Lamont Pitt joined the StreetSquash program in 2008. He immediately became intrigued after hearing two staff members talk about it during lunch at his middle school, the Academy of Social Action. 

“I always participated in various sports activities such as ice skating, roller skating, soccer, baseball, and gymnastics,” Lamont said. “So I was not a stranger to stepping out of my comfort zone and trying a new sport.”

When he first started the program, he was playing at the Columbia University courts.

“I remember the day I joined as if it were yesterday,” Lamont said. “During our very first lesson, we practiced bouncing the ball; our coach even turned it into a competition to see who could bounce the ball the most in two minutes without messing up. It was not easy at all, and there were definitely times when I wanted to quit. But a voice inside me kept saying, ‘Stick it through, Lamont. You’ll get better over time.’” 

Shortly after he started, the SL Green StreetSquash Center opened.

“When the building officially opened, my teammates and I were thrilled to have our own courts,” Lamont said. 

Though Lamont dealt with multiple squash coaches during his time in the program, he says former Squash Director Mark Rapisarda helped him the most.

“The one who stood out the most and really helped build my confidence was Mark,” Lamont said. “Mark was extremely patient and understanding and genuinely made squash fun. He always gave me words of encouragement and provided each player with the necessary attention to help perfect their game. We all need a Mark in our lives.” 

Lamont also has memories of his many travels, both for squash tournaments and college tours. 

“I believe it is crucial for youth to experience new places because it aids in character development,” Lamont said. 

And though he ended up going to college in New York City, he’s grateful he had an opportunity to see what else was out there.

“The opportunity to explore options is something I will never take for granted,” Lamont said.

After graduating high school in 2014, Lamont has received an Associate’s Degree in Nutrition and Culinary Management from LaGuardia Community College. He interned at a cafe in Queens to get experience in the culinary field.

Since 2016, he has been working in the customer service field and received a promotion a few years ago.

But his interests extend beyond food and customer service. In 2019, he took acting classes at HB Studios and he’s continuing to pursue that avenue. He’s recently been cast as a background actor in the CBS shows FBI and Law & Order. 

“​​At StreetSquash, the life skills I’ve learned and carry with me everywhere are to be open-minded and kind,” Lamont said. “You never know what kind of connections you might build in the future.” 

He feels these skills will help him move up in the acting world. 

“My time at StreetSquash has influenced the person I am today, allowing me to be authentically myself,” Lamont said. “I feel that I am a smarter, more independent individual because of StreetSquash.”