DARBY BOROUGH – Police and community members gathered on the basketball courts at Darby Recreation Center on Saturday to get to know each other and end the gun violence – some playing in honor of Quincy Long, 14, shot and killed earlier this month.
Ed Brown, one of the event’s sponsors, Men of Action Brothers of Faith Inc., assembled a group of Long’s friends to participate in the Balling Against Gun Violence event.
“It was a way for them to honor their friend and also do something they love to do, which is play basketball,” Brown said. “And they’ve played basketball with him many times, so it’s a way for them to bond with him, to compete in his honor.”
Darby Borough, Race for Peace and Urban Navigation hosted the second Balling Against Gun Violence at Darby Recreation Center. Men of Action Brothers of Faith Inc. provided the popsicles, pretzels, hot dogs and hoagies.
Hameen Diggins was co-organizer of Balling Against Gun Violence, president of Race for Peace and co-founder of Urban Navigation.
“We want to show that everyone can be in one place and get along,” Diggins said. “It brings a certain amount of humanity to things because there is a lot of mistrust. It comes from a lack of knowledge of each other. Trust must be established between the community and law enforcement and vice versa.
So one remedy is to bring these groups together – police and youth – in a fun environment and learn more about each other.
“We have families, young people, we have law enforcement,” Diggins said. “We have them in one place, all together. You would think it’s the NBA. They play their heart. They adore him.
“When you combine the two, you get an education that is not taught anywhere else,” he added.
Among the bands playing on Saturday was a group of friends from Quincy Long.
Quincy Long, 14, was shot and killed on July 1 while a group of children were playing with a gun in Upper Darby. A few days later, 16-year-old Jermaine Young turned himself in to police and was charged as an adult with third degree murder and other related offences.
Long had just graduated as an honor roll student at Beverly Hills Middle School.
His friend, Makel Bayer, wore a shirt with Long’s image and the words “Long Live Quincy”.
“He loved playing basketball,” the 16-year-old said of his friend. “He was kind, genuine, liked to play basketball. He was a clumsy guy, he liked to joke.
State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-1st Dist., whose district covers parts of Philadelphia and Delaware counties, visited — but did not play — at the event.
He provided $500 to Quincy Long’s family and spoke about the event, noting that growing up he didn’t have to worry about gun violence.
“To me,” Williams said of the organizers of Balling Against Gun Violence, “they create memories for generations.”
The Haverford Police Department has hired a four-member force for the legal action – Sgt. TJ long, sergeant. Rob McCreight, Officer Joe Fuller and Officer Joe Adamski.
“It’s important that the community sees us as something outside of police officers, that we’re just regular people,” Long said. “We are part of the community. Seeing ourselves like this makes us more accessible when we work. They won’t be afraid to come here and talk to us.
McCreight agreed, adding that police want the streets to be safe as community members do.
Recalling his time at Chester Police Department, he said: “Interacting with young people is the best way to develop relationships.”
The reason Haverford participates in this and many other community policing events throughout the year is to let the community know that the police are there to be with them, the sergeant said.
“Let them get to know us from another side – don’t see us in uniform,” McCreight said. “It’s about having fun and connecting with the kids.”
Race for Peace is an organization that brings together law enforcement from various departments in the Delaware Valley, including Philadelphia, Haverford, Radnor, Tredyffrin, and Lower Merion, to engage the community, often in casual settings but also at summits to have conversations about race and the police. Founded by Andrew Howell, the organization aims to strengthen the relationship between the police and the communities they serve by building communication and building trust.
Philadelphia-based Urban Navigation reaches out to inner-city youth by engaging in events like Saturday’s basketball event or poetry to help these young people lead successful, productive, and violence-free lives.
“We use things that interest them and we use them as teaching mechanisms,” Diggins said of urban navigation, adding that it extends to Delaware County as well.
Noting that mental health workers assist with city navigation, Diggins likened it to a GPS.
“A GPS picks up where you left off,” he said, then comparing it to their work with young people. “We try to help them reach a different destination.”
Diggins also expressed his gratitude to the Men of Action Brothers of Faith for sponsoring the event.
The first session was held last year at the Darby Recreation Center and Diggins anticipates it will be an annual event allowing law enforcement to interact with children they wouldn’t normally interact with.
“It brings love and respect,” he said.
For young people, it helps to occupy their time and it gives them a new vision of the police.
“Give them something to do other than be on these streets,” Diggins said, adding that the program is meant to help “redefine the definitions that people have been given incorrectly.”
The event aimed to bridge a gap between these communities while instilling valuable life lessons in the young participants.
“A lot of times we forget to tell young people that we see greatness in you,” Diggins said. “The best award the school has ever had has improved the most.”
He said organizers of Saturday’s event wanted everyone in attendance to feel seen.
