By Connor Adams Sheets
The Rachel Carson Community Association’s children and adult evening program held a celebration last week for the youth basketball team in its league with the most skills and perseverance, the Blue Team, which won its annual tournament, beating out all opponents.
The event is the capstone of a year of activities for at-risk youth held every Monday and Wednesday evening at the Rachel Carson IS 237 Magnet School for the Arts at 46-21 Colden St. in Flushing.
The free program, which runs from October to April, is designed to keep local urban youth out of trouble and focuses on school and fun to prevent them from turning to less desirable pursuits, according to organizers.
“We founded the after-school program for youth at risk 15 years ago — John Byas, myself and Joe Cantara, the former principal,” said Shirley Bryant, who volunteers to help run the program along Byas. “The concept is to make sure that our students, from fifth-grade to 12th-grade, have a safe haven in the evening.”
This year the program had 148 registered participants who participated in its spring basketball league, ESL classes, computer training, dance classes, homework assistance and other offerings.
Dennis Richards, a junior at John Bowne High School, said he enjoys the camaraderie and options the program provides.
“I like that it lets me and my friends hang out every Monday and Wednesday. It gets us off the streets, you know?” he said. “I also like that it’s people from my neighborhood like Mr. Byas and Ms. Bryant who run it. It makes me feel at home.”
State Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and City Councilman Peter Koo (R-Flushing) handed out the MVP basketball tournament trophy to Young Song of the first-place Blue Team April 21 as youth program participants munched on pizza, laughed and enjoyed the festivities. Song averaged 26.6 points per game during the 2010 spring basketball season.
For more information about the program, visit is237.org.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
