Newark, NJ - February 27, 2009 - Mayor Cory A. Booker and Neighborhood and Recreational Services Director Melvin Waldrop announced today that the “Black History Scholastic Basketball Challenge” will hold its championship round of action at the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center tomorrow, Saturday, February 28, starting at 9 a.m., located at 211 West Kinney Street. The entrance is on Howard Street.

The “Black History Scholastic Basketball Challenge” is a four-week academic and athletic competition being held on consecutive Saturdays in February, in which six pre-selected teams of 6th-8th graders learn about eras of Black History, and then are tested on the material. Participants who pass the test then compete in a round-robin basketball tournament. In the basketball playoffs, the Boylan Recreation Center’s team will take on the Newark YMCA at 10 a.m., The Rotunda team matches up with St. Peter’s at 11:30, and the John F. Kennedy Center and JFK “Next Level” Team will face off at noon. The championship round will follow, and medals will be presented to participants and winning teams at 2 p.m.

“Saturday will see the championship round of our Black History Scholastic Basketball Challenge, but we already know who won - everyone who takes part, coach, student, spectator - are all winners,” said Mayor Booker. “They have learned about their heritage, developed their bodies and minds, and enjoyed the action and excitement of friendly competition, while manifesting their personal excellence.”

The program is a partnership between the Department of Neighborhood and Recreational Services’ Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs, Sovereign Bank, and Sovereign Sports, a non-profit set up by former New York Knick basketball star Rory Sparrow to assist inner cities with academic, history, and sports programs, combining all three as one.

The six teams are co-ed and come from four Newark recreation centers and the Newark YMCA. The JFK contingent was so large, it was split into the JFK Team and the JFK “Next Level” team, to create six squads. In the round on February 21, Rotunda defeated the YMCA, 63-58. Boylan knocked off St. Peter’s, 70-59, and JFK “Next Level” beat the JFK Team, 86-73.

The academic portion takes place in the JFK Center’s female weight room, where instructors from Sovereign Sports teach major themes of Black History: Saturday’s subject will be President Barack Obama and the historic significance of the nation’s first African-American president. After a video presentation, students break into discussion groups, debate historic issues like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and answer retention testing questions on the subjects they have learned. Youngsters who pass the test then face off on the gym floor in a basketball competition. While the first two teams shoot hoops, the next two teams face their academic challenge.

“We are observing Black History Month in Newark with an innovative program, which combines athletics, academics, history, and youth,” Director Waldrop said. “Our youngsters are learning the great lessons that sports and history both teach: teamwork, dedication, discipline, and commitment to achieving the goal.”

“The kids have been giving their all in the classes and on the gym floor,” said Robert Carpenter, the Supervisor of Recreation Aides who is coordinating the program. “They have enjoyed every aspect of the program. It’s been a great success.”

The Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs is planning similar future academic/athletic challenges, and seeks volunteer coaches as well as players for those events. For more information about this and other Recreation programs, contact the Division of Recreation/ Cultural Affairs at (973) 733-6454.



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