PeacePlayers US Storybook 2021 - Flipbook - Page 5
2021 UNITED STATES STORYBOOK
2021 UNITED STATES STORYBOOK
FIVE CITIES: ONE CONNECTED MOVEMENT
PeacePlayers unites divided communities through the sport of basketball. In the United States historical divides driven by race and
geography have created an inequitable society. We are working with our partners at Nike to develop a network of young leaders across
the United States who come together across community divides and become catalysts in building a more peaceful and equitable society.
Brooklyn
Our journey to create a diverse network of youth leaders across our borough began in
Brownsville, a neighborhood with so much potential that nonetheless ranks first in violent
crime in Brooklyn. Many Brownsville youth do not feel comfortable in neighboring housing
developments. Through PeacePlayers, young people in Brownsville and surrounding
neighborhoods are accessing safe spaces where they can be themselves, in addition to
quality basketball programming, and opportunities to come together to build relationships
and become leaders and advocates for their community.
Baltimore
Like in many cities in America, Baltimore’s residents of color still experience the aftermath
of redlining, the historic institutionalized disinvestment in predominantly non-white
neighborhoods, a trend that unfortunately persists to this day. This institutionalized
discrimination negatively impacts the opportunities available to youth in predominantly
non-white neighborhoods in Baltimore. Youth in low-income neighborhoods have few
opportunities for after-school activities and lack exposure to experiences outside of their
local neighborhood. PeacePlayers engages youth within these communities in different parts
of the city by providing access to sports-based after-school programming led by committed
and effective local coaches grounded in leadership development and peace education. Youth
develop the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that enhance their ability to reduce conflict in
positive ways and emerge from the program as leaders uniting East and West Baltimore.
Ultimately, our goal is to create youth-led strategies to bridge societal divides and be the
catalyst for institutional and structural change within the city.
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Chicago
PeacePlayers Chicago engages youth in the Roseland/Pullman community, located on the far
south side of Chicago. A once very thriving community, it now faces many challenges, such
as gun violence, bullying, poverty, school and gang violence, lack of adult supervision, racial
disparities in healthcare and education, unsafe housing, and a lack of jobs and resources
for young people. These disparities have fueled cultural divides among youth living in this
community. PeacePlayers Chicago’s intentional programming focuses on positive youth
development through the fostering of healthy relationships and by providing the support
needed for youth to discover their inner leader.
Detroit
The culturally diverse Detroit metro area is home to many Arab, Latino and Bengali families,
in addition to significant African American and white populations. However, segregation,
lack of interaction between groups and fear across cultural and geographic divides prevents
the city and many of its residents from thriving. PeacePlayers Detroit currently operates in
the predominantly African American communities of Cody Rouge and Brightmoor, as well
as the primarily Latino community of Southwest Detroit, with the goal of reaching all seven
of the city community districts by 2024.
Los Angeles
PeacePlayers Los Angeles serves Watts and the South LA Community, home to four of the
nation’s most dangerous housing projects. While our youth participants are not particularly
gang affiliated, they are bound by gang territory lines and live their lives navigating the
conflict that encompasses their neighborhood. PeacePlayers Los Angeles aims to bridge
divides in Los Angeles by creating safe spaces through the game of basketball for young
people to build relationships and become leaders and advocates for their community.
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