The Big Yard Foundation

Thank you to adidas and Impact Hub Network for an incredible experience over the last 9 months with the Community Lab program. That final pitch day.. the juices were flowing and the butterflies were floating 😂. Our program cohort full of Portland-based social entrepreneurs met weekly over the last 9 months, learning from some of the best minds in the industry and continuously being challenged or challenging one another to refine our business models, fundraising strategy, pitch strategy, revenue generation, and more. But one consistent challenge through the whole program was… think bigger. The question is... Why not you?? Our dreams are there to be accomplished and regardless of who you are, your experiences and differences will always make you unique, thus making you perfectly fit to be the one to chase those dreams. My dream for Big Yard Academy (The Big Yard Foundation) — inspire youth through sport and education to help create positive outcomes in historically underserved communities. 🌳 As for the 5 min final pitch, I am proud of my performance and happy for the reminder that practice makes perfect. Thank you adidas for all your support. We got this!!

Our inaugural Big Yard Academy with The Big Yard Foundation!!! 🌳 A two-week STEAM Education and Flag Football program designed to enrich the lives of 32 middle school student-athletes from N/NE Portland. The experience is tailored to increase resilience. Resilience is defined as a positive response to adversity. Our community needs resilience now more than ever and a resilient future begins with our youth. Academy supports resilience-building by focusing on strategies in our three core areas: Athletics, Education and Personal Growth + Development. I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for bringing their all every day and helping lay the foundation for Academy. I am grateful for our team of teachers, mentors and coaches who poured all of their love and energy into their work to ensure the youth had a fruitful experience. And I am humbled to be able to steward the support of the community that has allowed The Big Yard Foundation to come this far. Thanks to all of you who supported via donation, attendance of our events, brand partnerships, or sharing our work with your friends. It is all appreciated. We have much left to accomplish. Day by day. 🦅🌳

Last month, we had the pleasure of collaborating with national artist John Rivas (@johnrivasstudio) and Central Catholic High School - Portland High School’s Black Student Union (@centralcatholic_bsu)students for our first artist workshop. John worked with each student to create individual portraits and contributed to a larger collaborative masterpiece. Taking this collaboration further, we’ve partnered with Deadstock Coffee and Sneaker Gallery (@deadstockcoffee) to create our signature blend, “Big Yard Brew.” The coffee canister design will feature the Masterpiece artwork from the workshop, available in a limited edition. Don’t miss the chance to see the Masterpiece displayed alongside the rest of the Big Yard Studio: Acquired Taste show June 8th, 2024. 🌳 A special thank you to John Rivas, CCHS, Deadstock Coffee, and Juicebox Portland. S/O to the Big Yard team for bringing this vision to life Sophia Solares Kiora Ridgeway Cameron Scarlett Brennan Scarlett Shani Storey 🎥: Juicebox Creative Agency #BigYardFoundation #BigYardStudio #CentralCatholicHighSchool #JohnRivas #BSU #Art #Youthworkshop

Big Yard Studio is a celebration of the art that provide context and representation of our communities, both locally, nationally and globally. A celebration of artists whose works lend us insight and deeper understanding of their perspectives. This year, we are happy to announce our 2024 Big Yard Studio show: Acquired Taste. Acquired Taste - synonymous with unconventional art, beckons admirers into a realm where outlaws and oddballs reign. That’s the power of unconventional art: going against the norm and doing what’s never been done before, creating an exchange between the art, the artist and the community that lasts forever.

We are so thrilled to announce our inaugural two-week program, Big Yard Academy. A fusion of intensive flag football training and captivating S.T.E.A.M. education. Big Yard Academy is not just about honing athletic expertise and academic curiosity. It’s a transformative experience where student-athletes will also cultivate leadership qualities, foster lifelong friendships, and gain invaluable life lessons.  Designed for both girls and boys in grades 6th-8th, our program runs from July 1st to July 12th, 2024 (excluding July 4th). Join us for an unparalleled experience! https://lnkd.in/gPqBsRGj

The Big Yard Foundation is excited to announce the fourth annual Big Yard Studio, and we are actively seeking artists to feature in our 2024 show. This year’s theme revolves around Acquired Taste. At its core, Acquired Taste acknowledges and celebrates the transformative potential within unconventional art. The progression from initial resistance to profound appreciation signifies a profound dive into artistic expression and a dedicated push against established boundaries. This concept is firmly grounded in the belief that unconventional art possesses the capacity to reshape perspectives, defy norms, and create a lasting, positive influence for those open to undertaking the unforgettable journey of artistic exploration. Submit your application at https://lnkd.in/gQN8vUyw by March 30th !

