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1217 W North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21217

About

BOXING & EDUCATION

"No Hooks Before Books!"

Umar’s facility includes an athletic area as well as a classroom area (seven (7) station PC lab) providing at-risk children a safe environment to master athletic and educational skills. Umar’s staff includes certified Baltimore City educators and certified USA boxing trainers.

While there are boxing gyms throughout inner city communities as well as youth centers, Umar’s combination of boxing and education under the same roof is rare. This combination is the key to our success and is our enduring motto of “No Hooks before Books!” Boxing is an important draw that attracts “hard-to-reach” children to the program. Once enrolled in the program, we convince every student that superior school performance is a foremost goal.

A SAFE HAVEN

since 1996

OUR PROGRAM

Umar has provided a centralized 12-month safe haven for at-risk Baltimore City children since 1996. The program, located in the Druid Heights Community of Baltimore City, serves approximately forty five (45) children between the ages of 8 to 18. Umar operates as an after-school program during the school year and offers various camp opportunities in the summer.

USA BOXING

A registered facility with certified trainers

Umar is a registered facility with USA Boxing, the sport’s national governing body that is responsible for the administration, development and promotion of Olympic-style boxing in the United States. Boxers are supervised and trained by USA Boxing certified trainers.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

UMAR has so much to offer

NO HOOKS BEFORE BOOKS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: GRADE KINDERGARTEN – 12TH GRADE

Our motto is “no hooks before books” as we combine academic development and athletic training under one roof. While boxing is an exciting draw and integral part of the program, academic development is the paramount goal. Children must participate actively in the academic program in order to participate in the boxing program. Programming includes homework assistance, tutoring and boxing.

BOXING & PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAM: ALL AGES

Umar is a registered facility with USA Boxing, the sport’s national governing body that is responsible for the administration, development and promotion of Olympic-style boxing in the United States. Boxers are supervised and trained by USA Boxing certified trainers. Umar specifically provides lessons and workouts that build focus, discipline self-esteem, respect, physical and mental fitness.

GED SERVICES: AGES 16 YEARS AND OLDER

In conjunction with GED Testing Services, UMAR Boxing Program provides GED tutoring and resources to aid those pursuing a GED. In addition, we also aid students in applying for college.

YOGA & MEDITATION: ALL AGES

In partnership with Diva Yogi, Umar Boxing provides free yoga classes on Sunday. The instructor is a certified NSPA personal Trainer, Patanjali/Iyengar Therapeutic Yoga Instructor, Level 1 Usui Reiki Practitioner and a Trauma Informed Care Trainer through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

MENTORING: ALL AGES

Through UMAR partnerships and relationships, we link people who have certain expertise and knowledge with individuals who need or want the same skills and advantages to move up in work, skill level, or school performance with the intent that the mentees become mentors.

BI-WEEKLY FOOD PANTRY

Every other Wednesday at 12:00 pm, Umar provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to the community. In addition, we are a referral service to the Children’s Cabinet through the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success.

REMOTE SERVICES

During this time of quarantine, due to COVID 19, Umar Boxing Program is offering free remote educational services through our Google Classroom and Khan Academy. Contact us for a Google Code or Khan Code. This entails, online tutoring and any other assistance in navigating online education through the public-school system or other source. We are also a referral service to Rotary International District 7620 Covid-19 Response Team Volunteers.

UMAR Boxing About Marvin
UMAR Boxing About Marvin2

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MR. MARVIN McDOWELL

Umar’s Executive Director, Mr. Marvin McDowell, started the program to provide hope and opportunity to Baltimore City’s at-risk children. Marvin is a former professional boxer and member of Maryland’s Boxing Hall of Fame. Marvin grew up in Baltimore City and experienced the same travails challenging Baltimore’s chidren today, violent crime, rampant drug use and inadequate education. As a result of his work at Umar, Marvin received the 1st annual Howard P. Rawlings Community Service Award presented at the Governor’s Annual Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.