DETROIT – On the surface, our Go 4 It event next Wednesday is about helping kids get shoes so they can get on the basketball court.
But it’s much deeper than that.
“We can’t do everything from an enforcement standpoint,” Detroit police Deputy Chief Tiffany Stewart said on Wednesday (April 8). “We have to do some things from a holistic standpoint. So, we came up with this.”
“This certainly goes with our efforts to serve and protect, with the goal focused on youth right now, based on the increase in youth violence,” Stewart added. “Everybody’s goal is to impact youth violence, and again, we understand it can’t just be an enforcement approach. We really do have to look at it proactively.”
Part of that approach came when Mayor Mary Sheffield launched the new office of neighborhood and community safety back in February, an office that will act as a hub for community-driven violence prevention programs, something that Detroit PAL has been doing since it was founded in 1969.
Next Wednesday’s Go-4-It event is looking for donations of new and gently used basketball shoes and new socks.
It will help PAL’s Hoopin’ with Cops program, a basketball league started by Detroit Police Sgt. Bryant George for boys ages 11 to 17 who use the game to build trust, connection, and mentorship.
“We have positive interactions with youth from various communities so that we can hopefully deter crime and give them something safe to do this summer,” Stewart said. “Part of that, obviously, and thank you for assisting in this, is getting the word out and asking the community, quite frankly, to help with donations of gently used gym shoes, and brand new socks.”