***

Our team worked really hard to provide a unique experience in New Orleans. We want to utilize this event-based strategy to motivate and educate community leaders, student-athletes, parents, sports professionals, and sports fans around the country on the work that needs to be done in the community. GameBreakers provided an intro to the importance of Building the Game Behind the Game ™. The work off the court is just as significant as the work on the court and we introduced this concept to the coaches and student-athletes in attendance.

During the Summit, student-athletes learned how vital accountability partners or mentors are and the important role they play. Our panel was excellent and provided a perspective on the influence of sport on males from childhood to the professional levels. We’re looking at ways of effectively impacting the pipeline that has been built.  Guys had the opportunity to hear from college coaches, athletic directors, and even personnel from an NBA front office.

One of the coolest moments was getting on the Real Talk radio broadcast on Saturday morning with Wild Wayne. We thought we were getting bumped from the show, but fortunately we were granted 3+ minutes of valuable airtime. A coach from Southern University hit the road and came over as a result of the radio show.

Sitting in on the sessions was enlightening for me to learn from the facilitators but to also hear the answers to the questions from the student-athletes. During her session, Andrea Riggs asked attendees about their goals. The second young man to respond to the question innocently asked, “What’s a goal? I don’t have any goals.” I knew then that we were on the right track and there is work to be done.

Our format is cool in that we don’t try to preach to the youth and the coaches. We asked that our facilitators foster conversations. We utilize the game format because this is what student-athletes and coaches are accustomed to and can relate to. “Half-time” is about going in and talking thru adjustments, so this is where the panel discussion took place.  This gave our guys an opportunity to hear from their own on how to be successful; it also allowed us to answer any questions they may have had.

We’re thankful to Open Society Foundations, Tides, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Admiral Center, and Partnership for Youth Development (New Orleans) for helping breathe life into GameBreakers. It took a lot of time, talent, and treasure to complete the initial mission. We also would like to thank our corporate partners, Gatorade and Microsoft, for their generous product donations to GameBreakers.

Walking into Dillard University on Sunday morning after planning and moving into execution mode was awesome. We didn’t know what to expect and we had to make some adjustments but God watched over the work we were doing and let us know we were doing the work we should. I always say, I can never predict or determine when or if the NCAA will pay student-athletes, but we can control if these guys are prepared for college and ready to go to the next level.

We hope to align with high school athletic leagues, college associations and professional leagues regarding this work and hope to be their partner on educating high school student-athletes and coaches. We worked diligently and as a result have a commitment to do more work in Detroit and hope to enlist more cities around the country. Work in Durham, NC is underway and selfishly I want to get the work started in Brooklyn, NY and Houston, TX. We’ll see what the future holds for the UWG team.

I’m thankful to my partners Micah Gilmer and Marcus Littles at Frontline Solutions for the partnership and collaboration.

-Joe Branch

Camera Miley

For many hoopers, young and youngish, playing the game of basketball is synonymous with breathing. They just can’t or won’t live without it.  While it’s easy to assume why a person loves the game (the list can go on and on) or when/where that passion originated, first-person information is much doper than third-person gossip.  So let’s hear it straight from a bball lover’s mouth.

Camera Miley is a rising point guard at Midwood High School in Brooklyn, NY.   Like many young student-athletes she has aspirations of taking her talents to the pro level.  The WNBA is tops on her list.  And in the off chance that that doesn’t become a reality?  She’ll become an athletic trainer or physical therapist for a professional team, of course!  Yep, basketball is still her “fall back” plan.  That’s real love…

***

The Game I Love by Camera Miley

Since the age of 5 I have been playing basketball at a program called Claver Youth Program in Brooklyn, NY. This program started at my elementary school, Williston Academy. From there the program relocated to P.S.56, another elementary school. My whole love for the game started there, along with the help from my dad. I was the only girl in the program at the time and all the boys admired me, but they were also jealous of me because I was better than half of them. After being teased, a girl who played basketball as a hobby would have given up. Not I; basketball was more than a hobby to me even at the age of 5.

