ESPN unveils refurbished basketball court in Charlotte
(Charlotte, USA): Sports teams, community leaders, residents and young people gathered in Sugaw Creek Park in the northeast area of Charlotte on Saturday for the inauguration of two newly refurbished basketball courts dedicated to the local community and its residents.
The project, led by ESPN in collaboration with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and sport for development organizations love.fútbol and RISE, came together because they believe in the power of sports to center health, wellbeing and systemic solutions to the heart of the community recovery across the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic. By mobilizing the community and ensuring quality programming, this space will serve as a hub for local residents and provide a safe place for young people. The new space and accompanying programming, delivered by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and RISE, aims to provide opportunities for the communities in and around the area, by equipping them with additional tools to help address some of the social challenges they face.
Miranda Thorpe, Vice President of ESPN’s Charlotte Office & Production Management said, “At ESPN, we believe that sports have the ability to transform lives, and we are proud to support and empower communities like Sugaw Creek to unlock the benefits that sports offer. Both love.fútbol and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation have been outstanding partners on this project, helping build this safe space in a community where there is a need and where it can truly make a difference.”
Roman Harper, college football studio analyst for SEC Network and 10-year NFL veteran, hosted the event, which was attended by community leaders, residents and youth.
The refurbished basketball courts will provide access to sport within a neighborhood where 18.5% of families with children live below the poverty level, and only 22% of residents have access to green space (the national average is 28%). Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation (MCPR), the local community partner, will use the refurbished courts to deliver its programming to a range of residents, including those that participate in after-school sports programs, summer camps, senior resident programming and community events.
Project manager, love.fútbol, a global non-profit which enables communities to develop their own sports spaces, led the transformation of the space. Drew Chafetz, Co-Founder and CEO at love.fútbol, added, "ESPN has played a pivotal role in driving meaningful social change through sports. Together, we've expanded access to safe play worldwide and empowered local leaders to deliver projects that leave a lasting legacy. In Charlotte, we're proud to continue our U.S. journey, where our community-driven approach levels the playing field and creates new opportunities for communities of color."
RISE, a national nonprofit which educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations, has partnered with MCPR to deliver a multi-week leadership program for athletes from MLK Jr. Middle School at the Sugaw Creek Park space. RISE programs build skills and create safe spaces to have difficult conversations and equip participants with the tools to be culturally competent and leaders in addressing racism, prejudice, diversity and inclusion. The Sugaw Creek Park program also involved youth participants working together in and learning about the school's community garden, from which produce is donated to local food banks and shelters.
MCPR representative and Charlotte local Peter Cook said, “The Sugaw Creek community has grown tremendously over the last several years. It is important that Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is dedicated to revitalizing our amenities, such as the outdoor basketball courts at Sugaw Creek Park, so that we continue to show how important it is to have beautiful, safe spaces for patrons to engage as a community and focus on wellness. Thanks to ESPN and love.fútbol, this project will not only revitalize the space, but the partnership has also brought about an opportunity to recognize and tell the stories of the people that make this community amazing.”.
Andrew Mac Intosh, Chief Program Officer at RISE added, “RISE is thrilled to celebrate the opening of this facility which will create positive change for youth in Charlotte. Our work with a variety of partners in the community has delivered RISE programs to empower youth as leaders for advancing racial equity, social justice and inclusivity. We look forward to continuing our work in Charlotte and know that many of the young people we work with will enjoy this facility for years to come.”.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
ESPN Corporate Citizenship: Every day at ESPN, we share stories of inspiration and perseverance with the world. We see firsthand how sports has the ability to transform lives, and we are proud to broaden that narrative through our own Corporate Citizenship programs and initiatives.
ESPN Corporate Citizenship encompasses our multi-faceted community initiatives, including employee volunteerism, charitable giving, cause marketing and sustainability, while also utilizing our media assets to reach and uplift diverse communities.
love.fútbol: love.fútbol is an award-winning non-profit dedicated to a safe place to play soccer for every child. The organization engages, mobilizes and partners with communities to plan, build, manage and redefine their own sports spaces as hubs for passion, education and development. Through the passion and power of the world's most popular game, love.fútbol engages communities to ensure that every child has a place to play. Since 2006, love.fútbol has partnered with some of the biggest names in sport, business and non-profit to create safe sports spaces across five continents for nearly 70,000 children, youth and adults to be active, connect, grow and learn.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation offers over 230 parks and facilities on more than 22,000 acres of parkland across the county, including greenways, recreation and nature centers. Park and Recreation is committed to enhancing community wellness through recreation, open space and natural resources, and their facilities offer a variety of services for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
RISE: RISE is a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. Through partnerships and programs, RISE inspires leaders in sports to create positive change on matters of race and equality. RISE programs build skills and create safe spaces to have difficult conversations. RISE equips students, athletes, coaches and administrators with the tools to be culturally competent, effective advocates for racial equity and leaders in addressing racism, prejudice, diversity and inclusion. RISE's vision is to create a nation unified through sports committed to racial equity and social justice.
Think Beyond: Think Beyond is a trailblazing business consulting agency transforming how sports
driven by purpose is good business. Think Beyond is part of the Benchmark portfolio of companies, a dynamic global enterprise driving innovation through sport. Many of the sports world’s top brands, franchises, governing bodies, media organizations, and personalities trust Think Beyond to provide purpose-driven programming and revenue enhancing strategies, including Liverpool FC, LIV Golf, Bloomberg, The North Face, TCS, the IOC, and more. Having helped develop this initiative with ESPN, Think Beyond provides ESPN with strategic consulting, program development, and communications support as they refurbish safe spaces for communities centered around the power of sports.