Doc Wayne History

Doc Wayne is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Susan Wayne in memory of her brother, Eli (Doc) Wayne. Doc Wayne is now affiliated with Communities for People. Susan is the former President of Doc Wayne and of Justice Resource Institute, while her brother Eli was a pediatric surgeon as well as a tremendous supporter of youth sports as a medium for positive youth development. Long associated with professional sports, in his volunteer work with kids he coached many troubled youth towards lives of good behavior and joyful accomplishment. His work with kids serves as an inspiration for Doc Wayne staff and kids.

The Doc Wayne Athletic League, along with its partner, Edgework Consulting, is the creator of a unique culturally competent, community based therapeutic youth sports program delivered through a curriculum we have called DtG (do the good) because of its powerful affect on enabling pro-social behavior and accomplishment. DtG is a trauma-informed sports-based positive youth development and skills curriculum offered on the courts and fields. It offers a year-round four sport experience that has potential, through the brain/body connection, to alter the participant’s thinking, emotion, and behavior, helping him/her to play and work more successfully with peers and adults in the adolescent tasks of living.

The history of Doc Wayne to date has been one of vision, passion, effectiveness as well as constant study and adapting to the needs of the participants and staff involved.  Doc Wayne/DtG was found to meet the “gold standard of services” for trauma-affected adolescents in a formal evaluation of the program. We aspire to continue our steady trajectory of improvement by continuing to evaluate, enhance, innovate and correct as while we build systems and structure.