It’s the celebration of a legacy.
After 25 years of building Street Squash to its current success, George Polsky is taking a step back.
Squash has become a much more common word on the streets of Harlem, but years ago that was not the first reaction.
“In the beginning it was like, ‘Squash? Thurgood Marshall Academy? What are you talking about?” George Polsky remembers with a laugh. “The first day we presented the program to students, I was actually worried. Would they be interested?”
What You Need To Know
- George Polsky introduced students in Harlem to the sport of squash. In the beginning, most of the students were not even aware of what the sport was. Now 25 years later, word of mouth has carried the name of the club far
- The club focuses on more than just athletic prowess. The hope is that children will also use the academic advisors and social workers help as needed
- The organization has grown to take in over 250 and boasts of even more alumni. Polsky is always impressed by the success so many have had as they've moved on with their careers
Interest, just like the program, took time to grow.
“It was kind of beg, borrow and steal. Get whatever you could to get it off the ground,” Polsky said. “Which we did, and we built the program little by little, but eventually, I thought, you know, wouldn’t it be great to have proper squash courts and proper study facilities? Especially in the community where the kids lived and went to school.”
Fifteen years later, Street Squash not only has a home of its own, it’s the largest facility in New York City.
It started with only 28 students to a roster now of 250 students.
It’s a point of pride for Polsky, who said it’s so much more than that.
Going well beyond the simple joys on the court.
“As I always tell the students, this is their home,” Polsky said. “They own this. This is their center. Squash is the hook, but that’s only a piece of the puzzle.”
Polsky said he made sure that academics and mental health were pillars of the program.
The facility contains four classrooms and a library where students can work on assignments and also receive tutoring. All in hopes of pushing children to pursue higher goals free of charge.
“The students and families that have made this their home and have done so many amazing things with their lives. That’s what I’m most proud of,” Polsky said. “It’s not really about giving back, it’s about believing that everyone deserves access to opportunity.”
For keeping up with every volley on and off the court, George Polsky is our New Yorker of the Week.