One Brooklyn
October 20, 2015
BROOKLYN, NY, October 20, 2015: On Sunday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams led hundreds of young athletes in their sports gear and team uniforms, along with their parents and coaches, in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge as he called for greater city access to safe spaces for play. Representatives of the dozens of local teams participating in the effort, comprising over twenty different athletic disciplines, gathered at a rally prior to the step-off, where they spoke about the positive impact that youth sports has had on addressing childhood obesity, gang violence, and social development issues; Borough President Adams addressed his own experience growing up with youth sports and the value it had for him.
“Some of the most impactful experiences on my life and the lives of countless Brooklynites were from involvement in youth sports, learning the values of teamwork and discipline that can only come from active play on the field,” said Borough President Adams. “I still exercise because I had an introduction to it at a young age. Additionally, if we want to break down gangs, we need to build up teams. A child with a football in his hand won’t have a gun in his hand, and a child wearing a uniform on the basketball court can wear a black robe on the Supreme Court.”
Borough President Adams renewed his call for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to open up public schools to all groups seeking to use the space for positive youth and community development outside of school hours. He noted that New York City has 1454 public school buildings, with 441 in the borough of Brooklyn alone, and that the structures are left vacant or are unreachable during non-school hours due to schools charging hundreds of dollars an hour to utilize space.
“DOE property is an extension of community resources, and those resources must be accessible to the critical youth sports programs in our community,” said Borough President Adams. “If we care about the health and wellness of our children, if we care about their holistic growth, and if we care about them making good choices rather than falling into dangerous street activity, then we will open the doors to our gymnasiums and fields. Let them play!”
“Both youth and adult sports in Brooklyn need a vital injection,” said Tywan Anthony, player/owner for the Bedford-Stuyvesant Crusaders, a semi-pro football team for athletes ages 18-24. “We need more facilities and resources. Sports, no matter what the sport is, play a extremely important component in Brooklynites’ lives. For many, their football, their karate, their skating is the only outlet they have in a city where rents are raising and their borough is getting more crowded by the day. Sports help our inner city young adults in ways that many may not realize. The Bedford Stuyvesant Crusaders and the minor league football world thank Borough President Adams for shining a light on an issue that many in government overlook.”
“Borough President Adams is not only working to revamp our Brooklyn community, but his efforts extend further than his voice,” said Jamael Lynch, founder of Big and Little Skills Academy. “His desire to create an environment where all youth can take full advantage of their community, that includes the schools and other public spaces, for the mere benefit of keeping our youth active and healthy, is not just admirable, but honorable. Borough President Adams is a being of change and a beacon for empowerment.”
“Our student athletes were excited about representing their school and campus at such an important event,” said Tommy Torres, assistant principal of Grand Street Campus High School in East Williamsburg. “Sports have had such a positive impact in the lives of our students and coaches. It was great to see so many of them walking with us in support of additional resources to help continue sports programs in all our schools and throughout all communities in Brooklyn. I’m a product of Pop Warner Football, Little League and PSAL Baseball, which helped to keep me and so many of my friends off the streets and focused on our future. We thank Borough President Adams for his leadership and commitment to students of Grand Street Campus HS.”
Following the march, participants gathered at a youth sports expo at Brooklyn Borough Hall, offering resources for families and giveaways for local athletic events; the sponsors of the Brooklyn Youth Sports Walk and Expo were Global Mixed Gender Basketball, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and Target.
“This just proved that the power of sports in our community can make a big difference; people from all ethnic groups attended to support Brooklyn,” said James Scott, CEO and founder of Global Mixed Gender Basketball. “We also witnessed a leader, Borough President Adams, show that he can really rally support from his constituents, and his staff seems to be very accessible to the public.”
“Modell’s Sporting Goods is proud to continue our relationship with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President,” said J.C. Albano, community marketing coordinator for Modell’s Sporting Goods. “It was amazing to see so many organizations that participate in our Team Weeks Program join the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I look forward to continue helping our Brooklyn sports teams and I’m excited to work with more organizations throughout the borough. More power to Borough President Adams and his team on another successful event!”
“It is a pleasure to be able to support events like the Brooklyn Sports Walk and Expo that directly support fitness and well-being in the communities in which we serve,” said Kelly McGarrity, New York Metro community captain for Target. “Volunteerism is how we give to our communities as team members and as individuals; Target donates food, provides volunteerism to local community food banks, as well as partners with a number of organizations to promote safe and healthy communities.”
PHOTOS
Calling for greater city access to safe spaces for play, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams leads hundreds of young athletes in their sports gear and team uniforms, along with their parents and coaches, in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Calling for greater city access to safe spaces for play, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams leads hundreds of young athletes in their sports gear and team uniforms, along with their parents and coaches, in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Calling for greater city access to safe spaces for play, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams leads hundreds of young athletes in their sports gear and team uniforms, along with their parents and coaches, in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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