AMESSAGEFROM THEEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR
Memphis Inner City Rugby (MICR) is an organization unlike any other. Entering our 13th year of #changingthegame, MICR has taken no shortcuts on our path from a grassroots, volunteer-driven initiative to where we stand today. Following the 2024-2025 school year, 99% of MICR's 349 students believed rugby improved their overall well-being, 93% believed rugby would increase their chances of going to college, and 90% of MICR’s high school participants displayed growth in social-emotional learning. Our All-Star girls won the Urban Rugby Championship, and our PCA High School Boys won the 15s Division III State Championship!
Through our Alumni Support Program, we continued to invest in our students after they graduated high school by providing them with mentorship, financial assistance, and opportunities to develop academic, professional, and life skills. In 2024-2025, MICR employed 28 alumni (65% of all staff) as coaches, mentors, drivers, and full-time staff members. We invested over $120,000 directly into the pockets of our alumni. 18 alumni, attending 13 different schools across the nation, enrolled in our college mentoring program, our largest cohort yet. They finished the year with an average GPA of 3.2. 100% of our college mentees believed their mentor helped them with time management, organization, and navigating college. 12 of our students and alumni had 1-on-1 monthly meetings with members from the USA Rugby Men's & Women's National Team.
At MICR, we have a lot to celebrate and be proud of, but our work is not done. We are driven to fight injustice, break barriers, optimize impact, and expand access to great opportunities for students from under-resourced neighborhoods. You have helped MICR transform from a grassroots rugby team to an industry leader in Sports Based Youth Development. As we gear up for the next year, we will continue to work responsively, relationally, and relentlessly to deliver on the promise of our mission and the invaluable impact of your investment.
Thank you for #changingthegame with us!
Andrea Wensits - Executive Director
OURPROGRAMS
Cycles of generational poverty and systemic inequity have created enormous gaps in access to basic athletic, academic, and developmental opportunities for young people across the city of Memphis. MICR tackles those gaps head on by providing a free, world-class 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 longterm pathway of empowering resources, support, and opportunities.
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MICRPATHWAYS
MICRdeliversour programsthroughholistic,integratedandconnected"Pathways."Ourvisionistocreateaccessibleand connectedprogramsfromelementaryschooltoandthroughastudents’enrollmentinourpost-secondaryalumniservices, suchthatastudentcanjoinMICRin5thgradeandseeaclearpathwayofsupport,resourcesandopportunitiesalltheway throughtheirpost-secondarychoices,pursuitofcollege-creditinternships,andprofessionalemployment.
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.
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STUDENTSPAY$0
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K-12TEAMMATES
MICR serves an incredible group of student athletes that live across Memphis. This year, 26% of 46 graduating seniors plan to play rugby in college as they transition into our Alumni Support programming. Of those seniors, FPA’s rugby team included the valedictorian and salutatorian of the school.
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K-12IMPACT
Under the leadership of full-time Pathway Coaches, placed within a partner school year-round, our K-12 Impact soared. Thanks to their full-time 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.
SENIORS ACCEPTED TO POSTSECONDARY PATHWAY
NATIONALIMPACT
MICR has a founding role in Urban Rugby America, a national organization with a mission to unite, empower and advance youth rugby initiatives serving low-income communities across the country. Leveraging 50+ years collective experience in urban rugby development and organizational leadership, the URA creates transformative rugby experiences, delivers pro-bono organizational consulting and provides catalytic financial investments to a national network of organizations leveraging rugby for social change. A group of 27 athletes traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, for the 4th Annual Urban Rugby Championship, where they experienced a weekend filled with competition, cultural celebration, and personal milestones, including college acceptances for two MICR students and standout performances that led the girls’ team to their second championship title. Beyond the tournament, the weekend offered moments of growth, bonding, and pride as our athletes represented MICR on a national stage. After a full day of competition, players watched NOLA Gold take on RFC LA in an exciting MLR match that showcased professional-level talent and strategy, then closed out the trip on Sunday with warm, powdered-sugar-covered beignets from the iconic Cafe Du Monde.
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“I recently had the privilege of traveling to Washington,D.C.for Urban Rugby America’s cocktail hour,where they unveiled an exciting plan to expand youth rugby across 31 states.It was inspiring to connect with Bowdoin Rugby alums who came out to support the missions of both MICR and URA,and to meet so many leaders committed to growing the game across the country.One of the most memorable moments of the trip was attending USA Rugby’s 50th Anniversary celebration,where the Women’s National Team was honored ahead of their journey to the 2033 World Cup.I had the chance to meet trailblazers like Danny Barrett,a USA Eagle and leader with the Golden Eagles foundation,and Todd Clever of the Todd Clever Foundation.Both are doing incredible work to push rugby forward in the United States.I also spoke briefly with Olympic bronze medalist Naya Tapper,whose energy and leadership left a lasting impression.Special thanks to Kevin Battle,Kelly Burton,Shane Young,and Sarah Sall for introducing me to so many dedicated individuals who are working every day to make USA Rugby stronger.I ended the weekend watching an exciting doubleheader with the USA Women facing Fiji and the USA Men taking on England,and even found time to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.The entire experience was eye-opening,energizing,and a powerful reminder of rugby’s growing presence in this country.” - KaDerrius, MICR Development Coordinator
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ALUMNISUPPORT
Our best-in-class Alumni Services grew by 46% last year, as more alumni than ever turn to MICR to help them navigate their post-secondary journeys.
$120,000+ALUMNI SUPPORTINVESTED
ALUMNIIMPACT
Grand
Aquinas College
Arkansas State University
Austin
ALUMNIIMPACT
Our Alumni Support includes a wide variety of services and aid for college freshman and sophomores as they transition into higher education.
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“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.”
–MICRMENTEE
ALUMNIIMPACT
RUGBYMENTORING
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 program to support our students and alumni that elect to pursue rugby after high school. From fitness and nutrition to position-specific skills and from navigating a PWI as a person of color to balancing academics and athletics, 12 MICR alumni had the privilege of meeting 1-on-1 with US Olympians throughout their journey and learning from the very best athletes in our country.
IMPACTASSESSMENT
MICR is fortunate to partner with Slingshot Memphis, an independent poverty-fighting center of influence that’s igniting a movement to revolutionize the way poverty is alleviated in Memphis. Slingshot works alongside poverty-fighting organizations to study their effectiveness, identify opportunities to enhance their outcomes, and invest directly to amplify high-impact programs and services. Below are the results from an intensive nearly 5-year study of our programs, services and operations.
PROGRAMPARTNERS
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Assisi Foundation
Crews Family Foundation
Goodlet Foundation
Hyde Family Foundation
Martin Family Foundation
Memphis Grizzlies Foundation
Thomas W. Briggs Foundation
Women's Foundation of a Greater Memphis
Old Blue Foundation
Slingshot Memphis
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Memphis City Council
Shelby County
Bank3
Cushman Wakefield Commercial Advisors
KPMG Raymond James
Sylvamo
THANKYOU MICR FAMILY
MICRRUGBYCOMPLEX
MICR will break ground on our first-ever home field off of Vance Ave in 2025 thanks to the $1.1M resolution passed by Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commissioners. This space, which has been an integral part of MICR’s programming since 2018, will transform from an abandoned lot and field to a vibrant community gathering space in the heart of Memphis in zip code 38126.
In preparation for this project, MICR has formed relationships with Advance Memphis, Score CDC, Vance Avenue Youth Development Center, Shelby County PAL, Booker T Washington High School and Middle School, and other community stakeholders. We expect the MICR Rugby Complex to cultivate community, safety, health, and resiliency for thousands of Memphians, especially South City residents.
