Country: United States

Organization: Churchill County Parks & Recreation

Sport: Basketball

Year the initative began (yyyy) 2007

What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? The utilization of the continuum of care model that exits in community development and social reconstruction in character building via sports.

Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? I have succesfully, in different parts of the US, linked public & private organizations in a way that carries youth & adults through growth as an athlete with their growth as people, students and social role players. From Jr. NBA Jr. WNBA; to Nike Grassroots Camps; to Antoine Walkers Adidas Summer Pro Am to the 35 & Older League. I partner with Gatorade, Powerade, Clothing Brands, National Parks and Recreation, National Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association, National Collegiate Athetic Association, local Casinos, Former and current professional players to draw the attention and commitment to the program. Once the participants are hooked by either opportunity fantasy or focus the component of health and mental / social awareness are strategically feed to them via partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Soroptimists, Optimists, Reading is Fundamental Programing, GED and Tutorial programming, health snack options through social services.

What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? Poor people, old people, minorities, small town and inner cities visualize wealth and tend to not include themselves in the picture. Success is such a remote reality to many americans for a number of reasons that, in reality, the same program that began in the inner city of 85% black Gary, IN (114,000 polpulus) is just as in 3.6% black Fallon NV (8000 polpulus). It is for different reasons but the same reality; people disenfranchised from dreams and happiness.

Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? I reach out to every opportunity to receive support from organizations that a basketball minded person visualizes in the elite environment of the sport. No matter how menial the support, the presence of the entity moves from surreal to real in the mind of the participant because it is now present, tangible. This presence begins to make the participant feel they are a part of the dream of success merely due to the presence of the surrounding factors. Backed with the instruction from the once or current elite, on different levels of the game (State High School Champs to Shawn marion) assist them in performing. The confidence these people have in their instructors transfers in to themselves because those persons who are in that picture of success are now real and present hence bring them psycologiaclly to positioning there mind of the proximity of success' location to them. At this point we implement motivational tools and resources to allow them to remove barriers in their lives.

How do you plan to grow your innovation? The program reaches to persons assisted, periphrial associates and associations to reinvest after successes have been made; while keeping the bridges connect from each league still in association. We have found funders stay loyal as long as a product is evident. creativity and a desire to stay focused on the dreaming athele as opposed to only the athletically gifted keeps our pool of beneficiaries deep. The better we solidify the the science of our efforts while protecting the creative nature that allows acceptance and connection the program will grow. I have found the problem of being disenfranchised from success goes beyong the socio- economic dynamics, racial dynamic and cultural dynamics. It is help everyone meet the world on their terms and most importantly being proud of their destination. Simply, the program serves everyone differently but for the same purpose; we help them find success as a person. Either for a league or a life time.

Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. Our mission is to build better people through athletics; allowing the reality personal success and growth to come within grasp.

What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? WNBA/NBA players have re-entered the league after years of absence or assumed the courage to try again. College players have been mentored into relationships and transitioned the professional basketball world. Former players once overlook were honored again and found new pride in former accomplishment. Youth have broken barriers of infermaties, shyness and athletic segragation and become confident to be better students and more responsible in the home. All associated with the program learn to lead and follow. Young ladies are mentored by Professional women. All young strengthen the focus on education by the constant reminders from the required reading program. Adults have job network opportunites and financial and person assistance through our social sevices partners. Anyone from five years old to 35 & over have benefited over the years.

Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? Persons recruited from drug court have found gameful employment and still employed at facility related to program. Volunteers in the program have found regular employment with facilities related to program and have been mentored on smaller subsidiary programs. Partners within program have become sports agents and offer opportunites to eligable program participants. Approximately 50 athletes & several referees have received professional basketball opportunities (NBA, CBA, IBL & abroad).

What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? Everything that distracts people from believing in themselves. Illnesses, poverty, lack of opportunity, lack of information, lack of creativity and people refusing to work hard.

How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? Proposal writing, Parks & Recreation budget, donations and in kind services.

If known, provide information on your finances and organization. Over all program budget 60K; revenue 10K; 4 full time; volunteer 30 adult; 25 youth

What is the potential demand for your innovation? Infinite. Though designed for the inner city, I have found the program works in diverse enviroments. I am currently learning the potential, due to the complexity affecting all ages, all aspects and opportunities directly and indirectly related to the game.

What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? Staff funds. The program caps at the ability to serve. If more funds could be used for staffing and space the program would not have to leave many unserved.

What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. Began running a sports facility and reached back to my background of being a school teacher and a community development director. I returned to my home town after law school hoping to use this opportunity to bring programming to the inner city that was not there when I was young. I leaned on my backgroung in fund raising to ensure that every program mirror the county's top programs and every practice in the program was based on principle. I had to market the program to be popular and I noticed that in a community without hope, all was present and consistent were dreams. I began recreating the atmosphere of what pople dreamed about and allowing them to participate in their dream. I began to notice the affects of people realizing a fantasy and its direct reflect on the lives in general, hence a over effort was made to connect dreams turning into reality and reality into dreams.
I out negotiated a facility to host an ESPN Boxing event at my facility and met a professional boxer who had recently lost a major title and forged a relationship with him. This experience helped learn that this program could extend to persons of means as well. At that point I learned that I was not serving the economically disadvantaged only, but all of those who have any reason to feel that success has become out of reach. Since then the program (basketball mainly) has inspired former NBA, WNBA, NCAA and recreational players who have trained and became motivated to reach for success again.

Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. African American Achievers- Director
HMANIO Community Development Corporation- Asst. Director
Hudson Campbell Sports & Fitness Center/ City of Gary Parks- Facility & Event Manager
Hudson Campbell Pro Am- Director
Chicago Pro Am Nike Pro City Basketball Summer League- Director
Antoine Walker Adidas Summer Pro Am- Director / Board Member
Churchill County Parks & Recreation- Athletics Supervisor
Barry Stevens EDA3 Developmental Basketball League- Director
Nevada Pro Am- Director