THe Uptown Inner-City League UICL), led by founder and director Kelvin McAllister Sr., is a Harlem nonprofit that has provided mentorship and role models through youth sports for decades. In an increasingly pay-to-play youth sports landscape, UICL also works to keep athletics accessible for hundreds of children aged 2 to 16 each year.
Harlem and Hamilton Heights, the neighborhoods served by UICL, had a median household income of $56,580 in 2023, according to the New York University Furman Center, 29% lower than the citywide average of $79,480. In 2024, the average American family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport per year, according to Project Play. After paying NYC rent and grocery prices, youth sports are often out of reach for many families.
“We barely spend anything — we just have to buy their gear,” said Yelenh Aponte, whose son attends UICL’s instructional program. “A lot of other programs cost a mortgage.” Since joining UICL, her son has traded video games for baseball. “He always wants to play now,” she said.
For families with multiple young athletes or children who play multiple sports, the financial aspect of youth sports becomes even more of a constraint.
“My son does swimming, he does karate, and he does this,” said Jeff Rojas, who brings his 6-year-old son Jax to UICL. “These guys helped me put baseball into his life, just because of how affordable they are. They do it for the community.”
Rojas, who attended P.S. 161 for elementary school, said that as a coach, he loves seeing how quickly players improve in the program. “That’s the beauty of it,” he said.
Some parents also help out by giving back with their time or monetary contributions. “I just try to be a part of it and to help them out however I can,” said Ozzy Ortiz, who brings his 4-year-old son Lucky to UICL. “It”s so inexpensive, and Kelvin does a great job getting the community and local businesses involved,” he said.
Ortiz has a long relationship with the McAllister family, dating back to 2008, when Ortiz coached McAllister Sr.’s son Kerry in high school. He always told the McAllister family that he would bring his own children to UICL programs. Now, Lucky Ortiz is one of the participants in UICL’s instructional program.
“They take their time with the kids and they celebrate the kids,” said Ortiz, who lives in Baldwin, Long Island. “They clap it up like it is a live game situation. There is so much encouragement and teaching, it really gives my son a different adult voice to learn from.”
Sponsors in the community like Hartley Pharmacy and Henriquez Deli, and McAllister’s connections with the NYC Parks Department and Columbia University help keep UICL affordable. “I am a professional beggar,” said McAllister about his efforts to secure sponsorship from local businesses.
Although UICL has provided affordable access to youth sports for decades, McAllister said there is room for growth. “In the future, work needs to be done in the direction of education, from the field to the classroom,” he said, explaining his focus on helping players secure scholarships and career pathways.
McAllister knows he has done well when he is recognized by former players and families while walking the streets of Harlem. “Sometimes I get on the bus and the driver says, ‘Hey, Coach,’” McAllister said. Graduates of UICL programs include doctors, lawyers, engineers, and professional players like Candelario.
Former players often tell him, “Thank you, Coach. I don’t know if this would have been possible without your program in the community.”