2023.03 -- US Storybook 2022 updated 4.14 - Flipbook - Page 58
ICEF View Park, a college preparatory school for primarily Black and Hispanic/
Latino young people, embraces a “3 As” approach: academics, arts and athletics. Of
course, that third A, Athletics, is where PeacePlayers comes in. “Every time my kids
come from a PeacePlayers event, they’re pumped. Like even last Monday, I mean, it’s
practice. But when I got here on Tuesday, my kids are just like, ‘Oh my God.”
When Brittanee was a child, her mother raised her on her own and worked nights
to be able to provide. Brittanee attributes the love and support of a league of aunts
and cousins for helping her get through those challenging years. “And then when
you turn to the school side, you knew those teachers that cared. You knew those
coaches that cared, coaches you were able to share stories with.” Brittanee, along
with PeacePlayers and the rest of the ICEF team are creating that village, making
sure that [those young people] know that it’s not only mom that can care. And
it’s not only dad that can care; you can definitely receive pure love and genuine
guidance from the people around you.”
But Brittanee’s not some well meaning outsider - she was actually part of the first
graduating class of ICEF View Park, where she now works. In fact, she’s been a part
of ICEF staff since the year after graduating high school. “Being able to give my kids
something like that, just to be able to say, Hey, I came from here, this is what can
happen, this is what you can do; This is what you shouldn’t do. I think it gives our
kids a better outlook on where they can actually go.”
“As you talk to kids and you start to see, you start to see who you’re supposed to
become for them. And I think that’s kind of what happened to me. I think as I started
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PEACEPLAYERS UNITED STATES STORYBOOK