More than boxing

We contribute to the momentum of improving Chicago's future by attracting youth least likely to join mentoring and tutoring programs-- the kids who like
to fight.

We offer an enriching opportunity for no cost to the 100 youth enrolled and their families. Once enrolled, we connect them to mentors, engage them in academic services, and expand their horizons with college trips and explorational learning

The Bloc contributes to the momentum improving Chicago's future by attracting youth least likely to join mentoring and tutoring programs-- the kids who like to fight.

Jamyle Cannon

Our Team

  • Jamyle Cannon

    Executive Director
    Executive Director

    Jamyle Cannon is the Founder and Executive of The Bloc. He is the 2009 National Collegiate Boxing Champion and a Teach for America Alumni member. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Education from Arizona State University. In 2016, after building a popular boxing program in his classroom, Cannon combined his love for youth development, boxing, and education to form The Bloc. 

    He has been recognized as a 2022 Luminary Award winner, CNN Hero, a 4-Star Chicagoan by Windy City Live, an Economic Game Changer by the New Covenant Community Development Corporation, profiled as one of the Hardest Working Voices in Sports by Chicago Sun-Times, awarded the Rich O’Leary Community Sports Award at Notre Dame University, and is generally considered by the fighters in The Bloc to be the baddest man alive. 

    He has sincere plans to change the after school landscape of Chicago’s West Side and provide community-building resources to his neighbors.

  • Carla Arias-Chavez

    Director of Operations
    Director of Operations

    Carla Arias-Chavez is the Director of Operations for The Bloc. Carla comes to us with 20 years of experience in Operations. While she scaled a multi-million dollar business, she was working toward equity in the workplace with a focus on finding returning citizens jobs. She and her wife live close to the Bloc community, ensuring her work truly touches those around her.

    carla@theblocchicago.org
  • Sabrina Canchola

    Program Manager
    Program Manager

    Sabrina Canchola is a Chicago Northwest side native and serves as one of our Program Managers at The Bloc. Her work ensures our fighters are experiencing high quality and meaningful programming, as well as managing our data to demonstrate The Bloc's success through our day to day activities. Sabrina is also currently earning her MA in Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management at The University of Chicago, and is looking forward to growing as a nonprofit leader with The Bloc to continue bridging together grassroots community organizations so that we all prosper. Outside of work and school, Sabrina loves being crafty, spending time with family, and watching reality TV.

  • Lee Torres

    Boxing Manager
    Boxing Manager

    Lee Acevedo Torres - grandson of Maria Luisa and son of Eileen - is known around The Bloc as Coach Lee. He has been around Boxing for over 35 years. As a Fighter, he is a 2x Chicago Golden Gloves Champion. As a Coach, he has helped trained Fighters to win the Chicago Golden Gloves, Tacoma Junior Golden Gloves and the Regional Silver Gloves.

    He is grateful for the opportunity to work with our Fighters and help them to grow and learn to make more conscious choices so that they can be the Champions of their own lives both inside and outside of the Ring.

  • Jay-R Escalante

    Boxing Trainer
    Boxing Trainer
  • Johnny Arrington Jr.

    Boxing Program Partnership Manager
    Boxing Program Partnership Manager

    Johnny Arrington Jr is our boxing program partnership manager at the bloc. He is leading our efforts to provide after school programming to schools on Chicago’s west side using our train the trainer model. Johnny came to us by way of Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man program (BAM), and before that he was the director of the harvey boxing club, where he oversaw a hugely successful program. Johnny has his Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communication, from North Central College.

    Johnny is most proud of the fact that he delivered both of his daughters at home, during their respective unassisted home births!

    Johnny enjoys being a family man, nature, staying active, engaging with others, sharing dad jokes, and a good movie.

    johnny@theblocchicago.org
  • Darleen Harris

    Youth Support Specialist
    Youth Support Specialist

    Darleen Harris is a Youth Support Specialist at The Bloc. She ensures that we’re implementing programming in a way that engages the fighters and that positively impacts them. Darleen was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, a member of the founding class of DRW, where the bloc originated, and a UIUC Alumni. At UIUC, she studied social work and gender & women’s studies. She is hoping to provide the right information to help fighters with mental health, academics, career planning and boxing. Outside of work, Darleen enjoys being a mother, business owner, and watching documentaries.

    darleen@theblocchicago.org
  • Andres Garduno

    Youth Support Specialist
    Youth Support Specialist
  • Adreiona Jennings

    Youth Support Specialist
    Youth Support Specialist

    Adreiona Jennings has been working with youth and young adults since September 2015 where her former position was Program Manager at a
    non-profit organization on Chicago’s West and South Sides. Prior to transitioning into non-profit, she has been a volunteer in her church’s
    youth ministry department since 2010. As a youth leader at her church, she was the keynote speaker at an annual conference that is held for
    youth around Chicago. She also holds small groups and individual sessions as a youth leader. In addition to that she has had the opportunity
    to travel to different countries to uplift and empower women around the world. In her role at The Bloc, Adreiona develops weekly group sessions
    with topics that vary from identity, leadership, self-esteem, dating, and
    social media just to name a few. In addition to the small groups, she meets with her youth one on one to provide additional support to not just them but the families as well.

    Adreiona’s passion is to help create leaders and let youth know they have a voice and they have the capability to change not just their neighborhood, or the community around them but they can change the world.

    adreiona@theblocchicago.org
  • Moises Rivera

    Youth Support Coordinator
    Youth Support Coordinator

    Moises Rivera is Youth Support Specialist at The Bloc. He is dedicated to help Chicago youth excel in all aspects of their lives not just academically. Moises was born in Jalisco, Mexico but has lived in Chicago for a majority of his life. He is a recent graduate of DePauw University where he majored in Anthropology and minored in Latin American and Caribbean studies. Outside of work he likes watching movies, trying new food, and spending time with friends and family

    moises@theblocchicago.org

Board of Directors

  • Jamyle Cannon

    Founder  ·  The Bloc

  • Jarrett Annenberg

    SVP & Head of Investments · NewLake Capital

  • Adrian Segura

    Founder and Pricipal  ·  The Luminary Collective

  • Andrea Dawkins

    CEO  ·  Dawkins Advisory Group

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