CINCINNATI — Two local organizations are partnering to expand their mentorship program for Tri-State kids.
Nonprofit Brothas Inc. is teaming up with Saturday Hoops to bring the weekly program to New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn.
The church is the newest addition to Saturday Hoops' four other locations. The Saturday morning program aims to give kids a space to express themselves, make new friends and see positivity in the neighborhood.
"We're going to bridge the gap between 'I'm out here doing what I shouldn't be doing' to the other side of 'there's hope, there's success and there's a path,'" said Sean Weathers, Brothas Inc. organizer.
Saturday Hoops offers kids a variety of activities to express themselves, all while cultivating a safe space. Organizers said helping kids stay on the right path starts with those elements.
The weekly program now takes place at five locations in total:
- Lincoln Recreation Center — 1027 Linn Street
- Winton Hills Recreation Center — 5170 Winneste Avenue
- Dudley S. Taft Club — 3504 Washington Avenue
- New Prospect Baptist Church — 1580 Summit Road
- Ziegler Park (Summer Hoops only) — 1322 Sycamore Street
"These kids are stressed out too, but each area of Saturday Hoops is a building block area, so reading, we try to help them with the reading, arts and crafts catering to their creativity," Brothas Inc. organizer Rodni Chambers said. "So every aspect of charity hoops, the kids love it all."
Weathers said Brothas Inc.'s partnership with Saturday Hoops is a match made in heaven. Many of the nonprofit's members call Roselawn their home, and they said they wanted to see something like Saturday Hoops in their neighborhood.
"It's called Saturday hoops, but it's much more than that," Weathers said.
Saturday Hoops is a free event for kids; organizers said anyone is welcome to attend. You can click here to register.
