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Building Trust, Changing Lives

Kids & Cops:

Building Trust, Changing Lives.

The Dueling Dragons of Orlando program is an unlikely partnership between inner-city teens and law enforcement officers from the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Orlando Fire Department who have joined forces to become a one-of-a-kind, mentoring, year-round dragon boat racing team.

Dueling Dragons' mission is to use the sport of dragon boating to form long-term mentoring relationships between Orlando's law enforcement officers and inner-city youth. Success in dragon boating comes only when everyone in the boat works together in complete harmony. In the process, stereotypes come down, profiles melt away, friendships are formed, and lives change for the better.

Teen paddlers are selected through their participation in Orlando Parks and Rec community centers, including Rosemont, Englewood, Jackson, Mercy Drive and Parramore Kidz Zone.

“Dueling Dragons opened my eyes about the police.”

--Cody, Mercy Drive Rec Center

“I went from not knowing what their purpose is to sitting down with cops and knowing they are real.”

—Cady, Rosemont Rec Center

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“Our Dueling Dragons program serves as a role model, attracting national attention for its unique and highly effective approach to building stronger bonds between our police officers and inner-city youth.”

— Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando

“The program made me realize these inner-city kids just need an opportunity to interact with positive role models to succeed.”

—Todd, OPD

Dueling Dragons News and Updates

Blog
Celebrating an Incredible 2023 Season!
Celebrating an Incredible 2023 Season!

What an incredible year it has been for the Dueling Dragons! We are tremendously thankful for everyone who makes this organization possible, from our cops to our kids to the corporate partners who provide support and the many individuals and families who empower us to keep going.

Read More →
Thank You, Southwest Airlines!
Thank You, Southwest Airlines!

Our team had a wonderful trip to the Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival recently and the travel was made possible by the generous support of Southwest Airlines, which provided Dueling Dragons with 20 tickets to help us get to the Windy City.

Read More →
Every Dollar, and Every Donor Counts: The Impact of Dueling Dragons (So Far!)
Every Dollar, and Every Donor Counts: The Impact of Dueling Dragons (So Far!)

The Dueling Dragons of Orlando program is an unlikely partnership between inner-city teens and law enforcement officers from the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Orlando Fire Department who have joined forces to become a one-of-a-kind, mentoring, year-round dragon boat racing team.

Read More →

Dueling Dragons is proudly supported by a City of Orlando Mayor's Matching Grant, by the Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc., and of course – by generous contributions from community supporters and partners:

 

We’d also like to thank Trish and Rick Walsh, Patricia Engfer, Dr. Ann McGee and Joyce Green for their generous support.

Your individual contributions make a huge difference to the future of this program.

Nothing is possible without your support. We rely on donors like you to pay for trips to races (aka dragon boat festivals), uniforms, food, lodging, and much more. Truly, every dollar donated empowers our kids and cops, and enriches our community:

To learn more about donation opportunities or to speak with our Founder, contact us at mmiandrea@me.com.

 

“Now I trust cops a lot.”

--Ariana, Englewood Rec Center

“Dueling Dragons showed me all cops are not the same … cops are regular people.”

—Jaira, Englewood Rec Center

 

Oh summer lightning and rains, why do you hover over Lake Fairview on Wednesday afternoons? We had a great practice schedule this week as our last preparation for the Great White North Festival in Sarasota on Saturday, May 20th. Then the nasty weath
The weather played its tricks this week, and it was too dangerous to be on the water. Thank you to Gerald Chiles manager of the Rosemont Community Center who hosted the team indoors in a fantastic environment! We updated all our paddlers to be prepa
Our teams worked very hard at practice last week, as we prepared for our first Festival race over the weekend in Clermont. Our teams have only been on the water 3 times so far this year and once we participate in the festival, why and how we practic
Another THANK YOU to the team at The Community Paper for this wonderful tribute to our founder, Andrea Eliscu. If our paddlers and police officers are the heart and soul of Dueling Dragons, Andrea is the rest of the body -- working tirelessly to rai
We're so proud of our Dueling Dragons alumni -- and we're even prouder when they continue their great work outside of our organization! Brandon Cunningham is one incredible example. He started as a student paddler in Dueling Dragons and is now hopin
Dueling Dragons enjoyed a robust practice on Lake Fairview this week. With the light breeze, the teams were able to work on drills and feel the speed of the wind and paddle against the wind. All good! Thank you to Debbie Gunter, Publisher of College
This week we held our first practice of the season with cops and kids together. We had a full house and joy was in the air! Returning paddlers were helping newbies and newbies were open to being coached. Especially impressive was the care of our equ
Congratulations to our Dueling Dragons Officer Josue Torres, who recently completed Motors Unit training. This is a rigorous 2-week, 80-hour-long training that many don't make it through. He will now be able to join the motors unit, and we are so p

To-Date:

172

Youth Paddlers

100%

No School Dropouts

100%

No Arrests

100%

GPA Above 2.0

"Being involved with the kids in the Dueling Dragons Program has helped me in my daily work life by teaching me ways to form bonds with the kids in my school as it applies to my role as a School Resource Officer.”  

—John, OCSO

“Dueling Dragons helps remind me that not all kids misbehave and get in trouble. It also helps me understand how to better connect with youth.”

—-Jasmine, OPD

 

Media Coverage

Click on logo to view story.

 

“Dueling Dragons has taught me to slow down and take more time explaining things. It has also helped me realize that not everyone understands or sees things the way I do. I feel I now have a better understanding of the hesitancy we see from some inner-city communities. I have stayed with this program for nine years because I enjoy the time I get with the kids and know I have impacted some of them. As long as I feel I can make a difference, I will continue.”

— Orlando Police Officer

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In Loving Memory

Lt. Debra Clayton;

Orlando Police Department,

Dueling Dragons Mentor

End of Watch: January 9, 2017

Lt. Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department was a former participant in the Dueling Dragons program. She was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 9, 2017. She was devoted to bridging the gap between kids and cops, dedicating herself to that cause on and off duty.

Her spirit lives on with the Dueling Dragons program and we continue to honor her memory.

 
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