Nike and Special Olympics have reached a new three-year global partnership “aimed at expanding access to youth sports and improving training for Unified Sports coaches.” Unified Sports, a Special Olympics program, “places athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams.” The initiative “builds on Nike’s more than 20 years of support” for Special Olympics Oregon and “will focus on Oregon, Berlin, Johannesburg and Tokyo.” The partnership will “update coaching materials, train more volunteer coaches and increase opportunities for girls and young women in sport.” The announcement came during Special Olympics’ Global Week of Inclusion, “celebrating 57 years of the organization” (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/16).
Rec Sports
Two Firefighters Earn EMTB Certification – Peak of Ohio
The Huntsville Volunteer Fire Department is celebrating two of its own, after Firefighters Erik Weeks and Amy Stevens successfully completed their Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMTB) certification. Both Weeks and Stevens recently passed the state-required exams and are set to begin serving in their new roles once their certifications are officially processed. The milestone expands the […]

The Huntsville Volunteer Fire Department is celebrating two of its own, after Firefighters Erik Weeks and Amy Stevens successfully completed their Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMTB) certification.
Both Weeks and Stevens recently passed the state-required exams and are set to begin serving in their new roles once their certifications are officially processed.
The milestone expands the department’s emergency medical response capabilities and reflects the continued commitment of its team members.
Stevens will also volunteer her EMT skills with Wayne Township Fire & Rescue.
“We’re incredibly proud of Erik and Amy for their hard work and dedication,” the department shared. “This is a big step forward—not just for them, but for the entire community.”
Rec Sports
Utah’s Ultimate Athletic Destination Is About to Level Up
Farmington, Utah, is a game-changer for youth sports. The best multipurpose facility in the state is opening to the public, drawing a myriad of sporting events from across the country to its state-of-the-art facilities. Western Sports Park is a 55-acre campus featuring a new 120,000-square-foot arena and 17 acres of playing fields, with an updated […]

Farmington, Utah, is a game-changer for youth sports.
The best multipurpose facility in the state is opening to the public, drawing a myriad of sporting events from across the country to its state-of-the-art facilities. Western Sports Park is a 55-acre campus featuring a new 120,000-square-foot arena and 17 acres of playing fields, with an updated 60,000-square-foot existing facility. And that’s just the beginning of what you can find at Utah’s Ultimate Sports Destination.
Every attendee will feel like a champion when they step into Western Sports Park, whether they’re on the court, in the field, or cheering from the stands. The innovative campus is a multipurpose mega-playground built to support the entirety of the youth sports industry. Western Sports Park (also known as WSP) is just as capable of hosting a festival, trade show, or corporate event as it is a statewide tournament.
Unbeatable Amenities
Beyond the WSP’s outstanding new facilities, competitors and spectators will experience amenities that redefine the standards of sports travel. The campus excels in providing elevated venues for traveling team sports with a 2,000-seat championship field, full concession capabilities, and over 2,000 parking spaces for attendees.
Training and team facilities, as well as private referee spaces and flexible office and meeting rooms, all accumulate into a destination that redefines the word “dynamic.”
Championship Attractions
Western Sports Park is an easy win for event planners, even beyond the court. It’s conveniently located just a short walk from plenty of lodging, dining, and entertainment options. Station Park mixed-use lifestyle center sits just across the street, elevating attendees’ free time with the opportunity to browse popular brands and grab essential goods from reliable shops.
For entertainment, Lagoon Amusement Park more than delivers the thrill, while Antelope Island State Park surrounds visitors with stunning mountain views and majestic wildlife unlike anywhere else. Over 500 miles of hiking trails ensure that another adventure always awaits. And, if visiting during the winter months, skiers and snowboarders are never more than an hour from nine of Utah’s acclaimed slopes.
Start Planning
Traveling to Davis County is simple. Salt Lake City International Airport is just 20 minutes from Farmington, meaning attendees are only a short UTA FrontRunner ride away from Utah’s Ultimate Athletic Destination.
The Discover Davis County team is ready to assist you in planning your next event. Don’t leave it up to chance—you’re guaranteed a win when you host your event at Western Sports Park.
Book your next event in Utah’s Amusement Capital. Visit discoverdavis.com/sports to learn more.
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Nike, Special Olympics ink youth sports partnership
Nike and Special Olympics have reached a new three-year global partnership “aimed at expanding access to youth sports and improving training for Unified Sports coaches.” VCG via Getty Images Nike and Special Olympics have reached a new three-year global partnership “aimed at expanding access to youth sports and improving training for Unified Sports coaches.” Unified […]


