CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - This week’s difference maker is stopping young Black men and women from being in the middle of violence, a repetitive cycle of poverty and miseducation.
Eric Davis is a retired police officer and executive director for The BASE Chicago in West Garfield Park. He believes his organization is changing the neighborhood’s negative narrative.
“There are two narratives that we are working on,” Davis said. “It is the narrative that the larger community has, but it’s also about that internal narrative that we believe about ourselves. We just want a true narrative, and our narrative about our community about our kids has not been fair.”
Take a peek at The BASE Chicago social media accounts, and you’ll see photos, videos of kids playing baseball and football, youth at its most vibrant, real connections and real celebrations of community.
The BASE Chicago annually provides support for hundreds of neighborhood youth toward the goal of college education, with an emphasis on giving back.
“The three things we do, we’re going to do academic enhancement , we’re going to do community service, and they’re going to play sports because we think those things give you a well-rounded background,” Davis said.
Retired firefighter and The BASE Chicago’s Director of Baseball Operations Frank Brim further explained why the organization includes sports.
“In order to get them in, we knew we had to have something that they want in, so why will kids flock to The BASE Chicago? It was for the sports. It was because we created an environment that was conducive to their safety. It was a place where they wanted to come,” Brim said.
Kids with The BASE Chicago not only play sports for fun, but, in the process, gain discipline and respect for self and others.
Davis said their kids have varying expectations.
“A number of our kids are not thinking about playing on the NBA team or the NFL team or the MLB team, but we do have a lot of kids that are thinking about only the NFL team, the NBA team, and they’re getting the type of instruction and knowledge to say, ‘how does that happen?’” Davis said.
The BASE Chicago has received substantial support from heavy hitters such as Theo Epstein.
“Pearl Jam created our computer lab here. Jeremy Renner gave us a music studio,” said Davis.
Kids benefiting from The BASE Chicago programming owe the organization nothing, added Davis, but they are taught that they do owe a debt to their community.
“Frank and I are 60-years-old, what’s probably going to happen in the future is there’s going to be a younger person sitting in our seats, and that’s fine. But, ultimately, if Frank and I could wrap it all up this year and fire ourselves, and there was no need for us to provide these kinds of services in this community, that would be fine too.
“As an organization, we look to put ourselves out of business to be quite honest,” Davis said.
The BASE Chicago is a difference maker changing the narrative in West Garfield Park.
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