Menu

The MPAL Story

Board Members of the Manchester Police Athletic League (MPAL) care deeply about the community that they live and serve in.  As members of the Manchester, NH Police Department, they see first-hand how important it is to have a positive relationships with the citizens that they serve.

In 2015, MPAL was selected by Building on Hope for its 2016 project.  There were several other deserving non-profits that replied to Building on Hope’s call for applications, but with national news shedding a negative light on local police departments, BOH eagerly embraced the opportunity to help replace those news stories with a positive one.

About the Michael Briggs Community Center

The Michael Briggs Community Center is the heart of MPAL. Located at 409 Beech Street in Manchester, it serves as the focal point for many MPAL programs including boxing, judo and aikido. The building also serves as a community center and has played host to various activities/events including Manchester Police Department ceremonies, City Year events, and even helped provided a safe refuge for families displaced by a fire.

In 2004 the Manchester Police Athletic League opened the Beech Street building and operates five days a week to serve the 8,600 at-risk youth that live within one mile of the location. In 2007 the building was renamed the Manchester Police Athletic League/Michael Briggs Community Center in honor of fallen Officer Michael Briggs who was gunned-down in the line of duty in 2006. Many of Manchester’s youth as well as those from surrounding towns, have participated in one or more of the programs offered by MPAL.  The majority of youth come from inner-city or lower income families and the center offers an alternative to at-risk behavior and encourages positive relationships between law enforcement and young people .  MPAL provides financial aid for programs outside of the building on a case by case basis and all programs at the MPAL/Michael Briggs Community Center are free.

MPAL Mission Statement

The Manchester Police Athletic League strives to foster and maintain positive relationships between the youth of the Greater Manchester area and members of the Manchester Police department. MPAL offers area youth a safe structured environment to help kids grow, make the right choices and become productive members of the community. By providing mentoring along with sports and academic instruction in the afterschool/early evening hours, we believe we are making champions both in and out of the gym.