OUR MISSION
Memphis Inner City Rugby is on a mission to close the opportunity gap, create a relentlessly supportive community and drive upward mobility in under-resourced communitites across Memphis.
MICR tackles the opportunity gap head on by providing a free, worldclass experience that leverages the research-driven benefits of sport to promote social and emotional learning, mitigate the impact of childhood trauma and engage students in a long-term pathway of empowering resources, support, and opportunities.
WHY RUGBY?
• Fast paced and physically demanding.
• Demands the development of communication skills, peer-to-peer accountability, resilience, and leadership.
• The epitomy of a team sport- rugby is about how you move with your teammates and work together.
• Creates a powerful network and tight-knit global community that players can access through the sport.
• Fastest growing sport in America and among the top 10 most popular sports in the world
• Without direct intervention from movements like MICR, Rugby has never been accessible in under-resourced, black and brown communities.
MICR PATHWAYS
8 Middle School Programs
5 High School Programs
1-on-1 College Mentoring
Paid part-time & full-time jobs with MICR
RESPONSIVE
• Trauma-informed coaching model
• Financial assistance for college mentees (stipends, book support, food, and flights)
• Free mental health counseling for alumni
“MICR is always solutions oriented. No matter how big the problem may seem, they always try to provide and be there.”
RELATIONAL
• Our students and alumni come first, always
• 67%+ of our coaches are MICR Alumni
• 60+ Hours per year in 1-on-1 college mentoring
“MICR makes sure everyone is taken care of and treated as one big family.”
RELENTLESS
• MICR exists to open doors, not close them.
• $0 cost to players & No tryouts
• Continual support & community
“MICR gives alumni the support to keep going in life. They always take care of us.”
MICR PATHWAYS
MICR delivers our programs through holistic, integrated and connected "Pathways." Our vision is to create accessible and connected programs from elementary school to and through a students’ enrollment in our post-secondary alumni services, such that a student can join MICR in 5th grade and see a clear pathway of support, resources and opportunities all the way through their post-secondary choices, pursuit of college-credit internships, and professional employment.
COMPETENCY BUILDING
ENGAGEMENT
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING
UPWARD MOBILITY
ACCESSIBLE & CONNECTED
ACADEMIC GROWTH
K-12 PROGRAMMING
MICR exists to break down every barrier to accessing high quality, year-round, after school and weekend experiences for our teammates. Through a 4% increase in participation, MICR maintained our core transportation and nutrition services for participants.
32
K-12 IMPACT
349 PARTICIPANTS
47% MALE
53% FEMALE
Under the leadership of full-time Pathway Coaches, placed within a partner school year-round, our K-12 impact soared. Thanks to their fulltime support and relationship development, more seniors than ever before chose to stay with MICR after high school, enrolling in our alumni services, AND going on to play collegiate rugby.
100% SENIORS ACCEPTED TO POST SECONDARY PATHWAY
100% ON-TIME GRADE LEVEL ADVANCEMENT
100% PARENT REPORTED SATISFACTION
100% SCHOOL PARTNER REPORTED SATISFACTION
98% REPORT RUGBY IS GOOD FOR THEIR OVERALL WELLBEING
97% REPORT RUGBY HAS GIVEN THEM A COMMUNITY
97% REPORT RUGBY HAS TAUGHT THEM RESILIENCE
61% SENIORS ENROLLED IN MICR ALUMNI SERVICES
67% RUGBY IS THEIR ONLY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY
96% OF STUDENTS REPORT IMPROVED ACADEMIC DEDICATION
46 GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
26% OF SENIORS WENT OFF TO PLAY COLLEGE RUGBY
WHAT OUR STUDENTS
Testimonies from participants across all of our partner schools showcasing the powerful impact rugby and MICR coaches have had on each player.
Talking to me, they treat us like family, and they made me the way I am today.
Talking to me about my emotions. They actually care about my mental well being.
Making people feel better about themselves.
Making sure that all players are doing good on and off the field mentally and physically.
My coaches do a good job of…
Making sure I am doing well emotionally, physically and academically
Encouraging me and my team to keep going and never giving up on us.
Helping me become a better student and athlete.
Helping with overall life lessons even those outside of rugby. They’re always there when I need them.
PLAYING RUGBY...
ARE SAYING ABOUT MICR
RUGBY HAS HELPED ME BECOME A TEAM PLAYER
RUGBY WILL INCREASE MY CHANCE OF GOING TO COLLEGE
RUGBY HAS HELPED ME LEARN TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES
WOULD RECOMMEND MICR TO OTHERS
Rugby has made me more confident in being able to lead
Rugby has helped me to grow as a person not only physically but also mentally. The community it gives you. Rugby is my escape from reality and remains a constant happy place.
