Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Our Founders
Jumping Dreams was founded by sisters Dominique Artis and Angelicka Crawford in September 2017. As former competitors in the sport of double dutch, they possessed a natural passion for jumping rope and aspired to start a program in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Through their experiences, they discovered that jumping rope offered more than just physical activity; it provided essential life skills. Angelicka, who battled childhood obesity, used jump rope to stay fit and build confidence. Dominique, on the other hand, leveraged jump rope to make friends and explore the world. Combining their insights, they envisioned an organization that could help youth of all ages and backgrounds become physically, mentally, and emotionally stronger. Their goal was to use jump rope as a tool to develop confidence, leadership, and social skills.
Initially, Jumping Dreams began as a hobby for Artis and Crawford but soon evolved into a career dedicated to community service, particularly during the pandemic when many schools and youth organizations faced closures or restrictions. Today, our team ranks in the top five globally in the sport of double dutch. We are committed to success as a unit and to upholding our principles of hard work and sportsmanship. Jumping Dreams boasts incredibly talented players and a dedicated staff who excel at fostering growth and teamwork.
In our program, we believe in dreaming big and overcoming life's challenges—one jump at a time.
Our Story
We began as a small jump rope team, striving to make our mark in the jump rope world. Our foundation was built by two dedicated coaches who juggled full-time jobs to support their passion for the sport. Alongside them were five ambitious young ladies eager to absorb everything they could to become champion jump rope competitors.
In our early days, we practiced wherever we could—rented school gyms, hallways, and even outdoors under the hot sun. After our first year of competing, we realized we had what it took to create a championship team and knew we were on the right path. But more importantly, we recognized that Jumping Dreams was becoming more than just a sport; it was an outlet for kids to simply be kids again. It became a place where they could express themselves without judgment, make friends, learn to communicate effectively, learn how to express themselves, manage their emotions, workout and be rewarded for helping others and achieving good grades.
Our Dreamers have volunteered at Kings's Kitchen serving the homeless population. Toured colleges: Texas Southern, Columbia University, Duke University, and North Carolina Central, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to name a few. Performed on the Jennifer Hudson Show, competed at the Apollo Theater in New York, some traveling out of North Carolina for the first time, took their first flights, gained their first internship, and found mentors who genuinely listened and cared about their feelings.
Today, we have our own dedicated practice space with within Movement School and have expanded our program to 5 out of school locations. Turning a program that started with 4 kids into over 1,000 youth in the community eager to learn how to jump and be apart of a great cause. We have donated over 10,000 free meals to youth in underprivileged areas of Charlotte and provide yearly scholarships to children who work hard but cannot afford to join the program.
We live by our Dreamer motto: I will, I can, I am...a Dreamer
