Hoops in the Hood promotes peace and provides safe space

Hoops in the Hood was started by LISC Chicago to provide a safe space for young people throughout the city of Chicago. Photo provided by Jessica Ortiz
Hoops in the Hood was started by LISC Chicago to provide a safe space for young people throughout the city of Chicago. Photo provided by Jessica Ortiz

 Hoops in the Hood promotes peace and provides safe space

By Tia Carol Jones
A basketball program has been able to bridge the gap between young people from the South, North and West sides of Chicago.

Oscar Contreras has seen the difference in the young people who participate in Hoops in the Hood. The program, organized by The Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago, serves young people across the city. It returned this summer for in-person activities after the pandemic pushed a lot of programs to a virtual platform.

Hoops in the Hood served 1,200 youths this year. Now, there is a push to extend it into the fall and spring and even to make it a year-round program. LISC Chicago created the program to provide young people in 17 communities with a safe space. The communities are able to pick the locations and times for the event.

“After a tough year of being inside and distanced from our friends and neighbors, Hoops in the Hood Summer Program was brought back to life in 2021 as a safe public space.  It became as important as ever,” said Meghan Harte, Executive Director of LISC Chicago. “Each year, we are thrilled to work with local community organizations to reclaim public space and build community around sports and connection.”

Hoops in the Hood is just one of the programs the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council facilitates, with the goal of combating the violence that plagues the community. The organization started to participate in the program about 14 years ago and it has been a success.

“It brings out community, it brings out parents, it brings out kids. They’re able to feel safe, it’s a safe environment. We’re showing the community how we care about our youth,” Contreras said.

Hoops in the Hood also shows the youth that the community cares about them. The Locations are chosen in collaboration with other community organizations. The Chicago Police Department also is present during the events. Adults volunteer their time.  Parents are also engaged and support the young people by attending the games. There is an understanding that Hoops in the Hood is for everybody and off limits to any kind of violence.

Contreras has been doing youth programs in the community for 25 years. He used to run the gang program in the community before working with Hoops in the Hood. He has watched the young people grow up and talks to them about making choices. Oftentimes, the young people in the program just need someone to listen to them.

“When they’re out there playing, they’re playing ball. They’re playing what they enjoy. I see them being able to be a kid. They don’t have to look over their shoulders,” he said.

The goal is to bring them together and get them to know each other. This year, the kids from all 17 communities that participated in the Hoops in the Hood were brought together. The young people were put on mixed teams with young people from different communities. Each week, the young people had to talk about what they learned about their teammates from the other communities.

“What Hoops does is to allow the youth to be themselves, without having to represent any organization or trying to be a little tough guy,” he said. “To me, Hoops is not just important for the Back of the Yards community but for all the communities it is engaged in.”

For more information about Hoops in the Hood, visit https://tinyurl.com/yajpkvus.

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