Mission

City Lax is an organization that creates opportunities for inner-city youth. Lacrosse is a sport that offers both on the field and classroom lessons. The game provides a framework to teach and learn character – to learn about basic human values including honesty, kindness, courage, equality and respect. And the educational opportunities associated with lacrosse -- from elementary school through college -- are numerous. City Lax believes providing opportunity and building character in our youth is essential to raising community leaders of today and tomorrow.

Goals

Our goal is to run a well-organized program built on a strong foundation that has the ability to spread a character based education lacrosse program to additional underserved communities in the Denver metro area. Lacrosse in Colorado has grown rapidly, but a large segment of central Denver has not been introduced to the educational and athletic benefits of the sport. As we grow and expand, more youth will be given opportunities to play a new sport, work together, and learn lessons linked to sports and athletics. Denver City Lax, modeled after other character education sports programs, intends to be a program that promotes ethical values, challenges its students and players, fosters self-motivation and engages its members to become future leaders.

History

A group consisting of a lawyer, a teacher, businessmen, a college student and community associates within Colorado Youth Lacrosse and the Denver Parks and Recreation came together to form the organization. A budget was established, a team was assembled, a home field was located, entry into a youth league was arranged and equipment was purchased and/or donated from individual contributors. The team began three day a week practices in March 2007, played a seven game schedule and concluded the season with a division championship at the Warrior Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Jamboree.
This year’s inaugural team was comprised of 20 (16 boys and 4 girls) elementary and middle school students primarily from Hallett Science and Technology located in Park Hill. Denver Park’s and Recreation Department through the Martin Luther King Recreation Center furnished the team’s home field, and the Colorado Lacrosse League offered an organized season game schedule and officials. During the season City Lax participants experienced: college players as visiting coaches; a private clinic with the Denver Outlaws and the Colorado State University club team at Invesco Stadium; attendance at various high school and college lacrosse games; scholarships for both boys and girls to summer lacrosse camps; and participation at the Vail Shootout in the youth Chumash competition.