DETROIT – Detroit community violence intervention groups took their work into the field this spring, launching a free flag football league to give teens a safe place to play and support that goes beyond sports.
“They give you an opportunity to show your best and do your best. Every single last one of these coaches, they’re here to help you get better,” said Martell Jones of Denby High School.
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On Friday (May 22), the organizations held flag football championship games at the Chandler Park Fieldhouse Dome.
The league is part of a broader effort led by Detroit CVI groups, including Team Pursuit and FORCE Detroit, to connect teens with mentors and provide structure and skills they can use in tense situations.
“It’s really about us, really focusing in on conflict resolution, how to really self-regulate those emotions when there’s kind of intense situations, how do they remain calm,” said Quincy Smith, executive director of Team Pursuit. “So we’re teaching them a lot of skills that go a long way.”
Ciera Renee, director of programs for FORCE Detroit, said sports are used as a draw, but the emphasis is on what happens off the field.
“We are using sports as a way to engage them, but it’s what we’re doing off the court where we’re teaching them accountability, emotional regulation,” Renee said. “So we built that into this core curriculum, so when they hit this field, they can also exercise those skills as well.”
The program is designed to remove financial barriers for families.
There are no entry fees, and equipment, including cleats, is provided, so any teen who wants to participate can.
The organizations are part of the city’s broader “Occupy the Summer” initiative, which is expanding teen programming across neighborhoods as Detroit works to curb recent “teen takeovers.”
“It’s rooted in the fact that the teens don’t have these safe spaces, or they don’t have activities that are appealing to them,” Renee said. “So I think when organizations like the CVI groups come together, and they create those intentionally, we have seen some amazing numbers.”
Supporters say the goal is simple: give teens a productive outlet and ensure adults keep showing up.
“They have people that’s continuously around them that’s supportive of them and the decisions that they’re making to be here today,” Renee said. “So I think it’s very important to create those safe spaces for them.”
As part of “Occupy the Summer,” the city is also bringing back midnight basketball, extending recreation center hours, and offering weekly programming on Friday nights in different neighborhoods.