2023.03 -- US Storybook 2022 updated 4.14 - Flipbook - Page 73
USING BASKETBALL AS A SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESS AT
POINT GUARD COLLEGE
Point Guard College offers a 5-day, 4-night camp that is intended to “teach players how to think
about the game, be a leader, and run the show.” Their 3-course curriculum spans playmaking,
scoring, and basketball IQ under the premise that “every player deserves to know how to unlock
their potential, and every player deserves to know how to use the game to propel themselves to
success in life”. On separate occasions, young people from Detroit, and Brooklyn had the unique
opportunity to travel in and out of state for PGC camp, and experience life as a collegiate athlete.
Venturing the three-hour Amtrak route to Maryland, Sharron, Tariq, and Jordan of PeacePlayers
Brooklyn made the trek to McDaniel College. Meanwhile in Detroit, a whopping 20 young people
traveled to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a first time out of the inner-city and the
first time on a college campus for most in attendance. This was no vacation, though. PGC attendees
had to stay focused over 8-hour days (1.5 of which took place in a lecture hall).
This was a game changing experience for many of the young people. Sharron from Brooklyn was
one of those youth – the 4-day camp completely shifted his sense of self, or at least from Coach
D’s perspective, it did. “After the camp he became more serious about viewing himself as a student
athlete…the way he spoke about himself changed as a result of the new environment and unique
experience he was afforded. I appreciated the way that the experience influenced Ron and how he
allowed it to propel his confidence and instilled in him a desire that was not present beforehand.”
UNLOCKING CREATIVITY AND CHANGING THE WORLD WITH
AM:PM GALLERY OWNER JOSEPH DIAZ
In July 2022, young people from PeacePlayers Brooklyn had the unique opportunity to visit
AM:PM Gallery, a community art space that aims to create an “opportunity to impact the world
with creativity and unique ways to spread awareness on global issues.” Youth got to sit down
with Joseph Diaz, owner ofJoseph spoke a lot about his journey of building his brand and craft –
comparing the skills he developed within art to how he would develop different skills on the court.
Joseph creates in many different mediums: painting, sculpting, graphic design, drawing and the list
goes on. He encouraged our young people to never stop learning and fine tuning their own crafts.
Siah, one of the young people in attendance, went home with the understanding that hard work is
the core to success, also in art: “The biggest take away for me was that, life can never be planned but
you CAN put in the work and make your final piece of art a success."
PEACEPLAYERS UNITED STATES STORYBOOK
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