-- Summer League Led by the Sacramento Kings, Build.Black.Coalition and Black Child Legacy Campaign to Prevent and Interrupt Violence While Creating Positive Connections for Youth --
-- Eight-week Basketball Season for 4th through 10th Graders Begins June 25 --
Sacramento, Calif. – The fifth season of Kings and Queens Rise Co-Ed Youth Sports and Mentoring League launches this week through a partnership among the Sacramento Kings and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation’s Build.Black. Coalition, Black Child Legacy Campaign and My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento programs. Kings and Queens Rise provides young people opportunities to engage in intercommunity activities, which help prevent and interrupt violence. The program is a caring and safe environment where mentors teach community building and sportsmanship.
“We helped launch the Kings and Queens Rise program based on the idea that we all share a collective responsibility in creating safe and supportive environments for our youth,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “Given the latest tragedies caused by gun violence and the compounded trauma, we know this work is more important than ever. We remain committed to providing youth with pathways for success and opportunities to build positive relationships.”
“Kings and Queens Rise is part of the growing network of community-led violence prevention programs throughout Sacramento. The league provides young people opportunities to build community among themselves, across neighborhoods and with trusted adult coaches and mentors,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and The Center, which manages Kings and Queens Rise, Build.Black., the Black Child Legacy Campaign and My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento. “We’re proud to partner with the Sacramento Kings on these social and development experiences for youth that foster pride in themselves and their communities.”
Part of the Sacramento Kings Jr. Kings program, the eight-week basketball season will tip-off on June 25 and run until August 13. Eight teams composed of youth from 4th through 10th grade will participate, one from each of the following neighborhoods: Arden Arcade, Del Paso Heights-North Sacramento, Foothill Farms-North Highlands, Fruitridge-Stockton, Marina Vista, Meadowview, Oak Park and Valley Hi. Games and practices take place throughout North and South Sacramento in community locations. The season will culminate with a tournament hosted by the Kings.
In addition to basketball, this year, Kings and Queens Rise includes a co-ed dance team of up to 30 youth as well as golf clinics and a mobile golf simulator for youth participants and coaches.
To learn more about the first season of Kings and Queens Rise, see the inaugural season impact report here and a video recap here. View a video recap of the second season here, the third season impact report here and a video recap of the fourth season here.
To register a youth participant, fill out the Kings and Queens Rise application. For details about the fifth season of Kings and Queens Rise, visit the Black Child Legacy Campaign web site.
# # #