(WBBM NEWSRADIO) --- Basketball courts across Chicago are missing something crucial: Rims.
“There’s a narrative that basketball brings violence and there’s no research that shows the correlation between taking rims down and reducing violence in the neighborhood,” said Jahmal Cole.
Cole is CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, a local nonprofit that provides mentorship and opportunities to youth from divested neighborhoods. Cole said basketball provided him an opportunity to escape on the court — now he wants to help Chicago youth do the same. His organization started the Save Streetball campaign to reinvest in communities and install new rims and nets around the city as needed.
“Taking the rims down is not reducing violence, but putting them back up can expand kids horizons,” said Cole.
The nonprofit organization aims to work with the park district and community leaders to activate the community spaces once they’re open. Cole said basketball can provide children with more opportunities for connection and positive mentorship.
“We’re not seeing soccer goals being taken down, or volleyball nets being taken down, or tennis nets being taken down, but they’re taking down basketball rims,” said Cole.
His team visited around 100 parks over the weekend to better understand the communities they’re serving. Cole estimated 40 rims were taken down and 120 nets were missing.
“Parks belong to everybody. Especially with the summertime coming up, youth need something to do,” said Cole.
Youth-focused restrictions have created desolate parks all over Chicago. Cole emphasized the importance of basketball in communities and the relationships the courts can cultivate.
“You can also quasi-mentor the youth when you’re on the court. You can build relationships, you can meet your neighbors, it’s mentally healthy to do,” said Cole.
You can learn more about the Save Streetball initiative here.
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