The providence community basketball league, managed by the greater providence ymca, aims to reduce crime and promote positive community engagementamong at-risk young adults through organized sports…

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $220,000 Project Grant under the Congressionally Recommended Awards (CFDA 16.753) program to the Greater Providence Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) to support the Providence Community Basketball League. This initiative aims to reduce crime and promote positive community engagement among at-risk young adults in Providence, Rhode Island through organized sports activities and life skills workshops. The program partners with local law enforcement and community organizations to offer basketball games and address key issues such as drug use, gang involvement, and strained police-community relations. The grant will be used to measure the project's impact through qualitative and quantitative evaluation of changes in participants' behavior and engagement levels. The goal is to provide a sense of community ownership, enhance community-police relations, and guide young adults toward positive life choices and academic success.

The providence community basketball league, managed by the greater providence ymca, aims to reduce crime and promote positive community engagementamong at-risk young adults through organized sports activities. Inspired by the successful midnight basketball league, this program provides a structured environment during peak times of youth-related disturbances. Partnering with local law enforcement and community organizations, the program offers basketball games and life skills workshops to participants, targeting key issues such as drug use, gang involvement, and strained police-community relations. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, the projects impact will be measured by evaluating changes in participants' behavior and engagement levels. The initiative seeks to provide a sense of community ownership, enhance community-police relations, and ultimately guide young adults toward positive life choices and academic success.