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The
National Midnight Basketball League was founded in 1986 by the late G.
Van Standifier in Glenarden, Md. The late G. Van Standifier
initiated the program, a late night summer basketball league for older
teens, in response to escalating crime reates and evidence of drug
related activities in the Glenarden Township. The program operated
between 10pm and 2am three nights weekly during the summer months.
The season was divided into regular and championship tournament
sessions. Young men between the ages of 17 and 25 are eligible,
with proof of county residence, on a first come reserved basis.
This program was started as an
alternative for young adults to drugs, crime and other problem
activities. Midnight League gets kids off the streets by offering
late night basketball and mandatory education, counseling, mentoring and
personal development workshops in a safe environment. Midnight
Basketball helps develop discipline and direction plus provides
participants a source of pride and accomplishment.
The Midnight Basketball League was
funded entirely by the local business community and staffed by
volunteers. During the initial summer, the program operated
without incidents and with increasing public Support. In fact, it
proved to be a great source of pride, even for those who opposed it at
the begining.
On April 12, 1991, President Bush
visited Glenarden, Md. to celebrate National Community Point of Light
Week. the President named the Midnight Basketball League, Inc. the
124th Daily Point of Light. |
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After
researching cities in October 1993 who operated Midnight Basketball
Leagues, we recognized that the Chicago Housing Authority ran the best
program of the 40 or more cities who had a league. The Chicago
Housing Authority main concern was the education of the participants in
life management workshops whose topics include: employment training,
drug intervention and education opportunities. Participants had to
attend the workshops in order to play in the games, in which the entire
community was involved; local business, law enforcement and other
government agencies as well as the citizens of Chicago.
Tony Adams visited Chicago and met with
Gil Walker, the commissioner of the Chicago Midnight League program and
received an enormous amount of information on the logistics of the
program as well as the requirements for implementing this program.
After Mr. Adams had witnessed this program first hand, he was convinced
this would be a great program in which our community would embrace.
In July 1994 the first games of Midnight Basketball was played.
Each week players are required to
attend a mandatory educational workshop. These workshops foucs on
employment fairs, health topics, drug intervention, educational
opportunities and voter registration. Males age range is from 17 -
25 and women 15 and older. |
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