[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

A Fighting Chance is a nonprofit that uses mixed-martial-arts-based mentorship and fitness to help Los Angeles youth and adults turn struggle into strength. With support from the LA2050 Grants Challenge, we relocated from Mid-City LA to a larger, fully renovated space in the heart of Long Beach, a community where transportation is more accessible for our participants and where the need for safe, structured programs is high.

The move transformed our reach. What began as a small gym serving a few dozen students now welcomes roughly 80–100 participants each week across six free or low‑cost programs that run nearly every day. These include an after-school program for youth (ages 12–18), a fight team for formerly incarcerated or gang-involved individuals, open community fitness classes, a dedicated program for foster youth, and specialized sessions for individuals in addiction recovery. Each class runs about two hours, three times a week, providing consistent physical training, mentorship, and a positive social environment.

Our central goal has always been straightforward and urgent: to give everyone a fighting chance. For many of our participants, traditional talk therapy or clinical interventions have not worked. Fighting Chance offers a different form of rehabilitation, one rooted in movement, discipline, and community. Through martial arts therapy, we open a pathway for dialogue, emotional regulation, and purpose for youth and adults across Long Beach, Compton, South Central, East LA, and surrounding neighborhoods.

In our first full year of operation from the new Long Beach facility, we’ve hosted approximately 12 classes per week, serving between 80 and 100 individuals weekly across our six core programs. Each class averages 10–20 participants, with many members attending multiple sessions. In total, we’ve reached an estimated 300+ unique participants since our relocation, including consistent youth participants, adults in recovery, foster youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals seeking positive change.

A Full‑Circle Success: Jeffrey Munez

One standout success story is Jeffrey Munez, a formerly incarcerated participant who joined our Trainer Pathway program. Once deeply involved in drug use and gang activity, Jeffrey came to A Fighting Chance seeking structure and change. Through consistent training and mentorship, he not only stabilized his life but also earned certification as a personal trainer. Today, he collaborates with us and a partner organization, using his own story to inspire others to break the cycles of violence and addiction. Jeffrey also brings new members from his own network to the gym, proof that when one person rises, they lift others with them.

Community‑Level Change

Beyond individual stories, the community impact is tangible. Youth in our after‑school program report better school attendance, improved focus, and higher self‑esteem. Many participants have developed new social networks that reduce isolation and risk factors tied to violence or relapse. Parents and guardians share that their children are happier, more disciplined, and calmer at home. Each week, our gym serves as a haven, a place where people from diverse backgrounds come together around a shared discipline and mutual respect. The ripple effects extend far beyond fitness: we are rebuilding trust, fostering empathy, and demonstrating that therapy doesn’t always require a couch; sometimes, it needs a mat.

Team and Volunteers

Our small but dedicated team powers this work. We currently operate with one paid staff member (Program Director/Head Trainer Brandon Aviles) and three active volunteers: Executive Director Amar Marwaha, Head Coach Chase Gibson, and Operations Director Nychol Woods. Their combined leadership, professional expertise, and lived experience have enabled us to serve hundreds with minimal overhead.

Catalyzed Growth

The LA2050 grant was truly catalytic. It not only funded our relocation and renovation but also positioned us to participate in the JCOD Incubation Academy (Cohort 10), which strengthened our governance, evaluation systems, and long-term sustainability as a nonprofit organization.

Following LA2050 support, A Fighting Chance relocated to Long Beach in late 2024 and officially opened our new facility in January 2025. Within weeks of opening, participation surged, fueled by outreach to local schools, youth advocates, and recovery organizations. Programming has continued daily across all six initiatives since then.

Evaluation & Measurement

We combine quantitative and qualitative measures to track impact:

Attendance and Engagement: We utilize PushPress class-management software to track check-ins, consistency, and participation across our programs. Our average attendance retention rate is 75%.

Wellbeing and performance: Staff observations and family feedback indicate improved school performance, better emotional regulation, and healthier routines among youth; adults report increased confidence, discipline, and social support.

Next steps: We are developing qualitative feedback and alumni tracking tools to measure long-term outcomes, including post-program employment, educational milestones, and sustained wellness.

Challenges & Responses

Our biggest challenge has been financial sustainability. We aimed to implement a community membership model for access to community classes only (typical market rate: approximately $250/month; our rate: $100/month) to help the gym become self-sustaining. However, many residents face economic hardship and cannot afford even reduced fees, so membership revenue has been lower than projected. In response, we are broadening our funding base through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships while preserving free and low‑cost access for those who need it most.

Key Lessons Learned

• Location matters as much as mission. Moving to Long Beach expanded access but required new affordability strategies tailored to local realities.
• Consistency builds trust. A 75% attendance retention rate confirms that regular, structured programming strengthens commitment and outcomes.
• Data + storytelling drive support. PushPress metrics, paired with participant narratives like Jeffrey’s, are essential for fundraising, partnerships, and long‑term sustainability.
• Healing is multifaceted. For many participants, martial arts serves as a gateway to mental health, accountability, and community connection.

Partnerships and Collaborations

We have partnered with multiple Long Beach middle schools to offer safe, structured after-school training and mentorship programs. We also delivered a community class at Long Beach City College, engaging students and staff in discussions about wellness and resilience. Through the JCOD Incubation Academy, we’ve enhanced our organizational capacity and connected with peer nonprofits serving foster youth, addiction recovery, and reentry populations. We are in early discussions to deepen collaboration with Homeboy Industries around rehabilitation and job training pathways.

Our work has gained traction across social media and in local media. We are scheduled for an upcoming Spectrum TV feature, which will highlight our Long Beach facility and the transformative role of martial arts therapy in community healing.

We will continue all six programs into 2026 and aim to:

• Double daily class capacity (from ~2 classes/day to 4–5 classes/day)
• Launch weekend programming for youth, families, and working adults
• Expand alum tracking and qualitative evaluation to capture long‑term outcomes.
• Grow partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and mental health providers across LA County.

Our vision remains unwavering: to make A Fighting Chance a self‑sustaining, community-rooted center for personal growth and social rehabilitation, one punch, one conversation, and one transformation at a time.