This week, the National Football League (NFL) announced that the Philadelphia Eagles would be one of the teams to play in the game in São Paulo, Brazil, in the 2024 season. Not only is this a historic moment for the NFL, as it will be the first game played on South American soil, it is also historic in a diplomatic sense. The year 2024 is the bicentennial anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Brazil . As these two historic moments collide, I have been honored with the opportunity to travel down São Paulo this week leading up to Super Bowl LVIII. My role is to spread awareness about the game of American Football here in Brazil while also strengthening the ties between both of our great nations. My time has been filled with positive energy and strong excitement around the game of American Football. Personally, the game has provided so much opportunity and growth for me in my life, and so I consider myself lucky to be able serve as a conduit for those blessings to others around the world. A huge thank you to the U.S. Department of State, National Football League (NFL), USA Football, and all other stakeholders for considering me for the opportunity and making the trip a special one. https://lnkd.in/guT2GVfs

Big Yard takes on Brazil! 🇧🇷🌳 With Super Bowl this weekend, the National Football League (NFL) and USA Football, through #consuladoeuasp partnered with #prefsp to promote American football in the city of São Paulo. Later this year, São Paulo will host the first-ever NFL regular season football game to be played in South America, The National Football League launched NFL Flag programs in Brazil in 2023, in partnership with the Brazilian American Football Confederation (CBFA) to grow flag football at the grassroots and elite level. Brennan Scarlett you are truly an inspiration worldwide!

I am excited to announce that I have been selected as a member of the 23/24 cohort of adidas Community Lab! Five years ago, The Big Yard Foundation set out with a mission to help empower our historically underserved communities through education, creativity and access to sport. We are incredibly honored to have the support, belief and partnership from adidas as we pursue our mission. Over the next five years, The Big Yard Foundation Yard has visions to deepen our impact. We want to continue to evolve our strategies in how we serve our community’s youth. We want to continue to grow more thoughtful in the ways we bring our community members together in love, unity, and empowerment. And the partnership from adidas and the Impact Hub Network is helping us bring those visions to fruition. The Community Lab is creating space for collaboration and reflection. They are supporting the refinement of our business models and sustainability efforts. They are lending ears to hear our obstacles and helping us brainstorm work-arounds. They have provided a support system. We at The Big Yard Foundation are grateful. I am grateful. I am grateful to have family, friends, and community members who have graciously dedicated their time, energy and resources to make this vision come to life. Without the Big Yard Team, there is no Big Yard. I’ve learned that great things can be accomplished with a strong foundation and support system. The Big Yard Foundation is a beneficiary of this kind of system and of that, this partnership is another testimony. It is much like the type of support system that we are hoping to create for the communities that we serve. “It takes a village” is not just a saying at The Big Yard Foundation, it is a way of life. Thank you adidas for being a part of our village. S/O to the rest of my cohort members! Anibal Rocheta (he/him), Loco Por la Aventura  Julian Alexander (they/them), Street Soccer USA  Lestarya Tuadi Molloy (she/her), Fridie Outdoors Mashari Tyson (she/her), Black Excellence Group Pamela Slaughter (she/her), People of Color Outdoors  Vanessa Gomez (she/her), Flow in the City S/O to the adidas and Impact Hub Network team for all your hard work! We appreciate you. Sammy van den Berg Ayesha Martin Michelle Avalos Jessica Smith John-Paul Parmigiani

Get ready to sip for a cause as The Big Yard Foundation teams up with Stumptown Coffee Roasters for our School Supply Drive! 📝🖍️ Mark your calendars: From August 16th to August 28th, swing by the Eastside Stumptown Coffee Roasters locations and join us in giving back to Rosa Parks Elementary School in North Portland Here's the deal: - Bring in brand-new school supplies – think notebooks, pencils, backpacks, you name it! (see our supplies list for more) - Swing by either one of Stumptown's East side locations during the drive dates. - Show your donated items at the checkout and enjoy a heartwarming treat: Buy One Drink, Get One Free! Let's combine our love for a good brew with our passion for education! Your generosity will directly impact the students at Rosa Parks Elementary School, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in the coming year. Spread the word, bring your friends, and let's brew up a storm of support! We can't wait to see you at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, making a difference one sip and one school supply at a time! 🌳