Bronx parks get a new skate park design by Tyshawn Jones and the support of Tony Hawk’s Foundation
Two deteriorating skate parks in the Bronx are set for a major transformation into state-of-the-art skateboard venues to boost the sport in the borough. City officials and local skateboard advocates are spearheading this initiative, including the construction of a new skate park at Soundview Park to replace an old roller rink, and a renovation of the Allerton Skate Park in Bronx Park. The effort is supported by Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Parks, NYCEDC, local council members, and the non-profit organization The Skatepark Project. The total cost of these projects remains unannounced as the designs are still in progress, and the completion dates are yet to be determined. Officials and advocates are committed to involving the community in the planning process to ensure the new parks meet local needs. Benjamin Bashein, executive director of The Skatepark Project, emphasized their commitment to equipping underserved communities with quality skate parks and pledged to engage with the community throughout the development process. The planned 15,000-square-foot skate park at Soundview Park will replace a damaged asphalt rink. Designed by professional skateboarder and Supreme influencer Tyshawn Jones, a local who grew up near Soundview Park, the project will feature custom poured-in-place elements and spectator seating. The funding and support are led by Mayor Adams’ office, Council Member Amanda Farías, and the Tony Hawk’s Foundation who has allocated $1.5 million toward the project. Farías, a Soundview native and former skateboarder, highlighted the benefits of skate parks in building healthy communities and providing young people with opportunities for exercise, outdoor activity, and self-esteem. The second project involves a complete overhaul of the Allerton Skate Park, which will be renamed Bronx Skatepark. This concrete-poured park will feature new ramps, pipes, pyramids, and rails, designed to improve accessibility, capacity, and functionality. The Manny Santiago Foundation, co-founded by skating enthusiast Bert Correa, is involved in the design, aiming to minimize graffiti and focus on community art. Correa, who grew up in the Bronx and has advocated for the local skateboarding community, sees this project as a significant investment in the borough’s youth. He emphasized the need for improved facilities to help local skateboarders hone their skills and potentially make a living from their sport. The funding and support for the Bronx Skatepark are backed by Mayor Adams’ office and council members Oswald Feliz, Eric Dinowitz, and Kevin Riley. Borough President Vanessa Gibson expressed excitement about the new skate parks and their potential to provide recreational opportunities for the community. Bashein believes these projects will draw visitors to the Bronx and boost the local economy. He sees skateboarding as a life-changing sport that empowers young people and fosters community participation, and is thrilled to be part of revitalizing skate culture in the Bronx. Brooklyn is also set to receive two new skate parks in the next three years, located in Mt. Prospect Park and Crown Heights. According to The Skatepark Project, skate parks not only promote the sport but also become community gathering places, providing lasting benefits to the neighborhoods they serve.
Olivia Kelly: Building a Personal Brand in Gymnastics | Making History Now
Hailing from the Bronx, 16-year-old Olivia Kelly is making history as a Level 10 elite gymnast and inspiring young entrepreneur. Her mother, a former collegiate cheerleader, quickly recognized Olivia’s passion and talent for gymnastics and has helped her strive for greatness throughout her life. As a young and up-and-coming creative black entrepreneur, Olivia works hard to make her dreams a reality and uses sponsorship involvement to empower other young gymnasts. At just 16 years old, Olivia has achieved many impressive victories in her life thus far. A 2022 World Gymnastics Championship Qualifier A Barbados National Team member, Olivia began gymnastics at just three years old and began competing at the age of 6. As a 2022 World Gymnastics Championship participant, Olivia has won 19 all-around championships, 17 balance beam championships, 15 uneven bar championships, 16 floor exercise championships, and 11 vault championships. Her other awards include: New York State Champion New Jersey State Champion 3x Level 10 USAG National Qualifier USAG Eastern National Champion Region 6 Champion Region 7 Champion MSO Top 5 Gymnasts of the Year MSO Top 25 Gymnasts of the Year Chalk Warrior Gymnast of the Year Today, Olivia is recognized as one of the top young gymnasts in the world, and she has the sponsorships to prove it. But Olivia doesn’t just stop at being a great athlete; she also has a vision for a better world. Her mission is to use her experience and sponsorships as a platform to help other gymnasts and entrepreneurs reach her level of success. A Love of Gymnastics Becomes an Opportunity to Help Others At the age of 12, Olivia began attending an online school at her gymnastics academy. She’s also founded Leos 4 Liberty, a leotard donation organization that helps underprivileged youth gain access to the essential gear they need to continue their gymnastics training. In addition, she’s currently partnered with GK Elite Leotards and plans to publish a kids’ book this April. Sponsorships like these help Olivia continue to spread awareness and provide her with additional opportunities to help others. Olivia’s contributions have helped many families needing assistance pay for the costly gear associated with gymnastics. Between the cost of travel, leotards, and classes, some families struggle to keep up with the investment needed