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7/17/25: ‘From a correctional facility to an educational facility’ – NowKalamazoo
Graduates of the IGNITE program at Kalamazoo County Jail attend a ceremony to celebrate their completion of the program on July 2, 2024. Photo by Raine Kuch. Earnest “Bear” Spencer completed his 10-month sentence at the Kalamazoo County Jail in October 2024. Now, he has hopes of going back – but for a different reason. […]



Earnest “Bear” Spencer completed his 10-month sentence at the Kalamazoo County Jail in October 2024. Now, he has hopes of going back – but for a different reason.
He recalls visitors to the jail, themselves formerly incarcerated and involved in street violence but now building a mentorship program to help people identify self-worth and change their choices.
It’s a local implementation of a national program first created in a Michigan jail and now operated by the National Sheriff’s Association. National data shows it is effective in reducing violence in prison and recidivism when inmates are released. In Kalamazoo County an unlikely partnership is led by the sheriff’s office, the nonprofit Urban Alliance, and a burgeoning street outreach team.
Spencer was among the first cohort to graduate from the program, which connected them with community resources for things like housing and employment services, offered therapy sessions, and helped participants identify their post-release goals.
He looks forward to being able to report to his mentees what he can accomplish, in a future when he can reflect on the steps of his progress. “Maybe, I could say, ‘I don’t have a place to stay yet, but I did find a job,’ and then maybe I could come back in that third month and say, ‘well I got a job and a place to stay,’ then six months later… ‘hey, I just got a car.’ If they can see that, then it gives them something to aspire to.”
Click here to go inside the jailhouse program with reporters Kristie May and Raine Kuch.
It’s that time of year again
Midway through mosquito and tick season, the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is warning that a third of the ticks submitted for testing last year came back positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease or other serious illness. From April until the first frost, ticks and mosquitos are in a prime environment.
The department issued an advisory to the public to protect themselves from tick- and mosquito-related illnesses by eliminating standing water, making sure window screens don’t have holes, wearing clothes that cover skin and use insect repellent with DEET, and checking yourself for ticks after being outdoors.
Lyme Disease symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive skin rash, that starts as a small spot and grows to look like a bullseye. If untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, sometimes causing permanent disabilities. Earlier this month, county officials warned a mosquito that was tested was positive for Jamestown Canyon encephalitis, which is rarely deadly but has flu-like symptoms. – James Sanford, NowKalamazoo
Authority Board members appointed for youth sports complex
Kalamazoo County Commissioners have appointed the members of the new Authority Board that will govern the $40 million youth sports complex to be built between U.S. 131 and Drake Road. The project is to open in 2027. It is funded by a new 4% room occupancy fee being assessed on area hotels, which have the option of tacking it onto customers’ bills.
The 11 members will be responsible for making the plan a reality over the next few years, guiding construction and infrastructure to support it, hiring staff and turning it into an operating facility. The building is envisioned to host basketball and volleyball tournaments on the weekend and provide a space for local youth during the week.
The members are:
- County Commissioner Monteze Morales
- City of Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess
- Oshtemo Township Supervisor Cheri Bell
- Discover Kalamazoo Director of Business Development Brian Persky
- Discover Kalamazoo President & CEO Jane Ghosh
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Area Director of Sales & Operations Fred Rahme
- Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Kalamazoo Regional Manager Devshya Patel
- The Hinman Company Chief Operating Officer Rich MacDonald
- Southwest Michigan First Executive Vice President Jill Bland
- United Pursuit and Pursuit of Excellence Director Corey Person
- Next Level Sports Center General Manager and Integrator Annemarie Boarham.
– John McNeill, NowKalamazoo
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Youth minor baseball champions! | News, Sports, Jobs
Lake Placid’s Cascade Builders youth minor baseball team won its league championship on Friday, July 11, against the other Lake Placid-based team, Holzer Spray Foam. The game was played at the Lake Placid Youth Athletic Association fields. Pictured from the Cascade Builders from left, in the front are Brody Langford, Jace Marra, […]


Lake Placid’s Cascade Builders youth minor baseball team won its league championship on Friday, July 11, against the other Lake Placid-based team, Holzer Spray Foam. The game was played at the Lake Placid Youth Athletic Association fields. Pictured from the Cascade Builders from left, in the front are Brody Langford, Jace Marra, Cole Cassidy, Tyler Bruce, Grayson Castonguay, Jacob Ano and Craig Jopling. In the middle are Shannon Corliss, Calvin Piorkowski, Wyatt Thomson and Hollis Hobday. In the back are coach Todd Corliss, coach Lee Jopling and coach Andrew Thompson. (Provided photo — Alicia Brandes)
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Youth Leaders Program Shaping Community Champions in Oceania | About FIBA
SUVA (Fiji) – The FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders Program has concluded in Fiji with 20 participants from 11 nations across the Oceania region taking part in the 2025 edition of the program. Aligning with FIBA’s strategic priority of Youth Development, the core focus of the program is to facilitate, and empower the next generation of […]

