- Royce Fellowship
Javier
Zapata
Concentration
History
Award Year
2007
Jump-Starting Our Youth: Guaranteeing Low-Income Children the Right to Play
Faculty Sponsor: Matthew Tsimikas
Concerned that low income children were being 'costed out' of participating in organized sport leagues Javier launched a 'no-pay' sport league in his hometown, Miami neighborhood. He spent the next three years as Commissioner of the League, ensuring the success and sustainability of the flag football league.
Javier graduated from Yale Law School and returned to Miami, taking a position with the Miami-Dade County Attorney Generals Office. Javier is still very involved in organizing and running the league which now operates from January to April. He reports the league is still the least expensive option in the community for kids and continues to grow.