What I like MOST about Rugby....
The core values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect.
It’s a place to help me release stress and anger. It has kept me from doing a lot of things I shouldn’t .
Rugby is an outlet for my emotions. It is a safe space to express myself
The family, sportsmanship and knowing how to work together
ALUMNI ALUMNI
SUPPORT SUPPORT
Our Alumni Support includes a wide variety of services and aid for college freshman and sophomores as they transition into higher education.
Q: What do you like most about MICR’s alumni support?
A: How family and team-oriented it is, they show you how much they want you to succeed and care.
A: Always there when I need them
ALUMNI IMPACT
“
I enjoyed every meeting and conversation, it made me feel seen and understood. It allowed me to have courage and understanding as I went through my college experience.”
– MICR MENTEE
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
WOULD RECOMMEND ALUMNI SUPPORT SERVICES TO OTHER ALUMNI
COLLEGE PERSISTENCE MICR’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT STPEND HELPED REDUCE FINANCIAL STRESS
WAYS IN WHICH MICR MENTORS HELP THEIR STUDENTS...
100%
WANT TO CONTINUE INVOLVEMENT WITH MICR’S ALUMNI SUPPORT
AGREE STRONGLY AGREE
RUGBY MENTORING
Under the leadership of MICR Board Member and All-Time Leading Try Scorer for the USA Women’s Eagles, Naya Tapper, MICR is proud to have launched a holistic rugby mentoring to support our students and alumni who elect to pursue rugby after high school. 12 had the privilege of meeting 1-on-1 with US Olympians to learn from the very best athletes in our country. Session topics ranged from fitness, healthy eating habits, positionspecific skills, navigating a predominantly white institution as a person of color, and balancing academics and athletics.
Naya Tapper USA Women’s Eagles
Alex “Spiff” Sedrick USA Women’s Eagles
Jaz Gray USA Women’s Eagles
Aaron Cummings USA Men’s Eagles
Lucas Lacamp USA Men’s Eagles
MEDIA RECOGNITION
MICR’s mission has been recognized by various media outlets as a gateway for under-priveleged youth in the community to rise up from their circumstances and achieve greatness.
“Breaking Cycles, Building Futures: How Memphis Inner City Rugby Empowers Youth Beyond the Game.”
“Try and try again: Rugby ‘changing the game’ for Memphis youth.”
“Dream Crazier” campaign featuring MICR Program Freedom Prep Academy
“Bravery, courage, trust and spirit: Memphis Inner City Rugby looks beyond sport.”
“Rugby Could Be the Next Big Youth Sport: How an Inner City Program in Memphis is Changing Lives.”
Rugby transforms Memphis teens’ lives.”
“Rugby got this African American girl into college –and is insipiring others to follow.”
“Memphis inner-city rugby teams getting a field of their own.”
How a 27 Year-Old Teacher-Turned-Founder Helped Inner City Teens Earn $4M In Scholarships.”
“The Rugby Boys of Memphis.” Documentary short film
PROGRAM PARTNERS
PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS
Mike Bruns
Assisi Foundation
Crews Family Foundation
Children’s Foundation of Memphis
Goodlet Foundation
Hyde Family Foundation
Jay Uiberall Foundation
Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation
Martin Family Foundation
Memphis Grizzlies Foundation
Thomas W. Briggs Foundation
Women’s Foundation of a Greater Memphis
Slingshot Memphis
Memphis City Council
Shelby County Government
Cushman
Raymond
Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Advisors is proud to support
As a locally-owned commercial real estate advisory firm serving Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and beyond, we’ve spent more than 30 years delivering first-class strategic services in office, industrial, farmland, land, and retail real estate. Our expertise spans brokerage, leasing, capital markets, property management, due diligence, project management, incentive analysis, receivership, and more.
We believe in building strong communities—on and off the field. That’s why we stand with Memphis Inner City Rugby, a nationally recognized leader in Sport-Based Youth Development. Since 2012, MICR has empowered hundreds of student-athletes across Memphis, creating opportunities, fostering resilience, and catalyzing programs that fight poverty through rugby. Today, MICR is a best-in-class model inspiring growth nationwide.
Together, we’re committed to shaping a future where every young person has the chance to thrive.
Learn more about Commercial Advisors and our commitment to the city we proudly serve at commadv.com.
THANK YOU, EVENING FOR
