Community Building - Changing the Game

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Boston’s community of Youth Link partners hold an annual Changing The Game Basketball Tournament. The Changing The Game Tournament unites 100 teens and police as teammates in a day of round robin basketball with three youth and two police officers per team. The Tournament has been held three times and planning is underway for 2014. Adidas has been the tournament sponsor each year, providing Adidas sneakers and clothing to all players and supporting Youth Link services at Boston’s Franklin Field Housing Development.

The Changing The Game event has evolved into a full day of sports, community barbeque and a performance of Hoop Suite, a critically acclaimed Hip-Hop Opera, starring Boston youth including several teens from the Youth Link program. The event has built and sustained bonds between police, youth and families. The Youth Link team can help any community develop similar models for building their own positive youth culture.