for their children to pursue their dreams. By donating essential leotards and using her sponsorships as a platform to help young gymnasts, Olivia has created an opportunity for many kids in need. She’s also become a role model for many students and peers by volunteering at pet supply drives, her local Thanksgiving soup kitchen, and clothes and food drives each year. Additionally, she participates in Angel Tree, a gift-giving program, to help children in need. Building Her Personal Brand For The Future Along with gymnastics, Olivia’s 3.7 GPA enabled her to receive numerous full athletic scholarship offers to attend college in 2024. She is proud to announce she has accepted one from the University of Missouri. In addition to academics, she is aspiring to be a model for brands like Fenty since she is a huge fan of Rihanna. She is also developing skills as an actress and using her athletic ability as a Hollywood stunt double to expand her brand on the big screen. Olivia is thoughtfully developing a well-rounded personal brand that will enable her to market herself lucratively while inspiring others and creating a lasting impact in the world. We can all learn from the resilience and passion of Olivia Storm Kelly. She’s an inspiring example of a young black creative entrepreneur who has harnessed her own successes to empower herself and others. With her bright future ahead, we look forward to witnessing Olivia’s brand make a lasting impact on the world. Be sure to check out Olivia in this April’s Scholastic Choices magazineand follow her on Instagram and YouTube.
Black History Month – Tyshawn Jones (TJ) Pro Skater From NYC | Making History Now #MHN
You never know when the next industry shaker will show up or how they might flip the sporting world on its head when they do. But Tyshawn Jones is doing just that. He’s rolling in out of nowhere to create a name for himself and begin building an empire. With two Thrasher Skateboarder of the Year awards in his pockets, a modeling contract, sneaker deals, and more, TJ embodies what it is to be a history maker and a great icon for Black History Month. Tyshawn Jones: The Beginning Born in Harlem and being raised in the Bronx, Tyshawn had the same start to life that a lot of young men in his generation have. However, Tyshawn has admitted that there weren’t a lot of Black skateboarding heroes for him to emulate as a young man. Also, skateboarding wasn’t the coolest thing for him to be doing at the time he got started. “[Skateboarding] obviously wasn’t the accepted sport,” he said in an interview with Hot 97, “but it wasn’t too bad because I wasn’t the dorky kind of nerdy skateboarder. I still had that, I guess, presence because I’m from New York, so I related to them.” Tyshawn’s consistency has been a huge source of pride and power for him throughout his career. It’s given him a charisma and drive that’s helped him make waves as a skateboarder and entrepreneur. When he turned 10 years old, he played the 2007 video game Skate with his brother and uncle. That was his first real introduction to skateboarding, and he decided to learn more about it. This led to him buying his first skateboard for about 40 dollars. Now he owns his own skate company that sells decks for $82 and up. This momentous jump from a kid who learned about skateboarding from a videogame to an entrepreneur who’s won awards for his skateboarding started his own companies, and is shaking up the industry through the building of his brand shows how Tyshawn Jones is making history now. How Tyshawn Jones is Making History Now Skateboarding Tyshawn went pro as a skateboarder at age 17, breaking onto the scene with huge tricks that turned heads. From hopping over Department of Sanitation trash cans more times than anyone could count to impressive improvisations and tricks in the middle of busy moving traffic, Tyshawn has shown the flexibility and imagination of his skateboarding time and time again. His 33rd street ollie, which has become legendary in the skateboarding community, has been documented and reviewed as a feat of human ability, with teams of skateboarders passing up the challenge until Tyshawn picked up the gauntlet. It even got three paragraphs in The New York Times. Tyshawn made the biggest waves in the industry clearing the gap in the NYC subway. This iconic image gave him legendary status. The picture was so epic and awe-inspiring that Thrasher used it as their December 2022 cover shot. Although the jump itself has been done before, many argue that it’s never been done with so much style. In the picture, Tyshawn levitates through an estimated 9 feet of air with a calm that makes the jump itself look effortless. Thrasher Skater of the Year Tyshawn’s part in Supreme’s video Blessed was called “one of the most talked about parts of the year”. It all started with a switch flip into the fountain at Washington Square Park. This appearance earned him the 2018 Skater of the Year award from Thrasher. Tyshawn was named skater of the year again in 2022. This was at the tail end of a year of unprecedented skating that crashed through barriers and soared above train tracks. During that night, he said, “Skateboarding’s got me everything good in my life, and it’s made me some very good friends. I love skateboarding.” This statement shows another aspect of why Tyshawn is so good at building a brand. This is because he’s positioned himself to be viewed as a man of the people and for the people. This is ideally in line with his brand ethos. Supreme Modeling Supreme is known for being the most fashion-forward and current brand out there. They’ve always got their eyes out for fresh talent that they can count on to go a long way, and Tyshawn Jones is no different. Supreme signed him as a model when he was 12 years old. He’s been featured in multiple campaigns and videos, including Cherry when he was just 14 and Blessed, which helped him snag his first Skater of the Year award. Adidas Sneaker Deal Tyshawn’s a skater who understands what other skaters need and go through because he’s been there and done that. Thus a sneaker deal with Adidas is a perfect match. There are several versions of his kicks with alternate colorways and crisp and clean lines that are polished but still relaxed. Tyshawn is also still working with Adidas and he hopes to branch out to introduce more Streetwear and sneakers in the line. Building a Brand King Skateboards Tyshawn earned his first endorsement deal at 13, but he’s been moving up and on ever since. To grow and develop his brand, he left his initial endorsement deal to create his own board company, King Skateboards. His selection of decks reflects a variety of interests and the styles that are out there in the skating world. He has decks that have been branded to fit his personal style and they fit perfectly with his brand. Hardies Hardware In a quest to provide skaters with the same kind of equipment he wants for his board, Tyshawn created Hardies Hardware. Hardies Hardware provides a wide variety of skateboard hardware as well as apparel. This nameplate is set up to provide more options for him to further build his brand around skate culture. Brick Underneath From top to bottom, everything matters. Brick Underneath is the natural expansion of Tyshawn’s brand as it reaches into new parts of the apparel industry. He
Making A Brand Partners with The Music Origins Project for Experience History Now
This month Making A Brand will be highlighting historic locations in the Black community along Remembering historic locations is important for several reasons: Preserving cultural heritage: Historic locations represent important parts of a community’s cultural heritage and history. By preserving these locations, communities can preserve their cultural identity and ensure that future generations are able to connect with their heritage. Educating future generations: Historic locations serve as a tangible reminder of important events and figures in history. They can be used as educational tools to help teach future generations about their history and cultural heritage. Encouraging tourism: Many historic locations are popular tourist destinations that help to attract visitors to a community. This can bring economic benefits, create jobs, and help support local businesses. Inspiring civic pride: Remembering historic locations can help to foster a sense of pride and connection to the community among its residents. This can help to build a strong sense of community and foster positive relationships among residents. Providing context for contemporary events: Historic locations can provide context for contemporary events and help us to understand the forces that have shaped our world. They can provide a deeper understanding of the past and help us to make sense of the present and plan for the future. The Music Origins Project has partnered with Making a Brand for Black History Month to highlight historic locations because it is essential for preserving our cultural heritage, educating future generations, and fostering a sense of pride and connection to the communities we live in. Check out the location we post in social by following this tag #ExperienceHistoryNow.
Making a Brand Launches Making History Now for Black History Month
This month Making A Brand will be highlighting young up-and-coming brands and talent in the Black community alongside of trends and HIstoric content. We have created a platform Mentoring youth is important because it provides young people with a positive role model and support system. A mentor can help guide a young person through challenges and provide them with guidance, advice, and encouragement. Mentoring can also help build self-esteem and confidence in youth, and can open up new opportunities for them. Research has shown that mentoring can have a positive impact on a young person’s academic, personal, and professional life. By exposing young people to different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking, mentoring can help to broaden their horizons and equip them with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the future. Mentoring young entrepreneurs is important for several reasons: Provides guidance: Young entrepreneurs often lack the experience and knowledge that comes with running a business. A mentor can provide guidance and support in navigating the challenges of starting and growing a business. Improves success rates: Research has shown that businesses with mentorship programs are more likely to succeed than those without. A mentor can provide practical advice, share their own experiences, and help entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls. Networking opportunities: Mentors often have a wealth of connections and relationships that they can use to help young entrepreneurs. They can introduce them to potential customers, investors, or other business owners who can help grow the business. Boosts confidence: Starting a business can be a daunting process, and young entrepreneurs may lack the confidence they need to succeed. A mentor can provide encouragement, support, and advice to help them stay focused and motivated. Develops leadership skills: Mentors can help young entrepreneurs develop the leadership skills they need to run a successful business. This can include communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, among others. Making A Brand is mentoring young entrepreneurs because it is crucial for their success and can help them overcome the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting a business and creating a Brand. Sign up for a free consultation now. Check out the location we post in social by following this tag #MakingHistoryNow.