SUVA (Fiji) – The FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders Program has concluded in Fiji with 20 participants from 11 nations across the Oceania region taking part in the 2025 edition of the program.
Aligning with FIBA’s strategic priority of Youth Development, the core focus of the program is to facilitate, and empower the next generation of leaders on, and off the court through Basketball For Good initiatives.
“It was an inspiring week to be amongst other youth leaders from the region,” Cook Islands Youth Leader Brianna Lewis said. “Learning about how we can make a difference in our communities through Basketball For Good highlighted the important role we play in educating the next generation of ballers about more than basketball.”
The in-person component of the program followed four online sessions that introduced and elaborated on topics that included communication, diversity, inclusion, leadership, and personal development.
“Having the in-person component of the program compliment the online sessions was highly beneficial,” Ms Lewis said. “The sessions on gender equality, and diversity was really eye-opening, and I think we all sat up, and listened to how we can positively influence our communities back home.”
Hosted in Suva, Fiji, this was the first time the program was hosted outside of Australia, and New Zealand, with the host country providing participants with insight into grassroots basketball development in the region.
“As a visual learner, watching the Hoops for Equality program in action on our first day was a game-changer,” Vanuatu Youth Leader Terrence Coleman said. “That initial observation, combined with their explanations and my peers’ insights, drove home a crucial point: the success of the drills isn’t just about the movements, it’s about the powerful message embedded within them.”
Supported by the FIBA Foundation and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the extended collaboration significantly boosted the regional offering with FIBA Executive Officer – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins highlighting the importance of these partnerships to elevate program sustainability in the region.
“The FIBA Foundation Youth Leadership Program is an important initiative within our region, and the added support from MFAT this year enabled us to really elevate how the program was delivered and can be sustained when Youth Leaders return to their home countries,” Ms Jenkins said. “Longevity of FIBA grassroots programs in the region like Youth Leaders this will not only underpin the future of basketball, but provide communities with a unique way to educate, inform, and empower the next generation.”
Acting Head of Mission, New Zealand High Commission, Suva, Alex Shahryar-Davies, attended the opening ceremony of the workshop and emphasised the importance of youth leadership programs being integrated through sports.
“New Zealand is proud to support FIBA’s Youth Leadership program through our Pacific Sport for Development Fund, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to sport in the Pacific,” Mr Shahryar-Davies said.
“We believe sport is a powerful, unifying force, capable of transcending divides, fostering positive change, and engaging youth in critical issues. This is especially true in the Pacific, where sport is often woven into the community fabric. We recognize the immense talent, energy, and potential of Pacific youth, and by providing them with the right tools, we are confident they will become the leaders who will positively transform their communities and the world.”
Youth Leaders will now return to their home countries to put into action their program learnings by conducting their own Basketball For Good projects with mentorship from FIBA staff.
About FIBA Youth Leaders
The FIBA Foundation’s Youth Leadership program is a global Basketball For Good initiative giving youths the skills and opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. The Youth Leaders are supported to create their own community impact project, growing the Basketball For Good family worldwide.
About MFAT
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trading (MFAT) is New Zealand’s link to the world, shaping foreign policy, trade, and providing development support, especially in the Pacific. They champion youth development and international cooperation for a better global future. With a commitment to youth development and regional partnerships, MFAT’s strategic objectives aligns with the FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders program goals of fostering leadership and creating positive social impact across the Pacific.
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We Love Us: ESSENCE, Master P Join Community Organizations to Curate Youth Empowerment Experience, Resource Fair – Essence
For 55 years, the ESSENCE brand has proudly driven meaningful impact through intentional, locally rooted activations, and this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture is no exception. In partnership with hometown hero Master P, ESSENCE’s “We Love Us” Community Day brings together leaders and organizations of all backgrounds to offer a wealth of resources to New […]


