Villa Parke Boxing Program Provides Lessons at Police Activities League, Building Youth-Police Bonds

The Villa Parke Boxing Program has partnered with the Pasadena Police Activities League to provide boxing lessons to young people enrolled in the Police Activities League, announced Koko Panossian, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services.

The collaboration, which helps steer youth toward positive life choices through Olympic-style boxing instruction, represents one of Pasadena’s longest-running efforts to strengthen bonds between law enforcement and the community.

The Police Activities League serves as a youth crime prevention program, utilizing educational, athletic, and other recreational activities to foster positive relationships between police officers and young people in the Pasadena community.

Training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays for six months before students transition into the Villa Parke Boxing Program. During each session, coaches from the boxing program guide students through stretching and warmups before teaching fundamentals of Olympic-style boxing and self-defense techniques through low-contact training.

The program’s impact was highlighted on October 28, when competitive fighters from Villa Parke’s boxing team visited the Police Activities League to share their stories and encourage youth to work hard in school, make smart life choices, and join activities that teach self-discipline and keep them healthy.

This successful partnership traces its roots to the early 2000s, established through efforts from Retired Police Sergeant Glenn Thompson and Villa Parke Boxing Trainer Fausto De La Torre. After seeing the positive impact it has had on youth for more than two decades, both organizations plan to continue this successful partnership.

After completing the six-month training period at the Police Activities League, participants can continue their development by transitioning into the full Villa Parke Boxing Program, creating a clear pathway for long-term engagement in the sport.