Coach Derek Brown knows firsthand the hardships of growing up on Chicago’s West Side. Known in his youth as “Shotgun,” he joined a gang at just thirteen and spent much of his early life caught between the streets and jail. By his twenties, he had survived being shot, and his best friend had been lost to gun violence.

Now, Coach Brown is dedicated to rebuilding the same community he once helped tear down. Determined to prevent the next generation from experiencing the struggles he faced, he began his grassroots program in 2009. He started by meeting youth after school outside Penn Elementary for physical training. Boxing quickly emerged as the activity that captured the kids’ interest. As Coach Brown puts it, “You want to fight? Well, bring your bad self over here.”

As the youth progress in the sport, they encounter what Coach Brown calls “sneak discipline”—the hard work and dedication required to succeed in the ring. But this program is about much more than boxing. It's about promoting anti-violence through youth empowerment. Boxing serves as the vehicle to foster self-respect, confidence, and a sense of purpose—all within a culture of positivity.

Boxing Out Negativity seamlessly combines physical training with mentorship, motivational discussions, and civic engagement, helping young people recognize and realize their potential.