As the years went on, I continued practicing and watching the game of basketball.  When I was enrolled in junior high school, I was the only girl who played basketball as much as the boys. Throughout JHS I played in an all-girls high school tournament, Rose Classic. I was 10 years old playing against a ton of 14-18 year old basketball players. I kept playing, kept practicing, and kept watching professional games to become a better player. I never gave up, and I always had a goal to reach the next time I entered the gym or park.

I currently still play in Rose Classic and I have improved a lot. I continue to work out in the gym, even when basketball isn’t in season. I play in the summertime as well as winter, spring, and fall. I enjoy the game of basketball, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get to the next level.

My supporters, parents, coaches, mentors, friends all help me reach my goal and I am very appreciative of them. The game of basketball gets me excited just watching it. Watching the professional games and college games just makes me more inspired to one day be where they’re at. I love the competition, the blood, sweat, and tears put into the game just like any athlete would for the sport that they play. As I get older I see myself growing and growing a lot more as an individual player. I hope that one day all my hard work and hours in the gym pays off.

***

During a summer basketball tournament in 2009, Camera dropped 52 points. It’s safe to say her that her hard work and long hours in the gym are already paying off.  By the way, her Mom provided that incredible stat.  Mom’s are always the best score-keepers!

Keep dropping dimes, Camera. You’ll be rockin’ a fresh WNBA uni soon.

-Tracee Loran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Trang Hamm, tran...@gmail.com, (503) 780-1624

March 30, 2012

Local high school athletes, coaches, and youth development experts will gather in New Orleans for a student-athlete summit using sports to bolster young black males’ confidence, education, and positive self-image. GameBreakers, a summit organized by UWANTGAME and supported by the Open Society Foundations’ Campaign for Black Male Achievement, will take place on Sunday, April 1, at Dillard University. The event coincides with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Championship.

Several well-known figures from the sports world, including ESPN sportscaster Mike Hill, will be leading the summit’s interactive workshops and a panel discussion on personal, professional, and academic development. The  panel, titled “The Influence of Sport on African American Males,” will feature leaders representing high schools, universities, athletic organizations, and professional sports teams, including Talman Gardner (McDonogh 35 College Prep), Vic Richard (New Orleans Recreation Development Commission), Bernard Griffith (Dillard University), Keith Gill (American University), and J.J. Polk (New Orleans Hornets).

“Athletics is an excellent platform for building up young men,” said UWANTGAME executive director Joe Branch. “Many have what it takes to play well and compete on the playing field, but off it, they struggle. GameBreakers is meant to help young men succeed not just in sports, but in the classroom, their homes, and employment.”

Almost 80 percent of black males participate in organized sports. Coaches typically become mentors and huge influencers in their lives and need better tools to help them navigate complex life issues.

“As a football coach, I know about that desire to reach young athletes and mold them into men,” said Frontline Solutions’ Micah Gilmer, who is leading the GameBreakers coaching workshops.  “We want to address that desire by offering a series of workshops tailored to coaches.”

“Our school is extremely happy to join with GameBreakers and allow our student-athletes a second to none experience in terms of reaching the next level of success,” said Edna Karr High School athletic director Roch Weilbaecher.

UWANTGAME helps high school student-athletes reach their potential in academics, athletics, and personal growth through one-on-one mentoring relationships with successful former collegiate athletes. Serving as a co-organizer of GameBreakers is Frontline Solutions, a social change organization that is helping change happen. The Admiral Center and Tides also are supporting and collaborating on GameBreakers.

For more information, visit uwantgame.org/gamebreakers and follow @UWANTGAME on twitter.

###

Jordan Coleman

By TRACEE LORAN
Tra...@TheSocialiteDesign.com

Sixteen years old is too young to be a filmmaker, right?  Sixteen years old is too young to be a filmmaker with a profound message, right?  Sixteen years old is too young to do inspiring work that can impact copious lives, right? Apparently somebody forgot to clue 16-year-old Jordan Coleman in on that myth. Because not only did this inspiring high school junior create an important film with a profound message, he has set out on a nationwide tour to spread the word.

