Buffalo – Mayor Byron W. Brown announced today that registration is now underway for the 7th season of ‘Game Changers’. The free 6 week program that combines basketball training with workshops, including life skills development and mentoring, is scheduled to begin Friday, October 12, 2018 and run through November 16, 2018. 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Mayor Brown was joined by a number of partners, including members of the Buffalo Police Department, including community police officers and the BPD Neighborhood Engagement Team (BPD NET), Buffalo Peacemakers, the City of Buffalo Department of Community Services, the North East Basketball Club, Buffalo Police Athletic League of Buffalo (PAL), Kids Escaping Drugs, MVP, MBK, Say Yes Buffalo, as well as city youth and representatives from The Delavan Grider Community Center.
Mayor Brown stated, “This program is much more than a basketball program. Through Game Changers, participants will be introduced to role models, and given a vision of hope and a reminder that through dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.”
Under Mayor Brown’s direction, ‘Game Changers’ started in 2013. Since then, over 1,000 city youth have been provided with a safe place to play ball and learn other life skills on a series of consecutive Friday nights. The program is sponsored in part by the City of Buffalo, the Erie County Division of Youth, and many other community partners.
The upcoming Game Changers program will be held on six consecutive Friday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., running from October 12, 2018 through November 16, 2018 at the Delavan/Grider Community Center and The Belle Community Center. Each session will include a “game changing” message, including Public Service, Character Development, Empowered Youth and Peer to Peer. New this year are two parenting engagement workshops, hosted by the Most Valuable Parent (MVP). The Friday night workshops will be offered November 2nd and November 9th.
All Game Changer participants must register! To register on line, go to buffalony.gov. For more information about the Game Changers program, contact the City of Buffalo Department of Community Services at (716) 851-5887.