Today we’d like to introduce you to Damian Jones.
Hi Damian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2019, my wife and I were conversing about how best we could serve our community. Specifically, we wanted to find a way to positively impact the lives of the children in the Alton/Riverbend and throughout the St. Louis region. Ours discussion led to the formation of SALT (Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow), a sports-based youth development nonprofit that leverages the platform of sports as a means to be present in the lives of children. Once present and engaged with a child in an organic way (i.e., “play”, which defines sports at its barest essence), you can mentor and encourage that child. SALT seeks to serve and develop the whole child socially, emotionally, and physically to help every child in every neighborhood in our communities to achieve their fullest potential.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
In answer to your question, the most significant challenge may have been the arrival of the Covid-19 virus shortly after the formation of SALT. While the onset of a global pandemic was a significant impediment to the implementation of our programming, it provided us with the opportunity to establish important collaborative partnerships with regional and national organizations (e.g., Alton School District, Missouri Youth Soccer Association, US Soccer Foundation) that have proved to be very productive to the eventual implementation of youth development programming as society has emerged from the pandemic.
We’ve been impressed with SALT-Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
SALT (Student-Athletes Leading Tomorrow) is a sports-based youth development nonprofit in Alton, IL. SALT leverages the sports/physical activity platform to engage children. The driving vision of SALT is to help every child in every neighborhood in our communities to achieve their fullest potential. Through our partnership contract with the US Soccer Foundation, SALT has facilitated the construction of the St. Louis region’s first US Soccer Foundation “Safe Places to Play” futsal mini-pitch. The Foundation’s “Safe Places to Play” program is a national initiative to increase access to soccer for children in under-resourced communities by building miniature soccer courts for children in those communities. In addition, SALT has implemented the US Soccer Foundation’s “In-School Curriculum,” a soccer fundamentals/health & wellness program designed to be integrated into a school district’s PE/Health program. Through SALT, the Alton School District is the only school system in the State of Illinois participating in the Foundation’s national In-School Soccer/Wellness curriculum, which aligns with SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Standards.
What makes you happy?
Our greatest happiness as a couple (and a family serving our community through SALT) comes from knowing we’re using the full measure of our gifts and talents to serve our community’s children/families. At SALT, we say that children are like wet clay on a potter’s wheel, which, when engaged and supported positively, can be shaped into a vessel that is better able to hold the fluid of good character and resilience.
Pricing:
- Our program for children is free of charge/low cost to ensure access for all, regardless of socio-economic status.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saltyouth.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/saltyouthalton
- Facebook: SALT-Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow
