2018 Mid-Year Organization-Wide Update
Of all the core tenets in Parkour, resiliency and adaptability are the two that stand out to me when reflecting on the Parkour Visions community--our students, parents, donors, and partners. Losing our space pushed us out of our comfort zone and put us in front of some enormous obstacles that truly challenged us to grow and transform--and that is exactly what we did.
In the last 7 months, Parkour Visions:
Was awarded a $50,000 grant by Kings County to run free programming for low-income, at risk youth in south Seattle in 2019
Partnered up with ARC & the City of Seattle to deliver over 100 free or reduced cost classes so far this year to diverse youth at 5 different community centers
Designed a few new playgrounds, including a project in Centennial Park moving into construction!
Launched 2 free monthly community classes, ensuring that no one is turned away from getting a quality movement education due to lack of funds.
Below I’d like to share with you a little more on some of these accomplishments, as well as updates on where we are in the gym hunt!
Thank you again for believing in our mission. Without your support, we would not be able to survive, thrive, and share the benefits of parkour and play with children and adults all across Seattle and the US.
Caitlin Pontrella
Executive Director
Organization Updates
The Gym Hunt
The Parkour Visions Gym
So far in 2018 we have invested a significant amount of time in finding a new home. After being driven out of our old facility by a lawsuit from the city, stemming from operating without the correct permits, it was of utmost importance for us to fully understand the applicable code and legal restrictions that face our organization when it comes to properly opening and running a new facility. We are working regularly and closely with our broker, architect, and the city in this regard, but unfortunately our options at the moment are limited.
I want to take a moment to restate our commitment to finding a new home for our community, and doing so in a way that will ensure longevity and legal compliance. But due to the obstacles we face, we are still unsure when this will happen.
As some of you are aware, the real estate market in Seattle is pretty hot right now. In the last six months we viewed over a dozen properties and found two incredible spaces that could have served us. We did all the legwork to ensure we could be correctly permitted, and even moved into negotiations on leases! However in both cases, the landlords decided to bow out and sell their buildings instead of rent. So we continue with our eyes peeled and continue to hunt enthusiastically for our next home.
In the meantime, we are are working to ensure that Parkour Visions not only survives, but thrives, and continues to deliver high quality programming to our community and fulfill our mission to share the benefits of parkour with all who wish to play. We have made some significant changes to ensure this, from streamlining operations to cutting all non-mission-critical expenses, as well as expanding programming with our partners.
We appreciate the continued enthusiasm and support from all of you in our community,
Grant Award
Youth Amateur Sports Grant supporting programmings for low-income youth
Did you know that two of the biggest barriers to participation in life-long fitness revolves around affordability and access? We are excited to announce that PKV has won the King County Youth Amateur Sports Grant, which will help us help others overcome these obstacles. In 2018-2019, we will be providing free after-school programs and outreach events in the lowest income neighborhoods in south Seattle, with a goal to share parkour with over 150 middle school students.
Grant Award
Youth Amateur Sports Grant supporting programmings for low-income youth
Did you know that two of the biggest barriers to participation in life-long fitness revolves around affordability and access? We are excited to announce that PKV has won the King County Youth Amateur Sports Grant, which will help us help others overcome these obstacles. In 2018-2019, we will be providing free after-school programs and outreach events in the lowest income neighborhoods in south Seattle, with a goal to share parkour with over 150 middle school students.
We’d love to see you!
Parkour Visions is looking to grow our community of passionate volunteers. Our volunteers serve as positive, healthy role models for others in the community. They have the potential to make positive impact on the experience of practitioners in our programs, and are slowly growing into a core part of our community experience.
Coaching at community and outreach events
Photography Team
Copy Editing and Graphic Design
Organization Support
If you want to get involved, even if you don’t see your particular skill set here, please reach out! We also will be running orientation and training events in the upcoming months for volunteers interested in learning basic coaching.