Jordan’s film Payin’ The Price is a different sort of boy meets girl romantic saga.  Boy meets girl. Boy woos girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy hits girl?  Therein lies the problem.   And Jordan wants you to understand just how much of a problem it really is.

Before we go on, it’s important to set the record all the way straight. Jordan wasn’t 16 when he directed Payin’ The Price; he was 14.  And he isn’t just a filmmaker; he’s an actor, a model student, and a two-sport athlete.  Yep, he’s baaad like LL Cool J, Michael Jackson, and Shaft (The original; no disrespect to Sam)!

Tracee Loran recently caught up with the quadruple threat during the Brooklyn leg of his Speak Up and Get Out film tour to talk film, sports, Donovan McNabb, and why he wants to challenge Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Xbox.

◊◊◊

TL: I understand that Payin’ The Price wasn’t your first film. What was your first?

JC: Say It Loud, which is a documentary about the importance of education for African-American boys.

TL: What inspired you to make a film or want to become a filmmaker?

JC: When I was ten years old I became the voice of ‘Tyron the Moose’ on [Nickelodeon’s] Backyardigans. My Mother said I couldn’t spend all of my money buying video games or buying [Air] Jordans, so I had to help out my community.   So I thought about making a film. I saw how a lot of African-American boys were not focusing on their schoolwork; they were focusing on being the next Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. So I got all of their favorite celebrities; I put them in a film and I asked them questions about how education got them to where they were.  We made Say It Loud; then we did a 7-city tour. I saw how people enjoyed the film, so I decided I wanted to continue making films.

TL: What prompted you to make Payin’ The Price?

JC: After the 2009 Chris Brown/Rihanna situation, a lot of my friends were choosing whether Chris Brown or Rihanna was right. So I did research and found that 1 in every 3 teens are victimized through teen dating violence, which is scary. So I decided to make a cautionary tale about teen dating violence, because I think this is a serious issue that we need to stop.

TL: Why is it so important for you and for your peers to know about this topic?

JC: It’s important because 1 in 3 teens can become 3 in 9 and 3 in 9 came become 9 in 27; the numbers can get bigger and bigger…We live in an overpopulated world as it is, so the number is already gonna be substantial.

[Sidebar: Your eyes do not deceive you. Jordan was 10 years old when he directed his first film!]

TL: Good for you; congratulations!

JC: Thank you.

TL: Are you going to do any more acting?

JC: Backyardigans was a great experience; I loved doing it and if the opportunity is there, I’ll definitely do it [again].

TL: But you’re more concentrated on film?

JC: Yes.

TL: What do you want your peers to gain from this film?

JC: I want them to understand that teenage violence is not ok. And if you are in an abusive relationship, then you need to “speak up and get out.” That’s the name of my campaign; that’s the name of the film tour. Speak up and Get Out [focuses on] if your relationship isn’t healthy or isn’t safe, then you need to get out of the situation.

TL: Do you think a lot of the teens are afraid to speak up?

JC: Definitely. I asked a lot of my friends from school who have been in abusive relationships [that question]. And they said that they loved them [the abuser] and they were afraid to leave the relationship, whether it’s because they buy them gifts or treat them nicely. I think it’s sad that someone is blind to the fact that you are being physically and emotionally hurt. You don’t understand that you need to get out of the situation.

TL: What do you want to say to your friends who are your age or even younger about being inspired to do great things and not being limited by their age?

JC: Dream big dreams.  I’m just an average kid. I play high school football, I play high school basketball, but I aspire to be great. Basically, I just dream big and I work hard at it.

TL: I was going to ask you about your athletic prowess.  So you play both sports?

JC: Yes.

TL: Which one do you like best?

30-second timeout

JC:I like football. Football is my sweetheart.

TL: Really? What position do you play?

JC: I play running back. I play linebacker also.

TL: Ok, so you’re on “O” and “D?!”

JC: Yes.

TL: Okay! [They both laugh] Why do you like football so much?

JC: I just like that it’s strategic and you get to get physical. I like being physical and I like taking my aggression out on sports and that’s the best sport for it.

