Just two years ago, Molly Long '18 capped off a strong career for the Ithaca women's lacrosse team by leading the defense in a strong campaign which saw the Bombers finish second in their inaugural Liberty League campaign. Now, Long is continuing to make a difference on the lacrosse field, this time in a different role. Since graduating, Long has become very involved with Harlem Lacrosse, an organization striving "to provide opportunities, relationships, and experiences that activate the skills and traits to put youth on a path to success as students, athletes, and citizens" and "to empower the kids who are most at risk for academic decline and dropout to rise above their challenges and reach their full potential." 

So far, Long, the daughter of IC hall of fame men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Long, has enjoyed her experience with the program. "I've enjoyed forming relationships with the young people I work with and seeing these individuals grow, succeed, and share their magic with the world." Long had found out about the program while watching a feature story on ESPN, and once she interviewed with Harlem Lacrosse she felt "grounded and able to get back to the world of athletics."

One of Long's biggest takeaways from her time with Harlem Lacrosse thus far has what she has learned about inequality and how different her childhood was from so many others in the country."I've undergone numerous wake up calls since working for Harlem Lacrosse. My adolescent years looked so much different than the young adults I work with simply based on my skin color and privilege. Working in a space where learning the importance of gaining trust and developing an understanding of social justice have made the biggest impact on me so far."

In her time at Ithaca, Long says she was fortunate enough to have coaches from a diverse set of backgrounds, and this has helped her transition into her role at Harlem Lacrosse where kids and fellow coaches come from all types of backgrounds. She also said that being a student-athlete at IC helped her develop perseverance and team-building skills that have translated well into being a mentor and coach for young student-athletes. 

Ultimately, Long's time at Harlem Lacrosse has reminded her that sports are about connecting with a community as much as they are about the competitive aspect. "Lacrosse has provided the young people I serve many skills including time management, organization, communication, and self-advocacy. Most importantly it gives players the chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves and be an agent of change in the sport of lacrosse."

For more on Harlem Lacrosse, visit their website: https://www.harlemlacrosse.org/