In Episode 5 of the Disruptors for Good podcast I speak with Steve Larosiliere, co-founder of Stoked, an adventure sport nonprofit using action sports to reach teens in some of the most vulnerable areas.

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For those who don’t know who STOKED is prepare to be excited. They are one of the most innovative non-profits in America using action sports to reach teens in some of the most vulnerable areas.

The mission of STOKED is to provide inspiration to teens through riding a wave, building a skateboard, and skiing down amazing mountains.

STOKED looked at the opportunity gap for low income children and wanted to find something to fill that void. Most kids from single parent households lack a role model and have minimal hopes of attending college.

STOKED comes into the picture to provide a community of mentors, after school programs, and inspirational experiences that open up the world to these kids.

Interview Transcript

00:00

Grant: Hey, what’s up everybody, this is Grant from Causeartist. Today we’re chatting with Steve Larosiliere, the founder of Stoked, an adventure sports nonprofit that started in New York, expanded to Los Angeles, and is now in Chicago.

We met in person in Chicago to talk about his journey with Stoked, its vision, mission, the kids it has affected, and how it has impacted him personally. When you start to impact lives, your life is enhanced even more.

We talk about what Stoked does on a day-to-day basis, how they’re embedded in schools, and how they take kids out for adventure activities like surfing and snowboarding. These activities help kids who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone. Enjoy the conversation!

01:09

Grant: When people ask you what Stoked is, how do you explain it and its vision overall?

01:14

Steve: I tell people that Stoked is a youth development program. We help kids be successful in life using the lifestyle and culture of skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing. It’s like a rite of passage for young people from low-income communities.

The vision is to get to a point where people say, “Oh, I did Stoked,” just like they might say they did 4-H or Scouts. It’s about helping kids become stronger, more resilient, and better friends. They learn to set goals, never give up, and do cool things outside their comfort zone.

02:57

Grant: Anything that challenges us is good, right?

03:00

Steve: Absolutely. For example, I had a young girl who was in Stoked at 15. She went through tough times, dropped out of college, and I mentored her in fundraising. In a week, she raised over $1,000. I related it to the time she faced her fear on a black diamond slope. These experiences teach resilience.

04:02

Grant: The program started in New York, going into inner-city schools. How did you get it approved?

04:18

Steve: We partnered with high school principals in low-income neighborhoods in New York, LA, and now Chicago.

We presented it as an offer for kids, sometimes as an after-school program and sometimes as part of the school day. In class, kids might skateboard or build skateboards, learning project completion, teamwork, creativity, and design. It’s like an art class.

05:39

Grant: It’s a different shift for kids during the day from traditional subjects to something creative like skateboarding. How did you convince principals to take a chance on Stoked?

05:52

Steve: The principals who took a chance on us saw the value in doing something different. Society is starting to see kids as individuals, moving toward inclusivity. It’s important to approach things on an institutional level.

Programs like Stoked in schools can help create a better society by allowing kids to shine as individuals.

07:25

Grant: Why adventure sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing?

07:36

Steve: I was passionate about snowboarding and realized the lessons I was learning about myself could benefit young people.

Mentoring kids at the time, I wanted to create something experiential that pushed them outside their comfort zones. When you experience something challenging like snowboarding, you return more motivated. I wanted kids to feel that too.

09:40

Grant: It’s proven its weight. You had a 100% graduation rate from high school, and kids in Stoked were getting into college successfully. Did that validate the program for you?

10:20

Steve: Yes, but it was a byproduct, not the original intention. I wanted to shift kids’ minds. Seeing kids get college acceptance letters and scholarships validated it.

One young man used his experience in Stoked for his college essays and got in. Another kid thanked me for teaching him that he can be and do things. Success looks different for everyone.

11:26

Grant: When you started the program, was it always snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing? Do kids gravitate towards one more than the others?

15:15

Steve: Kids gravitate towards snowboarding because it’s unique. Skateboarding and surfing have their challenges, especially for low-income communities. Teaching kids to swim before surfing is a hurdle. Beach communities are often inaccessible to them.

16:48

Grant: What are some of the success stories from kids who have gone through the program?

17:14

Steve: One kid thanked me for teaching him he can do anything. He graduated from high school and became a lifeguard. Another is about to get his master’s degree and wants to be a chemistry teacher.

He reached out for a job opportunity, and I connected him with a school. Another kid, who I taught to swim, is now a mentor and a paid employee with Stoked. Seeing kids grow and give back is incredibly rewarding.

21:26

Grant: Changing a person’s life, no matter how small, can be significant. What advice would you give to mission-driven entrepreneurs?

22:02

Steve: Stay close to the people you’re impacting. Understand their narratives and find ways to help them achieve their goals. Always stay close to the people.

23:44

Grant: How does LinkedIn fit into the program for older students?

24:17

Steve: For older kids, we focus on college and career readiness. We teach them about LinkedIn and other tools to help them network and prepare for their future.

25:01

Grant: Thanks, Steve. This has been great. Best of luck with Stoked in Chicago.

25:17

Steve: Thank you. Chicago is a dynamic city with a lot of need. We’re excited to bring Stoked here and appreciate the community and culture. We’re looking forward to starting next winter. Thank you!