Girl Power

Native Chicagoan and 16-year Major League Baseball veteran and All Star, Curtis Granderson, founded the Chicago Baseball and Educational Academy (CBEA) in 2016. When the CBEA was born, it provided community-based baseball and softball programs to enhance and enrich the lives of youth throughout the neighborhoods of Chicago. Since its inception, the CBEA has collaborated with more than 60 Chicago neighborhood youth baseball and softball organizations, giving over 6,000 Chicago kids a chance to play, learn, and grow at facilities on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) each year. The CBEA collaborates with neighborhood baseball and softball programs, offering local neighborhood teams the rare opportunity to practice in state-of-the-art university varsity fields and indoor practice facilities for free.

Through the “Girl Power” initiative, the CBEA has begun offering girls' fastpitch softball programming and skills clinics for girls aged 8 to 18, focusing on NCAA-level instruction and including social-emotional learning components. This initiative aims to provide free access to high-quality facilities and mentorship, fostering a sense of belonging and inspiring youth to envision the possibility of higher education opportunities. CBEA has collaborated with over 60 local organizations, benefiting thousands of children annually and helping them stay engaged and off the streets while promoting diversity and inclusion in sports.

‍