Founder Johnny Irwin Uses Surfing to Inspire and Expand Kids' Worlds

City Surf Project Founder Johnny Irwin Uses Surfing to Inspire and Expand Kids’ Worlds

Kindhumans Profiles

City Surf Project Founder Johnny Irwin Uses Surfing to Inspire and Expand Kids’ Worlds

City Surf Project Founder Johnny Irwin realized he could have a greater influence on kids’ lives through surfing than he could as a high school teacher. The non-profit organization inspires youth to live healthy lives, further personal growth, and appreciate nature. We sat down with Johnny to learn more about City Surf Project and how bringing the kids of San Francisco out of the inner city and into the ocean really had an impact on their lives. – KH

 

Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born and raised in San Francisco but learned to surf while on summer vacation in Southern California. I started surfing the cold waters of SF in high school at Kelly’s Cove, where I met other local surfers. I attended college at UC Santa Cruz and came back to San Francisco to teach high school social studies at Leadership High which serves predominantly first-generation college-goers. The City Surf Project was started after I took my students on a surfing field trip and witnessed the impact it had on their lives. 

 

Tell us about City Surf Project and the inspiration behind starting it? Why did you focus on children for your non-profit? 

While working as a high school teacher, I was looking for a way to better connect with my students. I was fortunate to have been introduced to surfing by my father. Surfing has always had a positive impact on my life: allowing me to relieve stress, connect with nature’s beauty, and stay physically active.  I wanted to share this experience with my students who rarely got an experience like this. We went on a field trip to go surfing and the experience was highly impactful—students that lived one mile from the beach had never been in the ocean before, but by the end of the day those same students were standing up and riding waves. I realized that I would be of better service to my students by taking them surfing than I could as their teacher, and from there, the City Surf Project was born.

  

What life lessons have you learned from starting your own non-profit business? 

It is really important to build a solid foundation before expanding your business. You want to have systems and procedures in place so that your infrastructure is ready for expansion.

 

You said, ‘Surfing acts as a pathway to expand the world.’ Can you elaborate? 

Many of the students that I took surfing for the first time didn’t have much experience apart from their own neighborhoods. After our surfing field trip, one student commented that the experience changed his entire outlook on life. He realized there was so much more out there besides his neighborhood and what he was accustomed to. 

 

How do you think the kids in your program take the stoke they had while surfing into their everyday lives? 

I think students are able to use what they learn about themselves while surfing and apply that to other parts of their lives. For some, surfing gives them confidence, for others, it gives them a better sense of how to solve problems through the perseverance they learned while pushing through waves.

 

Over the years your program has affected many kids’ lives, is there a certain story that sticks out in your mind?

There are many stories that demonstrate the impact of the program, but one that particularly stands out is from a student named Lester. Lester could not swim and was deathly afraid of the water before our program. Lester also had very low self-esteem as a result of his fears. After participating in our program, Lester grew to be a competent swimmer (deep-end safe) and can actually surf and catch waves on his own. He claims that City Surf Project and learning to swim and surf helped him gain confidence in himself and do better in school. 

Photo Credit @hwilliamsjrphoto

 

What does City Surf Project have planned for 2020?  

We are looking forward to our SILT (Surf Instructors in Leadership Training) program this summer where we will train our graduating surfers to be surf instructors for our summer programs.  In the Fall we are looking to expand our programs to include one more school which will allow us to serve at least 50 more youth. We are also excited about Surfathon on May 2nd, where we will catch waves to raise funds for our free programs. 

 

How can we all get involved in helping underprivileged youth in our local community? 

We are constantly looking for qualified volunteers to be surf coaches. As well as volunteers that would like to help with other aspects of the organization. Coming out and supporting our events is crucial for us to build awareness and foster support for the organization. We are also always in need of donations, whether they are monetary or equipment, everything helps. 

 

What role does kindness play in your life? And what does it mean to you?

Kindness and compassion are my driving force. You never really know what people are dealing with so the best we can do is offer ourselves and show that we care.

 

How do you show kindness? 

By using the resources I have to help those less fortunate. 

 

What is a message you want to spread and leave with the Kindhumans community? 

If only some of us are able to get stoked, then none of us are actually stoked. 

 

What is a fun fact about yourself that isn’t widely known? 

I am very scared of heights, especially high bridges. 

 

If you could spend time with any kind human in history, who would that be and what would you do together?

My father who passed away 10 years ago, and go surfing.

 

Author Profile:


Johnny was born and raised in San Francisco. His passion for education and mentoring youth has led him where he is today.

Find out more: http://citysurfproject.com/

 

If only some of us are free, then none of us are free.” – Johnny Irwin

 

 

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City Surf Project Founder Johnny Irwin Uses Surfing to Inspire and Expand Kids' Worlds
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