Black children are learning the sport of fencing for free in New York City parks this summer! Help keep this effort going.

Dear John,

At the height of the pandemic, Nzingha Prescod created Fencing in the Park as a response to the lack of outlets for children. The two-time Olympic fencer and eight-time world medalist sought to make the exclusive sport more accessible to Black children in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Since last year, Fencing in the Park has evolved from a summer and spring program to a partnership with NYC schools, and now has 47 children enrolled for this summer! And it’s all free of cost to their families.

Fencing in the Park brings highly skilled coaches, fencing equipment, and programming directly to Black communities in order to remove the financial and geographical barriers to the sport. But to implement sustainable, long-term training for the new fencers, Fencing in the Park needs funding. That’s why Color Of Change is proud to amplify Fencing in the Park and support its initiatives. John, will you donate to this incredible mission to make fencing accessible to more Black children beyond this summer?

CHIP IN $25 TO SUPPORT FENCING IN THE PARK PROGRAMMING AND COLOR OF CHANGE’S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN BLACK CHILDREN.  
Fencing has been inaccessible to most Black communities due to a racially exclusionary, pay-to-play model. The costs of fencing equipment, coaching, and transportation to facilities are barriers that shut many Black children out of the sport. Growing up, Nzingha, her sister, and her best friend were the only children in their neighborhood with access to fencing programs. This opened opportunities for them to travel the world, earn scholarships and admission to New York’s specialized schools, join influential networks, and compete on the Olympic stage. That’s why Fencing in the Park is so powerful—its ultimate goal is to develop Black children’s life skills and open up pathways for success through fencing.

Across college sports, Black athletes’ participation rates by sport are representative of the disparity of access due to the privatization of sports: 88% of Black male athletes compete in football, track, or basketball; 78% of Black females athletes compete in track, basketball, or volleyball. Fencing in the Park is opening the doors for Black children to access a world that has historically been denied to them. Currently, 97% of the participants in the community programs identify as Black and 70% of participants in the spring series are girls. Additionally, Fencing in the Park offers high-performance scholarships to exemplary students who can commit to consistent training and want to pursue competitive fencing. Chip in to cover costs for a child in Fencing in the Park initiatives and support Color Of Change’s continued investment in Black children.

DONATE $25 to cover expenses for a fencer

DONATE $50 for New fencing equipment

DONATE $75 for fencing club scholarships

DONATE $100 for long-term Fencing In the Park programming

This is just the beginning. The next step for Fencing in the Park is to open a year-round fencing academy in the Flatbush community, surrounded by people they know and coaches who look like them. It would serve as an after-school experience where children have consistent access to training and development of their fencing skills, plus academic lessons, study hall, and SHSAT prep. Fencing in the Park is doing the work to develop the next generation of leaders and champions in fencing and beyond. John, make a difference in the lives of Black children today with a donation to sustain Fencing in the Park programming and support Color Of Change’s continued investment in Black children.

Until justice is real,

— Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Erica, Evan, Amanda, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, FolaSade, Gabrielle, Marie, Taurjhai, Angel, Ciera, Jennette, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team