Our Partners in Impact: LA84 Foundation
Rainbow Labs believes that all youth should have the opportunity to explore different activities and interests, without the pressure to become great at them or to shrink themselves to fit into the mold of what many people who enjoy these activities are like.
This is why Rainbow Labs offers Sports Lab, a division of Rainbow Labs programming. Sports Lab is focused on promoting the joy of movement and play to youth ages 9-18 across Los Angeles County.
Sports Lab encompasses a variety of programs, including:
LGBTQ+ Youth Sports Clinics: Afterschool activations conducted in partnership with other youth service providers, where we facilitate sports such as soccer, softball, and dance for four hours at middle and high schools throughout Los Angeles.
LGBTQ+ Youth Softball Team: A nine-week-program where youth join an official softball team in partnership with Dodgers DreamTeam, and learn about the rules of the game, social-emotional benefits, and develop community through teamwork and the guidance of mentors.
Sports Leadership Lab: Our latest sports offering, a four-month program that allows youth to explore leadership through a sports-based lens, building up their confidence and real-world leadership skills, as well as learning through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and movement.
Watching our youth become empowered through participation in Sports Labs has been a highlight of our work, as our youth can attest:
“I already loved being around people and making friends, but this program showed me that I can push myself way farther than I thought. I also love the coaches. They make everything feel positive and motivating. They listen to us and push us in a good way. This change is important because it makes me feel like I am part of something bigger.” - Hamida, Age 13
We would be amiss not to credit a crucial partner in impact. LA84 Foundation has provided valuable funding, making Sports Lab programming accessible to youth from diverse communities within Los Angeles County. From Sports Clinics to our brand new Sports Leadership Lab, LA84 Foundation has provided critical support in the accessibility and expansion of Rainbow Labs sports programming, and we cannot thank them enough for the opportunity to make sports more accessible to the youth of Los Angeles.
Thank you, LA84 Foundation. Your dedication to youth athletics has given our participants priceless opportunities to discover and build on their interests in sports and personal development.
