Compton, CA
Major League Baseball selected Compton as its choice for the first Urban Youth Academy. Fifteen miles southeast of Los Angeles, Compton and its surrounding areas reflect diverse populations and economic hardships. Roughly 99% of Compton residents represent minority populations, including 40% African American, and 55% Hispanic.
Working with the Compton Unified School District, various chapters of the Boys & Girls Club of America, and the Department of Parks and Recreation, along with the support of MLB, the Urban Youth Academy provides year-round clinics and seminars free of charge to thousands of local kids, ages 8 to 17.
Due to the early success of Compton’s Urban Youth Academy, Major League Baseball has three other Academies in the works in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the Miami area. Ideally, one would be established in every city that has a Major or Minor League team.
