Shoot for the stars

Exposing student athletes and enthusiasts to the science, innovation and careers behind the sports they love.

What about the 98?

Beyond the Ball was created by Erica Molett, an African-American mother and CEO in Dallas, who wanted to ensure her son saw limitless potential for his future – both on and off the court. Dreams of becoming the next Kobe Bryant or Lebron James often distract students from placing higher priority on their academic journey and career pursuits. Yet, less than 2% of them will accomplish that dream.

So… what about the 98%?

The Mission

Life beyond the game.

While the path to pro sports is unlikely for 98% of athletes, the love of sports can lead to innovative careers and entrepreneurship that keeps youth close to the game.

We have partnered with companies including Nike, the NBA, Overtime, Microsoft, FaZe Clan, Warner Bros, and more to introduce those career pathways and mentorship from industry leaders.

"Beyond the Ball is at the forefront of connecting today's youth with the information, skills, and connections they need to build careers across sports, gaming, and tech."

"Beyond the Game is not only transformative camp experience, it is also an answered prayer! This camp opened up a whole new level of possibilities of how he can win big through the use of his intellect and love for STEM - and that was a game changer!"

"I loved it! It really connected me with my creative side. I highly recommend other students attending the Sneaker Lab. As an athlete I realize that I have more opportunities in life if I don't play pro ball."

The Vision

GOAL ONE - ENGAGE, EDUCATE & ELEVATE

- Leverage student interests in sports, gaming and fashion to increase their aptitude in STEM academic areas
- Elevate youth through innovative education and project-based learning that prepares them to break the cycle of generational poverty and change the world

GOAL TWO - COLLABORATIVE & SCALABLE

- Collaborate with community stakeholders, non-profits and corporate partners to introduce opportunity, social engagement and mentorship to targeted students
- Design program model that can be scaled to reach thousands of youth, sustained with evidence-based replicability, and measured for impact

GOAL THREE - BUILD DIVERSE TALENT PIPELINES

- Expose youth to exciting career pathways through meaningful interactions with the companies and brands they follow
- Inspire the future ambitions and social development of youth through virtual mentorship