For 55 years, the ESSENCE brand has proudly driven meaningful impact through intentional, locally rooted activations, and this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture is no exception.
In partnership with hometown hero Master P, ESSENCE’s “We Love Us” Community Day brings together leaders and organizations of all backgrounds to offer a wealth of resources to New Orleans youth and families who may be unable to attend other ESSENCE Festival of Culture programming and events that typically take place in the heart of the city. To switch things up a bit and cater to the broader community, this impactful and carefully crafted event takes place at the University of New Orleans (UNO) Lakefront Arena, where Percy “Master P” Miller was recently named president of basketball operations and is affectionately known as “Coach P.”
Arguably one of the greatest and most prolific hip hop artists of all time, Miller says he is closing his music chapter – after his farewell performance on the final night of the 2025 ESSENCE Evening Concert Series – to focus on giving back to the city that made him who he is today. “I’m going to coach basketball and make history again, helping kids get into college and doing the right thing,” Coach P says. “It was an amazing ride. I put my faith and trust in God and I’m ready for the next chapter.”
One of the main attractions at the all-day, multi-generational community experience was the youth basketball clinic, designed specifically for the next generation of New Orleanians. Coach P and his all-star lineup of coaches – including “Coach” Spectacular Smith of Pretty Ricky and rookie team members of the New Orleans Pelicans – run some simple yet intense drills with the young ballers, while also giving them life skills they can transfer outside of the game, like the importance of teamwork, taking care of yourself and never giving up.

“This is the place to show the kids that there’s more to life than just entertainment, sports,” Coach P shares. “We want to be able to show them the importance of education and making sure you’re taking care of your health. This is the way we’re going to save our kids.”
As youth participation climbs inside UNO’s practice gym, families explore the ultimate health and wealth pavilion inside the main arena, where various resources are being offered by several community organizations, including the Black Heart Association (BHA), Bexa Equity Alliance (BEA), Operation Restoration, and more.
“Wherever our people are is where we want to be,” says Frederick Robinson, co-founder of BHA, whose mission is to save lives and eliminate heart disease in the Black community. “We’re trying to change the narrative of heart disease and bring access, information, education, and empowerment to our people and anyone who wants to take advantage of what we’re offering.”
Robinson and his wife Tara, a three-time heart attack survivor, founded BHA together in 2016 after her final near-death experience. He says God sent her back to do this work, and they have been hitting the ground running and filling the gap within the community ever since.
“We started off just raising awareness…because believe it or not, we, as Black people, are at risk. But the beautiful thing about it is 80 percent of heart disease can be prevented just by lifestyle changes. So we’re just trying to let people know that none of this is a death sentence if we’re willing to kill old habits, old behaviors, old ways of thinking…and put our health at the forefront of our thinking and what we do and how we move. It’s not for us but for the people that we love and the people that depend on us.”

Alongside free heart health screenings, breast cancer screenings were available to guests at no cost as well, thanks to BEA. “We are deeply honored to partner with ESSENCE to bring vital, lifesaving Bexa breast exams directly to the heart of New Orleans,” says BEA’s executive director and six-year breast cancer survivor, Tiara Neal. “This inaugural, community-led event is more than just a service; it is a movement rooted in purpose, equity, and love…because when we meet people where they are – with compassion and care – we help build healthier, stronger communities from the inside out. Thank you to ESSENCE for showing up and showing out for the local community.”
Another community partner helping curate this family-friendly initiative is Operation Restoration, a New Orleans-based nonprofit that supports women and girls impacted by incarceration. “Our work is rooted in supporting and empowering women, making this partnership with ESSENCE even more impactful and meaningful,” says Syrita Steib, the organization’s founder, president and CEO, and cousin of Coach P. “It was really important that we create an opportunity to give back to the community and support the children in the neighborhoods that are adjacent to where the ESSENCE Festival happens. Together, with the help of ESSENCE, Coach P, and all of our community partners, this shows how we are being intentional about how we engage and show love to our community.”
One of the main attractions inside the Lakefront Arena was the Lux Laboratory Neauxla – a new entrepreneurial venture created by the young women part of Operation Restoration’s mentorship program, Operation Girls. Through creativity and connection, these bosses-in-the-making – whose parents have been touched by the criminal legal system – got to explore the meaning of being self-made by debuting their line of lip glosses, candles, and perfumes they all made with their own hands during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. Nearby, financial educator and strategist, Dr. Jatali Bellanton, hosts a workshop to share key insights on building generational wealth. In addition, L’Oréal Groupe – in its shared commitment to promoting a more inclusive vision of beauty through Black joy, artistry, and resilience – joins in on the fun by giving back and offering free products to community day attendees.
“In New Orleans, culture, community and commerce come alive like nowhere else,” says Varsay Sirleaf, ESSENCE’s senior director of community and global engagement. “Our goal with this inaugural Community Day activation is to give back to a city that has given so much to us. By creating a culturally rich, high-impact day of service rooted in wellness, empowerment and community joy, we are not only amplifying ESSENCE’s social mission but also demonstrating the true meaning of loving and taking care of one another.”
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