TL: Which team do you rep?

JC: Eagles! Eagles all day.

TL: Oh, ok. Are you guys originally from Philly?

JC: No, we’re from Jersey.

TL: Ok, so why the Eagles? You’ve always been an Eagles fan?

JC: I’ve always been an Eagles fan. I liked the Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens combo.

TL: Donovan is from my hometown – Chicago. [Tracee never misses an opportunity to rep the Chi.]

JC: Oh, really?

TL: Yep. I think he’s gotten a raw deal over the past few years.

JC: Definitely.

Taking a breather

TL: He’s a really good guy and I hate the way his career has gone.

JC: Uh huh.

TL: But I digress. [Both laugh] I’m a big sports enthusiast. What do you feel is so great about sports?

JC: I think sports can relate to life. Hard work and dedication pays off in sports and also pays off in life. I think sport is a good life lesson. Without sports people wouldn’t have jobs and without sports people wouldn’t have something to look forward to.  I look forward to playing sports on Friday nights, but in order to play on Friday nights I have to maintain a great GPA, and I have maintain being an upstanding citizen. I feel like sports keep people on their Ps & Qs.

TL: UWANTGAME is one of the organizations sponsoring this film event. One of their missions is to really uplift young black men. If you would speak to that a little more…What do you think sports can do for young black men even if they don’t go on to play pro ball?

JC: Sports can get them into school. You can get an education just for playing sports. I just feel like going through sports is a great key to connect to kids. It doesn’t have to be black or white or anything like that, it can just connect to kids. But I feel like African-American boys excel in sports; that’s one [area] that we’re great in.  Not everyone is going to be the next Kobe Bryant and not everyone is going to be the next Donovan McNabb, but you can utilize the skills that you have in sports to get an education or a free ride in school.

TL: Awesome. I totally agree.

TL: If you had the opportunity to hang out with any African-American historical figure, just straight up chill, play Xbox, basketball, or football. Who would it be and why?

Jordan wih his parents, Sen. Eric Adams (Bk.) and Chrisena Coleman

JC: Probably Martin Luther King, Jr. One, because I’m always talking about him. Two, because he seems like he was a pretty laid back guy.  He knew what he wanted, but yet there was still the Martin in him.  It’s not always going to be Dr. Martin Luther King; he has a little Martin in him, so I feel like that would be kind cool to play Xbox with Martin Luther King. [Laughs]

TL: And by “a little Martin in him,” you mean he’s just a regular ol’ dude?

JC: Yes.

TL: Finish this sentence. In five years I…

JC: …will continue to make films and hopefully be a big-time filmmaker.

TL: Get that Oscar®?

JC: Yes. Get that Oscar®!

Jordan addressing students at Bloomfield College

◊◊◊

Jordan may feel like he’s “just an average kid.” But he definitely has above average ambition and talents for a person of any age.  Do not be surprised if you see him stutter step past Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Spike Lee, or his favorite filmmaker Tyler Perry, to snatch that Oscar®.  Because this is one 16-year-old on a path to greatness!  Check out the schedule to see if Payin’ The Price and the Speak Up and Speak Out tour will be coming to your city soon.  And, if your town isn’t repped, I’m sure Jordan can pull some strings to get it there. He’s baaad!

Marquis Barnett

If life were played in two halves like the game of basketball, Marquis Barnett’s first half was short in minutes and long in suffering. The 19-year old Queens, NY native has endured more heartache and pain than most people three times his age.  Homelessness: Along with his Mom and two siblings, Marquis has lived in four shelters in four different boroughs throughout New York City. Tragedy: Marquis’ brother Tavon, who was autistic, died in a fire that the young boy accidentally started when left unsupervised. Violence: Nearly four years ago, Marquis had to rescue his Mom from the claws of an abusive boyfriend who was choking the breath and life out of her.