“We want to do for young people,” Diggins said. “We let these young people know that we see you. “Listen, we see you. During this event, listen, you are all most improved. ‘”
DARBY BOROUGH – Police and community members gathered on the basketball courts at Darby Recreation Center on Saturday to get to know each other and end the gun violence – some playing in honor of Quincy Long, 14, shot and killed earlier this month.
Ed Brown, one of the event’s sponsors, Men of Action Brothers of Faith Inc., assembled a group of Long’s friends to participate in the Balling Against Gun Violence event.
“It was a way for them to honor their friend and also do something they love to do, which is play basketball,” Brown said. “And they’ve played basketball with him many times, so it’s a way for them to bond with him, to compete in his honor.”
Darby Borough, Race for Peace and Urban Navigation hosted the second Balling Against Gun Violence at Darby Recreation Center. Men of Action Brothers of Faith Inc. provided the popsicles, pretzels, hot dogs and hoagies.
Hameen Diggins was co-organizer of Balling Against Gun Violence, president of Race for Peace and co-founder of Urban Navigation.
“We want to show that everyone can be in one place and get along,” Diggins said. “It brings a certain amount of humanity to things because there is a lot of mistrust. It comes from a lack of knowledge of each other. Trust must be established between the community and law enforcement and vice versa.
So one remedy is to bring these groups together – police and youth – in a fun environment and learn more about each other.
“We have families, young people, we have law enforcement,” Diggins said. “We have them in one place, all together. You would think it’s the NBA. They play their heart. They adore him.
“When you combine the two, you get an education that is not taught anywhere else,” he added.
Among the bands playing on Saturday was a group of friends from Quincy Long.
Quincy Long, 14, was shot and killed on July 1 while a group of children were playing with a gun in Upper Darby. A few days later, 16-year-old Jermaine Young turned himself in to police and was charged as an adult with third degree murder and other related offences.
Long had just graduated as an honor roll student at Beverly Hills Middle School.
His friend, Makel Bayer, wore a shirt with Long’s image and the words “Long Live Quincy”.
“He loved playing basketball,” the 16-year-old said of his friend. “He was kind, genuine, liked to play basketball. He was a clumsy guy, he liked to joke.
State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-1st Dist., whose district covers parts of Philadelphia and Delaware counties, visited — but did not play — at the event.
He provided $500 to Quincy Long’s family and spoke about the event, noting that growing up he didn’t have to worry about gun violence.
“To me,” Williams said of the organizers of Balling Against Gun Violence, “they create memories for generations.”
The Haverford Police Department has hired a four-member force for the legal action – Sgt. TJ long, sergeant. Rob McCreight, Officer Joe Fuller and Officer Joe Adamski.
“It’s important that the community sees us as something outside of police officers, that we’re just regular people,” Long said. “We are part of the community. Seeing ourselves like this makes us more accessible when we work. They won’t be afraid to come here and talk to us.
McCreight agreed, adding that police want the streets to be safe as community members do.
Recalling his time at Chester Police Department, he said: “Interacting with young people is the best way to develop relationships.”
The reason Haverford participates in this and many other community policing events throughout the year is to let the community know that the police are there to be with them, the sergeant said.
“Let them get to know us from another side – don’t see us in uniform,” McCreight said. “It’s about having fun and connecting with the kids.”
Race for Peace is an organization that brings together law enforcement from various departments in the Delaware Valley, including Philadelphia, Haverford, Radnor, Tredyffrin, and Lower Merion, to engage the community, often in casual settings but also at summits to have conversations about race and the police. Founded by Andrew Howell, the organization aims to strengthen the relationship between the police and the communities they serve by building communication and building trust.
Philadelphia-based Urban Navigation reaches out to inner-city youth by engaging in events like Saturday’s basketball event or poetry to help these young people lead successful, productive, and violence-free lives.
“We use things that interest them and we use them as teaching mechanisms,” Diggins said of urban navigation, adding that it extends to Delaware County as well.
Noting that mental health workers assist with city navigation, Diggins likened it to a GPS.
“A GPS picks up where you left off,” he said, then comparing it to their work with young people. “We try to help them reach a different destination.”
Diggins also expressed his gratitude to the Men of Action Brothers of Faith for sponsoring the event.
The first session was held last year at the Darby Recreation Center and Diggins anticipates it will be an annual event allowing law enforcement to interact with children they wouldn’t normally interact with.
“It brings love and respect,” he said.
For young people, it helps to occupy their time and it gives them a new vision of the police.
“Give them something to do other than be on these streets,” Diggins said, adding that the program is meant to help “redefine the definitions that people have been given incorrectly.”
The event aimed to bridge a gap between these communities while instilling valuable life lessons in the young participants.
“A lot of times we forget to tell young people that we see greatness in you,” Diggins said. “The best award the school has ever had has improved the most.”
He said organizers of Saturday’s event wanted everyone in attendance to feel seen.
“We want to do for young people,” Diggins said. “We let these young people know that we see you. “Listen, we see you. During this event, listen, you are all most improved. ‘”