About US

Forging Youth Resilience

What is FYR?

Forging Youth Resilience (FYR) is a member-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Local Clubs in cities across the country. Our clubs partner with fitness facilities nationwide to bring fitness, nutrition, and mentorship to youth who otherwise would not have access to these services.

Our Values

All FYR athletes, coaches, and volunteers strive to live by our GRIT values. We use them to guide our actions and create the positive environment we envision.

Our Mission

FYR empowers young people to build physical and mental strength for life by providing access to a network of community-based fitness programs, nutrition education, and mentorship.

Our Vision

A world where all young people feel strong, capable, and confident to become the best version of themselves.

GRIT

Growth – Rebound from challenges, keep learning, and strive to be your best
Respect – Treat everyone well, value and accept yourself and others where they are
Integrity – Do the right thing, commit to excellence, and be a role model for others
Teamwork – Encourage and motivate others, collaborate, and give back

Who Do we Serve?

At FYR, we serve youth who may be facing challenges or would not otherwise have access to the services we provide. This may include:

  • Youth coming from under-resourced families or neighborhoods
  • Youth out-of-school, including youth out-of-school facing unemployment
  • Youth in or aging out of foster care
  • Youth experiencing homelessness 
  • Youth who may need an alternative pathway educational environment (at-risk to leave secondary school without a diploma)
  • Youth who are involved in the justice system
  • Youth experiencing environmental factors that put their health, safety, and well-being at risk such as racism or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation
  • Youth facing socio-emotional challenges exacerbated by being part of an under-resourced environment

Why Do we Exist?

We believe in the next generation and their potential to change the world. Yet many youth do not have the same access to resources as others. Without access to resources, it’s often hard to see the bigger picture or the path forward.

By providing a critical network of support and imperative skills, we help empower our athletes to tackle the challenges and continued barriers they face outside of our program. Through a foundation of functional fitness and strength training, we open their eyes to new perspectives by challenging their limits. We support them in setting goals and breaking them.

Most importantly, we help them realize they are strong and capable while giving them the confidence to grow into adulthood.

Our History

2007

The first club was started by Steve Liberati in a public housing complex in Camden, NJ, ranked as one of the FBI’s most dangerous cities in the country.

2010

Steve’s Club National Program was created to help gyms nationwide start Local Clubs in their communities.

2013

Steve’s Club National Program held its first summer leadership camp.

2021

Steve’s Club National Program rebranded to Forging Youth Resilience (FYR). With Local Clubs across the country, FYR has helped thousands of young folks transform their lives.

Our Team

Youth Advisory Committee

Sapjah

Sapjah

Co-Chair

FYR Heart of Camden Alumna

Emma

Emma

Co-Chair

FYR Tectonic Alumna

Michael

Michael

Committee Member

FYR Heart of Camden

Camryn

Camryn

Committee Member

FYR Mac-Town

Izabelle

Izabelle

Committee Member

FYR Mac-Town

Staff

Christina Kampf

Christina Kampf

Director of Programs

christina@forgingyouthresilience.org

Board of Directors

Duncan Seawell, Psy.D.

Duncan Seawell, Psy.D.

President

Child & Adolescent Psychologist; Founder of FYR Denver

Alida Sholl

Alida Sholl

Vice President

Ecommerce Consultant

Kenneth Ho

Kenneth Ho

Treasurer

Principal at Westside Investment Partners

Carri Burgjohann

Carri Burgjohann

Secretary

Director of Child Protection and Safety at the YMCA-USA​

Mason Alberts

Mason Alberts

Board Member

Director of Development at North Carolina Community Foundation

Avonte Campinha-Bacote

Avonte Campinha-Bacote

Board Member

General Counsel at Oura

Justin Bergh

Justin Bergh

Board Member

Executive

Jason Burns

Jason Burns

Board Member

Owner Mettle Fitness, Former NFL Player

Mike Cassidy

Mike Cassidy

Board Member

Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Central Virginia

Mike Giardina

Mike Giardina

Board Member

Sr. Manager of Health Education at CrossFit, LLC.

Jennifer Hunter-Marshall

Jennifer Hunter-Marshall

Board Member

Co-Owner CrossFit Garden City; CrossFit HQ Seminar Staff

Joe Jezierski

Joe Jezierski

Board Member

School Climate Support Advocate at Southeast Service Cooperative

Lee Knight

Lee Knight

Board Member

Co-Founder of FYR; COO at Synthesis, a Leadership Assessment Company

Jazmin Simpson

Jazmin Simpson

Board Member

Co-Founder of NuBody Fitness, Massage Therapist

Lawrence Shagrin

Lawrence Shagrin

Board Member

Private Equity – Partner

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