( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Chin Up: Contributing to Modern-day Youth Development
ENSPIRE Contributor: Fayozbek Ochilov
Embarking on a journey of empowerment and growth, Chin Up is a beacon of hope for today’s youth. In an ever-evolving world filled with myriad distractions and challenges, the need for programs like Chin Up has never been more pressing. In today’s world, kids are exposed to various types of shows and music that can influence their thinking and behavior, often not how we would want them to. On top of the younger generation being influenced by social media, the environments and financial backgrounds they are put in can also play a factor in the kids’ development. Low-income parents or even single parents struggle to care for their children’s needs while providing for them.
That is where Chin Up comes into play. Chin Up is an intervention program for at-hope youth. The program specializes in educational, behavioral, and societal challenges children may face and engineers a life plan for them to succeed despite their environment. Besides the societal challenges kids face, Chin Up also provides sports and art departments to facilitate creativity and enhance the children’s imagination.
Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind founding Chin Up and its journey to its establishment?
The inspiration came from when I was homeless and asking myself how I got to this point. When you start to ask yourself questions like this, you begin to become self-aware, which is something many humans shy away from. I began to think back from elementary school to my current state. A couple of things came to mind. My foundation was off with my father not being in the house and raising me. Seeing my mother struggling, my being properly nurtured was off. This caused me to struggle with authority and how to communicate effectively.
In school, I was always personable but very arrogant, thinking I knew it all; sometimes, I even thought I knew more than the teachers teaching me. Nobody wants to work with someone like that, so I was alone. I was always hopeful but didn’t have a work ethic. There is no way to be prudent without a work ethic. I was a Section 8 baby, so I became a hustler and cultivated a hustler’s mentality. This led to incarceration.
Then I stopped mid-self-assessment and thought to myself that a million kids are currently going through this or will go through this and make terrible decisions along the way. How can we stop it? Better yet, how can we intervene? That’s how Chin Up came into being. I already worked in schools, so I planned to reach the kids with whom no one wanted to work.
What educational, behavioral, and societal challenges do the youth served by Chin Up typically face, and how does the program address these challenges?
Right now, our children are in a reading crisis. TV is sexualizing everything, gang culture is celebrated, and this is affecting society. Children are just eating it up. Eighty-five percent of NYC youth who are incarcerated are for attempted murder or murder. So, with patience, we attack each problem. I want to answer this question more profoundly, but I do not want to risk exposing our kids.
How does Chin Up incorporate sports and arts into its program, and what role do these activities play in the overall development of the youth?
Sports teach character in both losing and winning. They teach team building and trust and serve as a tool to get a free education. Arts are self-expression that helps when our children cannot communicate their feelings appropriately and effectively.
What are some of the main obstacles or challenges Chin Up has encountered in its work, and how have you navigated them?
Not having our own space and funding. If it’s the summer and the weather permits us, we work. If the weather doesn’t allow it, then we’re not. If we had our building, the weather would not be an issue. Funding plays a significant role. We don’t want to ask the parents because we know it’s hard for single parents and parents who are barely making it work at home. Hopefully, we can attach a nonprofit to Chin Up, so funding would not be a problem.
How can individuals or organizations interested in supporting Chin Up get involved or contribute to its mission?
We need a complete team, so if you’re interested, contact us to see how you can join. Chin Up just became a corporation, so we’re looking for a board. We need information on how we can succeed like the other programs, such as the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. We need to create relationships that can get us great lines of credit to acquire these commercial properties. We need people to continue to talk about our mission through social media platforms. Our Instagram is @Chinupnyinc; that’s all we have for right now. We also need investors, a lot of equipment, instruments, filming equipment, sports equipment, and vehicles, and it would be fantastic if we got a property.
What are Chin Up’s goals and aspirations for the future, and how do you envision the program evolving or expanding in the coming years?
We want to be in all fifty states and then go global, reaching all children who can benefit from our program. I envision presidents and rulers of nations coming to us to help solve problems their youth face. Through our program, we expect children to change their families’ trajectories. In the coming years, I would like to be in all of NYC because that’s where I’m from, and there’s a lot of work to be done here.
Chin Up supports at-hope youth by offering tools and guidance to overcome educational, behavioral, and societal challenges. Founded from personal adversity, its mission is to empower those often overlooked. Through educational support, behavioral guidance, and opportunities in sports and arts, Chin Up builds resilience and confidence. Despite challenges in securing funding and resources, the dedicated team aims to expand its global impact. Chin Up remains committed to fostering positive change and offering hope for a brighter future.
Related Articles: Teen Lounge NYFW Kick-Off Party Celebrated Youth Talent with Teen Celebs at HK Hall
