Keila Beachem To Launch Mentoring Organization for Young Girls
Keila Beachem To Launch Mentoring Organization for Young Girls
By Christopher Shuttlesworth
Keila Beachem, a former Chicago Blaze professional basketball player,
recently decided to launch a non-for profit organization to mentor young
female athletes and guide them to a successful career path.
Beachem, who grew up in Chicago, said she retired from professional
basketball five years ago and became a ComEd Construction Supervisor, but realized she still had a lot of basketball in her to teach to kids who can’t afford to participate in certain activities.
“We want to mentor and give those kids in need, sports education as well as life skills,” Beachem said. “The idea is to receive sponsors and donations where we can reach and help kids who are unable to get to basketball practices or kids who can’t pay for a particular sports camp.”
She continued to explain that being a part of professional teams both in the United States and overseas, helped her develop skills that she uses not only on the basketball court but in life today.
“Growing up and developing yourself in a basketball world definitely prepares you for life after basketball more than anything in the world,” Beachem said. “You develop leadership skills, work ethic, diversity and a level of communication and personalities that you don’t realize that you’re getting in the sports world.”
She said in order to reach these types of skills, education must be a priority because you’re not an athlete first but a student.
“The most important thing is to educate yourself in any way you can,” Beachem said. “With sports, there is a different level of discipline, focus and leadership and as you transition into adulthood these things will prepare you for the next level of success.”
Beachem said she understands that it’s not always easy to go into a class or a basketball practice and give it 100 percent of your focus but that is what being a professional is all about.
“You go into class or work, and you do what you don’t feel like doing anyway,” she said. “If you go to class, work with this work ethic then it will prepare you to go to the next level.”
Beachem said while her non-for-profit organization for young girls is still in the developing stages, her team will be launching its first Crusade initiative in Feb. 2018, with spring basketball camps in mind.
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