Introduction to the Basketball Camp
Jariah Allen, 16, is a serious three-sport athlete. But Saturday morning, she wasn’t competing against her peers, but rather connecting with them and sharing her own athletic prowess at the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp. She was among the 250 kids of currently or formerly incarcerated parents who spent the day shooting hoops with a former professional basketball player at Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park.
The Experience of the Children
The kids — a subset of the 6,800 that Angel Tree serves in Chicago, and 11,000 statewide — were also given Nike basketball shoes and a basketball as they entered the gym. Almost immediately, dozens of balls were flying into hoops. Jariah, who plays basketball, football and softball outside of Angel Tree events, was one of the older participants. Having been with the Angel Tree program since she was 5 years old, she said it was nice to see the cycle of healing continue with younger kids.
Connecting with Others
Davon Stokes, 13, reacts as he sees a pair of free shoes at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Prince Gill, 5, runs with a ball at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Kids play basketball at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Serenity Suggs, 7, and Asiya Oceans, 4, look at the free shoes they received at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Kids fit shoes they received at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Alijah Smith, 9, holds a box of free shoes at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday. Kids play basketball at the Hope Student Athletics Center in Garfield Park, where volunteers and kids of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents participated in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp on Saturday.
The Impact of the Camp
Jariah, who plays basketball, football and softball outside of Angel Tree events, was one of the older participants. Having been with the Angel Tree program since she was 5 years old, she said it was nice to see the cycle of healing continue with younger kids. “It’s just very welcoming in a way,” Allen said of the one-day sports camps. “It’s a lot of kids going through the same thing, so it’s good to see younger kids coming in so they can see others are going through that too.” Former University of San Diego standout Brandon Johnson — not to be confused with Chicago’s mayor — who played with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Summer League before he was sentenced to six months in federal prison in a sports betting scandal in 2013, gave the children a motivational speech after joining other coaches and volunteers in running drills with the kids.
The Role of Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson, a former NBA player, runs basketball drills with kids at the Angel Tree one-day sports camp held for 250 kids whose parents were or are incarcerated. His own parents were incarcerated while he was growing up, so he is not only able to mentor the kids on the court, but also connect with them over the trauma they share. Johnson said a camp like this would have meant the world to a younger version of himself. “If I had this in the third grade,” Johnson told a Sun-Times reporter, trailing off. “Nobody sat me down and told me, ‘Hey, your mom is about to be separated from you for the rest of your life.’ … It just gives them an outlet and someone to say, ‘I’m here.’”
The Events Director’s Perspective
Nikki Mattison, Angel Tree’s events director, also grew up with parents who were incarcerated. Though they were released decades ago, and she has since grown close with them, she said the stigma attached to having parents in prison felt alienating, but could have been lifted if she had been around others in the same situation. “There was shame associated with it,” Mattison said. “I felt like I was the only one ever who walked this earth with that. … If I was able to get into a room with other children whose parents were incarcerated, it would’ve been massively impactful.”
Conclusion
The Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp is a unique and powerful program that brings together children of incarcerated parents to heal and connect through sports. With the help of former NBA player Brandon Johnson and other dedicated volunteers, the camp provides a safe and supportive environment for kids to share their experiences and find comfort in the company of others who understand what they are going through. As Johnson said, “God took the worst thing in my life and made it the greatest. … I can feel at peace with it.” The camp is a testament to the transformative power of sports and community, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for healing and redemption.
FAQs
Q: What is the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp?
A: The Prison Fellowship Angel Tree sports camp is a one-day program that brings together children of incarcerated parents to play sports and connect with others who share similar experiences.
Q: Who is Brandon Johnson and what is his role in the camp?
A: Brandon Johnson is a former NBA player who volunteers at the camp and provides mentorship and support to the children. He also shares his own experiences of having incarcerated parents and how it has impacted his life.
Q: What is the goal of the camp?
A: The goal of the camp is to provide a safe and supportive environment for children of incarcerated parents to heal and connect with others who understand what they are going through.
Q: How many children participate in the camp?
A: The camp serves 250 children of currently or formerly incarcerated parents.
Q: What activities do the children participate in during the camp?
A: The children participate in basketball drills and games, and also receive Nike basketball shoes and a basketball.
Q: What is the impact of the camp on the children and their families?
A: The camp provides a sense of community and connection for the children, and also offers resources and support for their families. It helps to break down the stigma associated with having incarcerated parents and provides a positive outlet for the children to express themselves.
