Looking to glide into a new sport?

The Chicago Youth Foundation offers a new program to introduce figure skating to diverse neighborhoods across the city.

It’s called “Figure Skating on Your Block.”

Dr. Ami Parekh, the foundation’s executive director, was once a competitive figure skater. She used her experience as a minority woman in sports to create the program.

“A child may not even try a sport out, or parents may not consider a sport because of the cost, or especially when they see that other kids of their ethnicity or race are not participating in that sport,” Parekh said. “We’re trying to break those barriers down at the grassroots level by offering free ice skating lessons — not just to people of color but also people of low socioeconomic status.”

The Chicago Youth Foundation also runs “Hockey on Your Block,” which was started in 2011 by former hockey player Ray Lilja, and offers introductory skating classes. Off the ice, the foundation runs the “Pathfinders” program to promote positive physical and mental health for kids.

“I just love coaching so much,” Parekh said. “It was so much fun, I really liked teaching. Not that I ever knew I would really like teaching, but it was so much fun, and I loved how fulfilling it was to impart knowledge to other kids and see them grow.”

You can learn more about the programs and how to sign up on the Chicago Youth Foundation website.