Building Belonging: The Squash Club That Became a Movement with Barrett Takesian, President @ Portland Community Squash

What started in the basement of a YMCA is now one of the most innovative community centers in the country.

In this episode, Jonathan Bush sits down with Barrett Takesian, founder and executive director of Portland Community Squash, a one-of-a-kind community hub that blends sports, youth development, immigrant integration, and economic mobility under one roof.

Barrett shares how he turned a few squash courts into a multigenerational, multicultural home for over 1,000 families in greater Portland — and why it works.

We cover:

• Why programs that try to “pick a lane” fail — and what happens when you build for everyone
• How squash became the vehicle for something much bigger
• The business strategy behind belonging, and why it’s twice as effective as traditional models
• Why he runs tournaments by skill, not age or gender — and how that creates connection across class and culture
• What Barrett sees as Maine’s greatest untapped advantage

This is an episode about sports, yes — but more than that, it’s about community, entrepreneurship, and a radically hopeful vision for Maine’s future.

Listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

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