Pictured above: All Mighty Boxing’s weekly programming in Kirk Park in Syracuse, NY
Orlando Mcinnsey, long-time resident of Syracuse, has been coaching boxing for as long as he can remember. Dedicated to shaping young athletes, he spends his days training local youth, traveling to statewide competitions and serving as a mentor— always ready to support his students in any way they need.
In early 2019, Mcinnsey launched a youth boxing and mental health program, All Mighty Boxing. It’s there that he trains local youth ages 6-18 in self-defense to help them cultivate resilience, emotional intelligence, purpose and community. Mcinnsey holds three sessions a week at Kirk Park during the summer and fall months.
Mcinnsey sees the program as a way to help bridge the gaps that often stand in the way of youth addressing their mental health, which can sometimes escalate to gun violence or self-harm. While a portion of each session is focused on learning how to avoid and respond if faced with dangerous situations, the first half is dedicated to brainstorming, developing and creating a mental health- focused cartoon.
“This activity aims to provide youth with a creative outlet to express their thoughts and feelings, fostering both understanding and emotional intelligence,” said Mcinnsey. “I want to help them work through their emotions so they feel comfortable and confident using their words to resolve conflicts.”
According to CNY Vitals, Syracuse’s child poverty rate is especially high, with nearly half of the city’s children living in poverty. This often means limited access to proper healthcare and affordable fresh foods as well as unsafe housing or neighborhoods riddled with violence. These living conditions make it hard for youth to concentrate on education and increase the risk of gang involvement.
Cognitive and behavioral health conditions can predispose gang members to violent behavior like unaddressed trauma, restless aggressiveness and cognitive-emotional states of anger, low problem solving skills, resentment and defiance. Continuous social conflicts between gangs and groups of young people often spiral into gun violence, taking the lives of many innocent young people in our community.
The tragic loss of one of his former boxing student to senseless gun violence still weighs heavily on Mcinnsey. He recalled how, “Inside the ring, Alberto was disciplined, hardworking and dedicated, while outside the ring, he was more than just a fighter—he was a friend, a mentor, a father and a son—a guiding light to many around him.”
“Alberto’s story reminds me of why we fight, every day, to keep our kids off the streets and to help them find a path away from violence,” said Mcinnsey. “It’s a mission that has never been more urgent. We’ve lost too many bright souls to a cycle that must be broken.”
Understanding the predisposition to violence that Alberto and many of his students face due to the challenges of their environment, Mcinnsey is committed to supporting their mental health through All Mighty Boxing. He continues to engage youth in activities such as sparring, workout drills and group conversations to promote healthy communication and mental health practices. Through group activities and creative collaboration, the program creates a safe environment where youth from all neighborhoods can come together to learn, grow and bond over shared experiences.
With the support of a grant from our Black Equity & Excellence Fund, Mcinnsey was able to run another year of All Mighty Boxing this past summer and fall. In the beginning of each boxing session, youth spent time brainstorming, talking and drawing with one another to create their own mythical creature, aiming to strengthen communication skills and create healthy outlets of emotion. Despite the language barriers that existed within the group, Mcinnsey noted that each child was eager to collaborate, play and learn alongside one another, which inspires him to continue planting seeds of connection and relationship building through physical collaboration.
Magnificent, a fifth grade student at Dr. King Elementary and program participant loves working out and boxing with his friends. He’s already traveled across the country for competitions with Mcinnsey ever since becoming eligible to compete at eight years old.
“It’s fun to go and box with my brother and friends almost every day,” said Magnificent. “Everyone speaks a different language but it doesn’t matter, we all spend time with coach and learn drills that help us become better boxers and people.”
Mcinnsey explained that “By using a holistic approach to well-being, which includes both mental and physical health, we can provide youth with the tools needed to overcome life’s challenges and foster a thriving community for all.”
