Our Story

1997

Chicago-based Midlands Youth Foundation partners with Chicago Park District and USA Wrestling to bring wrestling programs to Chicago inner city youth.

1999

Alliance formed with Chicago YMCA to create programming that combines YMCA’s infrastructure with volunteer wrestling coaches

Program re-branded “Beat the Streets”

2000

Beat the Streets New York founded

2009

Beat the Streets Philadelphia founded

2012

Beat the Streets Los Angeles founded

2014

Midlands Youth Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, formally changes its name to Beat the Streets Chicago

2016

Beat the Streets Chicago forms partnership with CPS Score!

“Beat the Streets” organizations operating in 19 cities

2017

Beat the Streets National formally organized as the national federation for the various BTS programs across the country.

BTS organizations from Chicago, New York Philadelphia and Los Angeles are the four founding members.

Membership standards, protocols and accreditation process are established and rolled out to the 15 additional programs running under the Beat the Streets name

Beat the Streets – Chicago begins to re-ignite board and organization

2018

Beat the Streets Chicago makes three major hires: Mike Powell, Executive Director, Cathy Yen, Director of Operations, Dan Verr, Program Director

Beat the Streets Chicago embarks on 3-Year plan to reach 2,000 youth by 2020