Skate Club

When Ryan Miller found skateboarding he gained more than just a new hobby.

By Corey Browning and Christian Cabang

Ryan finds skateboarding

Ryan Miller talks about the struggles he faced during high school, and how he found skateboarding and with it a sense of belonging.

Skateparks in San Francisco

Ryan frequents Stanyan Skatepark, located in the southeast corner of Golden Gate Park, just over a mile from SF Skate Club and about two miles from his home in the Fillmore district.

Ryan takes a leadership role at Skate Club

Located on Divisadero Street on the edge of San Francisco's Fillmore District, San Francisco Skate Club provides local youth a place to gather, learn and grow. Besides functioning as a skate shop and hangout spot, the club offers a structured after school program run by educator Thuy Nguyen and her husband, skateboarder Shawn Connolly

A case for after school programs

Data released from the US Department of Justice show a peak in juvenile violent crime immediately after school ends on school days. On non-school days, violent crime peaks later in the evening. Data was compiled from law enforcement agencies in 38 states.

Full circle: finding family at Skate Club

Daniel Mejia, like Ryan, is a past Skate Club regular later turned employee. He has witnessed Miller grow, and empathizes with the feeling of having found family at Skate Club. Through Skate Club Mejia learned how to film and edit video. He now works as a video producer for a tech company in San Francisco.

After school activities

A US Census Bureau report from 2014 shows what kinds of structured after school activities children (18 and under) participate in, broken down by married parents, split parents, single parents or guardians.