“We’re learning more than just basketball”
PeacePlayers Chicago, a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) youth development initiative that offers a unique blend of basketball, leadership development, career readiness and peace building for boys ages 13-15, concluded Friday with a finale at Intentional Sports. The day included skills and drills, cross-city games, a back-to-school giveaway and a special visit by Tre Jones of the Chicago Bulls.
PeacePlayers is part of CHA’s summer programming lineup. This year, paid summer opportunities reached 2,307 CHA residents ages 13-24, offering early exposure to career and education pathways while helping curb summer learning loss. Participants earned a $600 stipend for their participation in the programs. PeacePlayers is a partnership between CHA, PeacePlayers and Intentional Sports.
“PeacePlayers is one of 10 Summer Programs we offer to CHA residents and we are thankful to our partners at Intentional Sports for helping us provide meaningful instruction while also keeping youth safe and excited about the future,” said Natalia Nevarez, Youth Program Specialist for CHA. “PeacePlayers was so successful that it grew to two locations this year (Intentional Sports and Longwood High School) to increase access and meet the demand CHA had for sports programming. We are excited about our future with the program.”
Tre Demps, Director of Basketball at Intentional Sports, said:
“The CHA program gave us an opportunity to create an ecosystem where learning, mentorship, and fun, competitive basketball all worked together,” he said. “The young people built meaningful relationships with their peers and mentors while being challenged to grow both on and off the court. Some of the most impactful moments came through our conversations around emotional and mental health, where our young people were able to open up, share their experiences, and engage in powerful discussions. It was encouraging to see basketball become a vehicle for connection, personal growth, and community.”
Over the past several weeks, teenager Jason Goins Jr. has not only worked on his fast break – but his finances – thanks to the innovative program.
“We’re learning about financial literacy, learning about taxes, learning about different things,” he said. “We learn more than just basketball.”
Participant Cyrus Lake Jr. said:
“My summer at PeacePlayers went very well because I got to explore the path of basketball and learn about financial literacy that can help me in my career and figuring out what I want to be,” Lake Jr. said.
Most of CHA’s summer programs kicked off June 24.
Other programs included: Become an Animator, Become a Filmmaker, Be Your Own Boss, CHA Student Internship Program, Day Camp Counselor in Training, Summer Mural Program, Learn and Earn: Career Connections, Next Level Photography, Summer of Code, and Summer Youth Employment Program.
“When I started, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect,” Goins said of PeacePlayers. “Since then, I’ve had so many new experiences. And I will know what to do when I get a lot of money, and how to work with money.”
