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Think Detroit PAL Contact Football League |
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Think Detroit PAL continues to reach more and more children throughout Detroit. In the upcoming 2008 contact football season, three new teams will represent their respective neighborhoods and provide a wealth of opportunities for the young people of Detroit |
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The Bengals, Eastside of Detroit in Osborne, are excited for their first contact football season. Husband and wife, Monica and Andre Brown grew up in Osborne and left shortly after college. As the years have passed, the two have watched the neighborhood change; and noticed the significant drop in after school activities. When Monica realized the potential the contact football team could have, she jumped at the chance to help change her neighborhood. Over 50 volunteers, many who are parents, have created a four-division football program with cheerleaders. Combined, the organization is serving nearly 200 young people in this troubled area.
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Monica, an Ohio State Alum, sees this program growing bigger than sports. She was apart of the marching band at “The Ohio State University” and wants their organization to provide performing arts opportunities, academic support, and college preparation for kids leaving the organization entering the High School level. “Its amazing I was leaving my mom’s house on a Sunday and I saw a group of kids running around in their jerseys. I can already see the change in behavior. These kids have been overlooked for too long.” Monica wants to implement volunteering requirements for their “A” team participants because of the long-term benefits it provides the kids. Monica is excited that they have a strong base of Men to discipline and teach the players positive behavior. “I just want to keep these kids off the streets; it at least gives them a chance.” |
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The Patriots, near the old O’Shea Recreation Center, are lead by Keith Mack who has 19 years coaching of experience with Think Detroit PAL with the Panthers. Keith and his team of over 20 volunteers chose the Think Detroit PAL because of the previous experiences they had as children.
Keith explains, “Having the police involved is a positive thing,. It helps put perspective on things. This year, our goals for this season is to be successful. That means everyone gets through, and gets through healthy.” Keith wants the organization to branch out soon to basketball, softball, baseball, and maybe even hockey. “Parents have been here for 35 years they bring their kids and grand kids to our outdoor carnival we held. One parent started crying she couldn't believe someone wanted to have an event or a team in her neighborhood. Something has to change…this is the start.”
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The organization has 100 football players in four divisions. In addition, they also have 60 cheerleaders. “O’Shea is a nice little facility and it isn’t being used. The kids in that area are really struggling since they closed O’Shea”. “This organization is going to be about more than sports; academics, and nutrition will be the high priority. At least these kids should know how to be healthy.” He is happy to provide parents with a Dad’s Club and a Parent’s Club for social opportunities. “I wanted to be the Patriots because I liked the colors, but mainly because the name represents excellence.” |
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The Westside Cobras, Stein Field and Cody High School, are equally as excited about the upcoming season and the future. The Cobras, who were a team in the 1980’s, have been reborn into a new neighborhood with President Broderick Ruffin leading the charge. While, it has taken years to get this organization back to the numbers it had in it’s first round, today they have 120 players with four divisions and cheerleaders for each team.
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Volunteers went door to door to recruit players; they passed out flyers; recruited kids from the street; and even told kids passing by outside.
The Neighborhood Block welcomed the organization, and the once empty track now has people walking around it in the evening and during practice. “The ultimate goal of the Cobras is to sustain roots in the community, give back, shape, and uplift,” says Broderick. Change is always tough and local neighborhood troublemakers use to come to practice to disrupt it. “The advantages Think Detroit PAL provides includes a police presence that lets the troublemakers know during a few hours everyday they don’t control the neighborhood. Eventually those guys stopped coming to practice, and we even got a couple of them on our team. Those kids were at a crossroads in their life and football gave them something to do positive other than run the street.” VP Grayer commented.
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