Over the next few months, more than a thousand Little Leaguers in metropolitan areas and underserved communities across the United States will have the unique opportunity to participate in a Little League® Urban Initiative Jamboree.
Established in 2004, the Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree offers boys and girls across the nation participating in Little League Urban Initiative programs the opportunity to compete, make new friends, and forge lifelong memories.
“For the past 15 years, our Little League Urban Initiative Jamborees have provided lifelong memories and experiences for thousands of children in metropolitan areas all throughout the United States,” said Demiko Ervin, Little League Director of the Urban Initiative Program. “Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the support of local Major League Baseball clubs, these Jamborees provide incredible opportunities for children to take part in a baseball and softball tournament environment and establish lifelong relationships with other members of the community.”
Established in 1999 to provide opportunities for communities in underserved communities to reap the benefits of having local Little League programs in their neighborhoods, the Little League Urban Initiative has helped tens of thousands of children and volunteers in cities throughout the United States. The Urban Initiative Jamborees are unique events to bring players from local programs that benefit from the support of the Urban Initiative together for a weekend of comradery and competition.
Inspired by the Little League World Series, the Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree was first established in 2004 with one, national tournament. Little League expanded the Jamborees to regional events in 2010. At these Jamborees, teams compete in a weekend-long tournament, with the Championship Game typically being played on Sunday afternoon. Jamboree participants also have other opportunities to interact with fellow players and the community through events such as attending a Major League Baseball game.
Below are the dates and locations for the 2019 Little League Urban Initiative Jamborees:
- April 12-14: Northern California Softball Jamboree (Richmond, Calif.)
- April 26-28: Southern California Baseball Jamboree (Los Angeles, Calif.)
- May 3-5: Southeast Region Jamboree (St. Augustine, Fla.)
- May 17-19: East Region Softball Jamboree (Washington, D.C.)
- May 31-June 2: Texas State Baseball Jamboree (Dallas, Texas)
- June 7-9: Texas State Softball Jamboree (Houston, Texas)
- June 14-16: New York Metro Jamboree (Bronx, N.Y.)
- June 21-23: Central Region Jamboree (Indianapolis, Ind.)
There are currently more than 220 leagues in nearly 90 cities in the United States who benefit from the Little League Urban Initiative, and the program has stimulated the participation of more than 4,000 teams and 52,000 players since its inception.