WHO WE ARE
Since its founding in 2012, 3Point has served more than 2,000 underserved youth from underserved families in Boston.
3Point’s History
A Modest Start
Founded in 2012, 3Point set out to connect the lessons of the classroom with the life lessons of basketball for 15 urban boys in a four week summer program at the Fessenden School in Newton. By connecting the classroom to the basketball court, 3Point provided a pathway for urban youth from underserved families to learn the skills necessary to succeed in school and employment.
The Early Years
During its first few years, 3Point began a partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston which led to 3Point providing after-school programs for approximately 80 underserved youth in under-resourced schools in Dorchester. Our program continued to provide classroom learning followed by basketball. However, we also began to integrate social-emotional learning into every aspect of the program.
Continuing to Grow
By 2018, 3Point was serving approximately 150 students in after-school programs in seven schools in the Roxbury, and Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston and had shifted to project based learning that taught to our youths’ strengths and encouraged them to give voice to their ideas using digital technology. We also doubled the number of students by adding a second location to our summer programs.
After the Pandemic
At the request of our public school partners, while maintaining its after-school programs, 3Point began to serve an additional 350 youth annually providing programing to 6th-9th graders during the school day. 3Point also introduced a weekend basketball program that included social-emotional learning for our middle school youth. Our summer learning academies expanded to three locations to accommodate the larger number of students we served.
Vision
We envision a future where all youth in Boston, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to achieve success in education, employment, and life.
Mission
Our mission is to engage Boston youth through programs that inspire learning, build life skills, foster a commitment to service to others, and promote lifelong health and wellness.
Values
Collaboration, Inclusion and Belonging, Joy, Respect and Accountability.
Focus Areas
- Develop 21st Century Skills & Growth Mindset
21st-century skills are essential abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, digital literacy, and adaptability. A growth mindset, the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence, is integral to these skills. Our academic curriculum fosters these skills through hands-on, project-based learning experiences that encourage students to embrace challenges, accept feedback, and view mistakes as opportunities for growth. Our 21st-century skills and Growth mindset are also integrated into our basketball program in alignment with what we do in classroom learning as well. - Inspire Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social-emotional learning refers to the ability to understand and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, make responsible decisions, and show empathy. We integrate SEL concepts into our program through activities such as the daily “weather report” and team-building exercises. SEL concepts are also intentionally integrated into our basketball program. - Promote Health and Wellness as Lifelong Habits
Health and wellness encompass the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students, supported through sports, education, and mentorship to promote healthy lifestyles and personal growth. We facilitate basketball activities that reinforce these benefits, encouraging students to develop lifelong healthy habits. - Foster Service to Others to Build Community
Service to others is the act of giving time, effort, and resources to support and uplift individuals or communities in need. We aim to deepen student engagement in service through volunteer opportunities, problem-solving initiatives, and real-world applications.
