Late Night Basketball & Its Role in Crime Prevention
Written by Tabitha Ervin
Started a little more than three years ago as a collaboration between Fort Wayne UNITED and the Renaissance Pointe Y, the Late Night Basketball program has developed into a program that works as a crime prevention tool for young men ages 16-25.
On Saturday nights between the hours 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., for various sessions throughout the year, the late night basketball program provides not just pick-up basketball games but a safe place for young men to play and engage with community leaders, mentors and positive role-models, job opportunities, health checks, and more. Over 400 young men have been served throughout the three years and on average there are 75 participants each session.
Originally a lead volunteer for the program, Amos Norman, now Executive Director at Renaissance Pointe, continues to manage the program on Saturday nights. "This program is not simply basketball,” Norman said. "We make sure we talk about accountability, setting goals, and rising to the occasion. We make sure that they actually are taking advantage of these situations. Additionally, the YMCA location is a touchpoint in the community where we will see many of these young men on a regular basis. This continued mentorship and accountability breeds success."
Norman continued. "With every two out of three young men that come to Late Night basketball experiencing some type of violence, it is important that they have this positive community resource in a neighborhood that they call their own.”
Over time, the program has gained various partnerships with organizations such as Parkview Community Nursing led by Carmen Moore, Ten Point Coalition, Fort Wayne Metals and many others. These organizations have stepped in to support by providing needed resources to young men such as health checks and job opportunities.
"It's cool that people will come and volunteer their time for guys they don't really know and make them better," said 19-year-old participant Ronnie Miles.
Iric Headley, Director of Fort Wayne UNITED, said of the program: “The Fort Wayne UNITED late-night basketball program has been a great vehicle that we have used to keep our young leaders safe during the hours that violent crime statistically peaks, while exposing them to much more than just basketball.
“Under the guidance of [Executive Director] Amos Norman, this effort has matured into a safe haven and source of exposure, encouragement, and engagement for youth, but more specifically young African-American males. We brought this program from Memphis and New Orleans, but it has definitely found another welcoming home in our great city.”
The Late Night Basketball program is typically in session for six weeks at a time.
For more information about participating or partnering, including start and end dates, contact the Renaissance Pointe YMCA, the Fort Wayne UNITED Facebook page, or the FortWayneUNITED.org website.