Preventing youth violence in Philadelphia takes center stage at town hall for coaches, leaders, advocates
Organizers said the event was designed to go beyond presentations, giving attendees a chance to collaborate, network and share ideas. Participants identified barriers facing youth organizations — including limited funding, a need for more training, and gaps in support for young people transitioning into adulthood. Attendees also used their phones to vote on which solutions could have the most impact in the next six months.
Police Athletic League Executive Director Erica Vanstone said that kind of feedback is critical.
"We said, let's just sit down and figure out how we can collaborate around what our pressing needs are, what the biggest problems are, and how we could move forward together," Vanstone said.
Coaches and program leaders described how challenges in the community often follow young people onto the field.
"We know that so many teenagers now are getting caught up in so much mishap out in the streets," said Marc Bredell, a coach with the City Youth Association Gators. "So just changing the culture of that age group in the city."
Others emphasized the importance of addressing those issues beyond athletics.
A Philly youth sports organization is creating an award named for Dawn Staley
The award's first winners are the women's basketball coaches of the Big 5: Diane Richardson, Mountain MacGillivray, Denise Dillon, Cindy Griffin, Mike McLaughlin, and Amy Mallon.
North Philly native Dawn Staley is getting a little more love from her hometown.
The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative this week announced the creation of the Dawn Staley Legacy Award.
The award was created to honor those who have shown strong leadership and have made an impact on expanding basketball within the community, especially for women and girls, according to a news release. The award is meant to showcase Staley’s impact on women’s basketball on the court and in the community.
It will be presented at the Philadelphia Sports Legacy Honors on May 20 at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center. The inaugural winners of the award are the head coaches of the Big 5 women’s basketball teams: Diane Richardson (Temple), Mountain MacGillivray (La Salle), Denise Dillon (Villanova), Cindy Griffin (St. Joseph’s), Mike McLaughlin (Penn), and Amy Mallon (Drexel).
“Dawn Staley’s impact goes far beyond wins and championships,” Beth Devine, executive director of the PYSC, said in the release. “She has changed what is possible for women in sports and continues to inspire the next generation. It is only fitting that the first recipients of this award are the coaches who are carrying that work forward right here in Philadelphia.”
Staley coached the Temple women from 2000-08, leading the program to six NCAA Tournament appearances. She has coached at South Carolina since 2009 and has won three national championships.