PeacePlayers US Storybook 2021 - Flipbook - Page 15
2021 UNITED STATES STORYBOOK
2021 UNITED STATES STORYBOOK
CRED WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
As two organizations fiercely dedicated to using peaceful
measures to stop the spread of violence within at-risk communities,
Chicago CRED and PeacePlayers were natural partners from the
get-go.
So when an opportunity arose to blend Chicago CRED’s deep
ties to the Roseland community with PeacePlayers’ expertise at
using basketball to engage young people, it quickly turned into a
successful union that could reap benefits for many years to come.
Through the work of leaders within both programs, Chicago
CRED and PeacePlayers collaborated in the fall of 2021 to bring
together dozens of young men and women for several evenings of
good-natured, competitive and fun-filled basketball. The sessions,
most of which were held at the Pullman Community Center,
culminated with an All-Star night at the CSO Complex that led
off with a 3-point contest followed by a final game.
The reality is that prior to
joining CRED, the idea of
most of these individuals
together in the same space
would just be too risky. But,
the league sort of naturally
self selects. “Being in
CRED itself is an everyday
commitment
to
nonviolence. What they are
doing is brave,” says Paul
Robinson, Deputy Head of
Programs.
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For many young men and women in the Southside of Chicago,
violence does not seem to be a choice, rather a survival tactic.
Through street outreach, tailored coaching and counseling, job
placement, and advocacy, Chicago CRED works with hundreds
of young men and women to radically reduce gun violence. They
demonstrate that choice does in fact exist. But of course, it’s not
as straight shooting as it sounds.
The inability to engage in a healthy game of streetball is only due
in part to groups being at odds with one another, or affiliation.
Many of the rims in the Roseland community have been taken
down as a result of the violence that often occurs on the courts.
Streetball is very rarely an option.
So, ahead of activities, Terrance Henderson – supervisor of
Chicago CRED for South Roseland/West Pullman – started off by
gathering participants off the court and asking a simple question:
Can you get along?
“We have everybody come to the office and then do a little meet
and greet so they can see faces,” Henderson said. “But you got to
do it in layers, you just don’t want to just bring people around.
You just don’t know. I’ve seen some conflicts happen when people
get surprised by some individuals that’s gonna be around. So I ask
who’s in conflict. I’ll let them know who’s going to be there ahead
of time so they get to make the decision before.
“I want to give them that option, without it being a surprise. That’s
what made this successful.”
This first series of games were competitive throughout. But
winning wasn’t the only measure of triumph.
“I came out to have fun, to just let me do what I do,” said Josh
Smith, 21, a Roseland resident who has been active in CRED since
2018. “I don’t really care too much about winning or losing, I just
came to have fun. I just came to play basketball.”
Keith Walker, 25, was a newcomer to CRED as well as
PeacePlayers. But in just a few months that the Roseland resident
had been participating in CRED events, he had come to trust
them, and, in turn, he trusted PeacePlayers.
“I trust the guys with CRED,” he said while taking a breather
during one game. “I’m comfortable with them. I wouldn’t expect
no BS.”
Meanwhile, more preparation was also taking place on the
PeacePlayers side. PeacePlayers Chicago Director Andrea
Johnson seamlessly set up the games by arranging for referees,
securing equipment and jerseys, and ensuring the participants
always had a secure location to play.
“Going into this collaboration, I knew the power of sport and
its ability to bring people together. It has already been proven
that basketball can unite those communities in conflict, here
in the city, by finding that common ground on the court that
can ultimately lead to change in the streets. Our goal with
this partnership with CRED was to provide a safe place for
the young men and women to compete against each other
and create an opportunity to do something productive for
3 hours on Friday nights.”
At first, these sessions were hosted with one main goal in mind –
to provide a safe space of play for those who are “really in it, in it”,
Andrea says. Now, as they approach the second go around, more
focus will be given to deepening relationships through sport with
folks typically at odds with one another. The interest is there,
now it’s time to bridge divides – the PeacePlayers way.
“I’m optimistic about what it can do for the community,” Henderson
said. “I told some people this could happen. So I kind of got that I
told you so kind of attitude. Because anytime that you add this
level of at-risk individuals, that’s conflict with each other. The
first thing that people say is it’s not going to work and something
bad’s gonna happen. And you know when it all comes to fruition
and everything ends on a positive note, you give yourself a pat
on the back.”
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