By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
Basketball teams composed of boys and young adult men who live in Ward 8 in Southeast Washington, D.C., squared off on the court Dec. 21 to determine who would have bragging rights as their respective division champions.
But for many of the participants, it was far more than just an opportunity to snag a trophy and play five-on-five at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the Washington Mystics (WNBA). The title games also represented a season that enabled the boys and men to find safety in local gymnasiums while avoiding the violence and other dangers that lurked on their neighborhood streets.
The program, called Midnight Basketball and now in its second season, was created by the Ward 8 nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River to reduce violence east of the river and to provide a safe place for youth on weekend evenings. This season, the Washington Wizards partnered with the nonprofit and hosted the finals and closing ceremony.
“Midnight Basketball changed my life by giving me a place to belong. It’s more than basketball; it’s about becoming a better person,” said Kenneth, a participant in the Youth Division Championship.
“When the gym lights are on, the streets are quiet. This program has become the heartbeat of our community,” said Coach Calvin, a member of the coaching staff.
And as one spectator who chose to remain anonymous said, “The Midnight Basketball League is not just a sports program — it’s a transformative initiative that empowers teens and adults. It fosters safer communities and creates opportunities for a successful future.”
Partnerships like the one forged between Building Bridges Across the River and the Washington Wizards illustrate what happens when organizations combine their collective resources to improve the quality of life for beleaguered communities.
In many of those communities, crime and violence are among the greatest ills. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for all children and youth in the U.S. And in Washington, D.C., children were twice as likely to be victims or witnesses of violence compared to the national average, a study by the DC Policy Center found. Further, gunfire impacts youth at nearly all of the District’s 566 public and charter schools.
But instead of throwing their hands up in the air or leaving their fears and concerns on the steps of the police for them to handle, nonprofits like Building Bridges Across the River and formidable organizations like the Washington Wizards are teaming up to combat youth-involved violence.
John Thompson III, senior vice president of Monumental Basketball, attended the two title games and said he’s pleased with the growing number of youths who have become involved with the program.
“We weren’t part of Midnight Basketball during its first season but we’re really glad that we were allowed to partner with them this time around,” Thompson said. “We have men from the community coaching these players – men who know the youth and the streets – and the players respond to them. And it’s a great way for the youth to play organized games of basketball during weekend evenings when they previously only had the streets as an option.”
The Building Bridges Across the River (BBATR) Midnight Basketball program came from a series of community meetings to address the rising incidents of violence in Ward 8. Held at THEARC’s main campus in the summer of 2023, over 150 residents shared their own solutions to address this urgent need. One idea was to restart a Midnight Basketball program at THEARC’s Boys & Girls Club, providing a safe place to play for Ward 8 youth. The league kicked off in March 2024 with seven teams playing every Friday and Saturday evening from 8 p.m. to midnight. The second season started in mid-October and ran through the recent finals and added a youth league. Thirteen teams competed this season, nearly doubling the number from earlier in the year.
Rahsaan Bernard, BBATR president and CEO, said Midnight Basketball exemplifies the goal of the organization since its founding in 1997 – building figurative bridges for residents of the Anacostia community.
“The basketball program has proven to be a great way to attract youth and young adults, and we’ve achieved even greater success since the Wizards came aboard,” Bernard said. “We offer a variety of programs and activities that provide positive ways for youth to have fun and to do so safely. That’s what people from Ward 8 said was needed and that’s what we’re determined to provide for them.”
Scott Kratz, BBATR executive vice president, said the coaches continue to comment on the enthusiasm that Midnight Basketball has sparked within the community.
“If you want to know how we evaluate success, just talk to our coaches,” Kratz said. “One of the coaches said he no longer sees kids from his neighborhood out on the corners during weekend evenings. Now, a lot of them are on the teams that we sponsor. That’s huge.”
However, Lynnita Jones-Morton, BBATR vice president of programming and operations, said there are still challenges that cannot be overlooked and must be resolved.
“We have some kids who want to join a team, but they can’t because there’s beefing going on within several groups in their neighborhoods that could lead to violent encounters,” she said. “But we’re not giving up. Our coaches continue to hit the pavement and knock on doors and that’s making a difference because the youth and families in Ward 8 know the coaches, trust the coaches and have a relationship with them. We’re building bridges – one step and one person at a time.”
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