Fortunately, Marquis’ story does have a second half – one filled with hope, love, and redemption.  And in his second half, he is surrounded by amazing people who have shown what compassion truly means such as his long-time girlfriend, Shalyce Blue; his UWANTGAME mentor, Rodrick Seay; and his Cardozo High School basketball coach, Ron Naclerio, who championed for Marquis to play ball on the collegiate level. Now a freshman at Quinnipiac University – light years away from previous strife – the 6 foot 8 forward is crashing boards for the Division-I squad on a full ride.

Writer Tracee Loran caught up with Barnett at a recent QU game against St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.  What she discovered was not a young man who was scarred and angered by his harrowing past. (One might expect that and could possibly understand.)  Instead, who stood before her was a mature young man with a commanding presence and a gentle spirit. His words were brief, but profound and showed that Marquis refrains from looking back and dwelling on negative circumstances. He’d much rather spend his time looking toward a more promising future.

***

Marquis guards against the pass

TL: How did you manage to avoid the pitfalls that many young men often fall into?

MB: It was all about my Mother.  She taught me how to be humble and stay positive in tough situations. I stick with that. [Also by] making good decisions.

TL: What kind of people have you surrounded yourself with?

MB: A lot of good people that helped me with food, clothes, and stuff like that throughout my high school days.

TL: What did you discover about humanity through your experiences?

MB: Treat people the way you want to be treated.

TL: And what lessons have you learned?

MB: A lot. Too much!

TL: What’s the number one lesson?

MB: Don’t complain. Stay positive.

TL: Because complaining gets you…

MB: Nowhere.

TL: What has the game of basketball meant to you?

MB: I love basketball. Basketball is life.

TL: And where would you be without it?

MB: I would be in the streets.  My Mother couldn’t afford college, so I used basketball to get to college.

TL: This is National Mentoring Month.  I know you have a very good relationship with you mentor, Rodrick.  What has that relationship meant to you?

MB: That’s my man! He’s like my best friend; I text him all the time. He would give me money to get something to eat with my girlfriend.  I would go over to his house.  He had a tutor for me to help me with my SATs.  She tutored me in math, so that was good.

TL: What would you say to young people to convince them to get a mentor?

MB: It’s good for now and the long run.  Like he [Rod] has a lot of connections with a lot of different people.

TL: How did you get involved with UWANTGAME?

MB: I was at Cardozo and my head coach brought us into that program. And I was like, “Alright.” And I just went with it.

TL: You said, “It sounds good.”

MB: Uh huh.

TL: What are your big dreams?

MB: I just want a good job in the future.  That’s it.

TL: Do you have a career path you’re interested in?

MB: My major is Criminal Justice, but…

TL: You don’t know what you’re going to do with that.

MB: Right! (Laughs)

TL: When people look at Marquis Barnett what do you want them to see?

MB: That life is not over when things get rough.

TL: Finish this sentence.  In five years I…

MB: …will be successful. Leading kids the right way, especially kids in my old neighborhood, and giving back to the community.

TL: Speaking of your old neighborhood. Your boys from Cardozo – what do you want them to gain from your experiences?

MB:Be positive. Take academics seriously. Take practice and basketball seriously, because it could lead you down a good path.

Marquis shares a laugh w/T'Ziah Woods-Smith

 TL: I heard Busta Rhymes’ son is your roomie? [Busta Rhymes’ son, T’Ziah Woods-Smith, also plays for QU.]

MB: Yes.

TL: Tell the truth; did you slip him your demo?

MB: (Laughs) Nah. I’m not a rapper. Just 2K [NBA 2K12 video game]

TL: How nice are you?

MB: I’m real nice. I’m Top Dog.

 Half-Time

At half-time the contest was knotted up at 34. Both squads were playing well and each had the chance to pull off a victory.  There was an air of uncertainty about the game’s conclusion; but after speaking with Rodrick during the break, Tracee was convinced that regardless of the outcome, Marquis would stoically rebound and move on to the next.

***

Still smiling...

TL: How much of Marquis’ story did you know before you met him?

RS: None. I met him on a Sunday, then the next Monday I Googled him just trying to find out what his stats were and how he was doing as far as high school basketball.  And all of these articles came up; the Daily News and ESPN had done a piece on him. I read his story and that’s how I found out about him.

