Black Girls Jump (BGJ) is a nonprofit organization founded with a passion for culture, fitness, and community. Its mission is to empower girls and women through Double Dutch, promoting physical activity, confidence, and connection. Beyond its physical benefits, the program pairs jump roping with workshops designed to cultivate leadership, self-discipline, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills, equipping girls with tools that extend beyond athletics.
Double Dutch is more than just a childhood game—it is a culturally connected sport that celebrates creativity, community, and physical skill. BGJ harnesses this powerful heritage to encourage girls not only to stay active but also to participate in competitive sports. Although they possess tremendous talent and potential, Black girls are significantly underrepresented in competitive sports. This underrepresentation means they often miss out on valuable opportunities for scholarships, college pathways, and lifelong health benefits. Engaging in competitive sports has been shown to boost self-esteem, improve academic performance, build social networks, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund will support the expansion of BGJ’s “JUMP IN” program to the Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA) in South Shore, located near the future Obama Presidential Center. Recognizing that regular jump rope enhances cardiovascular health, reduces stress, boosts immunity and bone strength, and lowers the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, the program offers comprehensive training in competitive Double Dutch. This training includes conditioning, gymnastics, and dance, preparing girls for national tournaments, high-profile performances, and future coaching opportunities. Complementing the physical training, participant workshops will focus on body positivity, healthy nutrition, creating safe spaces, building social support networks, and fostering teamwork and friendships. BGJ will specifically target rising freshman girls as they transition to CVCA, with an overarching goal to extend the program’s reach to more high school girls throughout Chicago’s South Shore community.
Through its work, BGJ aims to break down barriers and create pathways for Black girls to thrive both in competitive sports and in all aspects of life.
For more information about Black Girls Jump, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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