, CPA 1217 W. North Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21217
or donate online at: www.nohooksbeforebooks.org
The UMAR Youth and Boxing Program is a 501©(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported organization. It is registered with the State of Maryland with the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act. Contributions to UMAR are Tax-deductible as provided in section 170 of the Internal Revenue code. Capital gains tax on appreciated stock are avoidable. Donate your stock to UMAR via our Merrill Lynch brokerage account and receive a tax deductions for the stock’s full value.
THE PRICE OF BOXING GEAR TRAINING
$70 HEADGEAR $40 SPEEDBAG $45 SUPER BAG GLOVES
$60
SAFETY TRAINING GLOVES
$45 NO-FOUL PROTECTOR
$50 MITT PUNCH
$60 COMPETITION HEADGEAR
$160BAG
100 LB HEAVY
$95 SPARMATE TIMER
$10 JUMP ROPE
YOUR PUNCH STATS THE IMPACT OF YOUR DONATION ON THE LIVES OF UMAR KIDS DIRECT TUTORING AND BOXING INSTRUCTION
FOR THE KIDS (25% EDUCATION, 25% BOXING)
RENT
AND UTILITIES TRAVEL TO BOXING
TOURNAMENTS
50%
15% 15%
CLASSROOM SUPPLIES 10%
BOXING
SUPPLIES
5%
OTHER 5%
EVERY DONATION COUNTS
DESIGNED & WRITTEN BY
THANK YOU
Mark Alcasabas Virginia Sasser
We would like to thank all the talented and hardworking students, trainers, teachers, and supporters of the UMAR Youth and Boxing Program who contributed in the making of this publication. A special thanks goes out to:
PHOTOGRAPHY Virginia Sasser Andrew Shea
ADVISOR Bernard Canniffe, MICA Design Coalition
Marvin McDowell David Schorr Dennis James Dauda Elamin Joyce Dunston Gwendolyn Tapp Printed by Linco Printing Inc.
1217 W. NORTH AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21217 / p:410.728.3600 / f:410.728.3500 WWW.NOHOOKSBEFOREBOOKS.ORG