TL: What were your thoughts about all of that?

RS: “Wow!” was the first thing I thought, because I had no clue. Talking to him he seemed like a really mature guy; he seemed down to earth and he was having a good time with his friends.  We started talking and he never mentioned it. He never brought it up. I asked him about it one day and he told me; he didn’t have a problem talking about it. He was like, “Yeah that’s what I gotta deal with, so I’m gonna deal with it.”  So really mature beyond his years and I guess being in that situation he had to be, being the man of the house.

TL: When did you see your relationship evolve? Was there a defining moment?

RS: He texted me one day and he was like, “I gotta question about financial aid.” And I said, “What’s your question?” So I told him to call me. He called me and we talked. I didn’t want to push, so I let him warm up to me first.  He would call or he would text every now and again. I went to a couple of his games and we began talking. He’s still kind of a shy guy, not real talkative. You kinda have to pull it out of him, but he was pretty quick to warm up.

TL: How long did it take before he sent that original text message?

RS: About two weeks. Not too bad.  But he didn’t actually start speaking…it took about a month and a half.

TL: How has this mentorship relationship helped you?

RS: I’m glad I was able to do it, because although I wasn’t in the same situation as Marquis, I wish I had had someone to [mentor] me. I felt like I had a lot of information to give to him and help him in his transition from high school to college. And it’s been fun.  I don’t have any brothers or sisters, so he’s been more like a younger brother.  He would call and ask for advice and we would hang out. So it’s been good. It’s been a very fulfilling relationship.

TL: I can’t imagine all of the things that he’s been through during his 19 years.  What have you taken from him and just how he’s handled everything?

RS: Don’t complain.  I get that.  We complain everyday about things we may have been going through.  But I’ve never had to live in a shelter; I’ve never had to fight anyone off of my mother.  Resilience.  He stayed resilient and he’s like, “Man, I’m gonna be the first one in my family to go to college.” And he did it. We sat down and made some goals…and he was able to reach those goals.

I had a friend tutor him for the SATs and he [Marquis] was living in Staten Island. But he went to high school in Queens, so he would come to my house in Harlem.  He would catch the train from Queens to Harlem; do two hours of tutoring and [go] all the way down to Staten Island.  He never once complained like, “Nah I can’t make it, it’s too far, I don’t feel like doing it.” Never once complained.  I bought him a burger and he was good to go. Just resilience. He’s very resilient. He persevered through all of it and it’s paid off.

TL: It says a lot about his character.

RS: Yes.

TL: I’m sure he appreciates you.

RS: Yeah he lets me know.  He’s good about saying, “Hey man, thanks.”  He’s not a man of many words, but I understand. I get it.

TL: What enjoyment do you get out of watching him play ball?

RS: It’s good because that same attitude that he has when you meet and talk to him carries over to the court.  He doesn’t stop. He plays hard. Never argues a call. When he’s on the bench, he’s the loudest one on the bench cheering his teammates on. And [whether] he plays or not, he’s the same guy. If he has a bad game he gets down, naturally, but he doesn’t let it bother him for too long.  It definitely carries over. You can see that same strong will when he’s out there on the court.

TL: What can other people take away from Marquis?

RS: Think twice before you complain because it can always be worse.  And if you want to do it you can do it. For the younger folks, try to get involved with mentorship organizations. There are a lot of them out there. Just be receptive.

TL: How important is mentoring?

RS: It’s a great opportunity for both parties involved.  I became the male figure in Marquis’ life – or one of the prominent male figures in his life – because he didn’t have that at home. So it was just an opportunity to give him young man advice. And for me, I learned from him.

***

Post-Game

The Quinnipiac Bobcats lost to the St. Francis Terriers in a 1-point nail-biter, 73-72.  Marquis’ time on the court was short and he didn’t get an opportunity to pad his stats that particularly day.  But if Mr. Barnett’s history is any indication, a single game will not dictate future success. The Native New Yorker has proved to be a true warrior on and off the court. What exactly does this mean?  That “The Fat Lady” hasn’t even warmed up yet.

Marquis throws one down during practice