Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Basketball Game With Public Safety Department And Youth Program Tuesday November 8, 6 PM - Great Initiative, Come Out And Lend Your Support

Image From RIOC

Received the following message from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised the PSD/Youth Center Connect Basketball Game for tomorrow, November 8th from 6-8 p.m. has been moved to the Child Legacy High School Gymnasium located at 566 Main Street.

All are welcome to attend.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra reported on last year's game:

Pre Game Pep Talk By Chief Guerra (holding Basketball)To Both Blue & Grey Teams

On Thursday, November 11th, the Public Safety Department and the Youth Center hosted it's 2nd Annual Connect  Basketball Game.  The game was held at the Roosevelt Island Sportspark Complex and featured some of the neighborhood's most talented ball players.  Players from the PSD merged with those from the community to play a very balanced and exciting game.  The Gray team was victorious by a score of 62-59 over the Blue Team....

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Executive Director Charlie DeFino added:

Mr. DeFino Standing On Far Right Next To Chief Guerra

... Once again the Roosevelt Island Youth Program and Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department collaborated by bringing young adults, youth center staff and public safety officers to attend our second special get to know each other basketball game at Sportspark on Thursday November 11th followed by some good old fashioned getting to know each other over refreshments and food provided by RIOC.

This program will be on-going and will evolve to other areas outside of basketball to continue it's mission of "Connecting" the community, public safety and youth center....

Come on out to the Child School Gym Tuesday at 6 PM and cheer on the Roosevelt Island Youth Program and Public Safety Department Basketball players.

More information and pictures from previous Public Safety/Youth Center Connect Basketball games from earlier posts.

Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Basketball Game Between Public Safety Department And Youth Program - Great Initiative, But Where Was The Rest Of The Community?

Pre Game Pep Talk By Chief Guerra (holding Basketball)To Both Blue & Grey Teams

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra reports:

On Thursday, November 11th, the Public Safety Department and the Youth Center hosted it's 2nd Annual Connect  Basketball Game.  The game was held at the Roosevelt Island Sportspark Complex and featured some of the neighborhood's most talented ball players.  Players from the PSD merged with those from the community to play a very balanced and exciting game.  The Gray team was victorious by a score of 62-59 over the Blue Team.

Many thanks to Charlie and Steve from the Youth Center for their involvement.  Thanks also go out to Millie Reyes, our Crossing Guard and Michelle Williams, our Youth Officer for distributing the much needed refreshments.

Mr. DeFino Standing On Far Right Next To Chief Guerra

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Director Charlie DeFino adds:

Once again the Roosevelt Island Youth Program and Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department collaborated by bringing young adults, youth center staff and public safety officers to attend our second special get to know each other basketball game at Sportspark on Thursday November 11th followed by some good old fashioned getting to know each other over refreshments and food provided by RIOC.

This program will be on-going and will evolve to other areas outside of basketball to continue it's mission of "Connecting" the community, public safety and youth center.

The Community Outreach Basketball Game was originally intended to be played between members of the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and parents from the Roosevelt Island Youth Center. I think when the parents realized the game was going to be played full court

 

 Grey Team Taking Ball Up The Full Length Of Court

instead of half-court they had second thoughts about making that long run up and down the floor and decided to let the kids play instead.

The game was well played with some great shots made

 

 

and jockeying for position to get some tough under the board rebounds

 

 

which sometimes resulted in a trip to the foul line.

 

At the final buzzer the Grey Team won 62 -59 over the Blue team, the players lined up to shake hands and congratulate each other on a well played game.

 

Good job by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and Roosevelt Island Youth Program in helping to establish relationships between their members. Also, I was pleased to see RIOC VP Of Operations Fernando Martinez at the game lending his support to the community outreach initiative. This can only help our community.

I did find it concerning that there was not much of a showing of Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) delegates or other members of the public present to root on the players and support this joint initiative by the Public Safety Department and Youth Program to better relationships in our community. I often hear complaints at RIRA meetings that the Public Safety Department only gets involved with members of the community in an enforcement capacity and does not engage on a positive basis with Roosevelt Island young people. Well, in this instance the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department, Roosevelt Island Youth Program and those who played in the basketball game stepped up to help improve our community. RIRA and the complainers did not.

Perhaps the new RIRA Common Council Delegates and other members of the public were not aware of this event. Hopefully, they will be for the next Community Connecting event.

Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Basketball Game Between Public Safety Department And Youth Center's Parents Thursday November 11 At Sportspark Court

 Image From Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department

From the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department:

As part of our Community Outreach Initiative, the Public Safety Department has teamed up with the Youth Center and will be hosting a Community Basketball Game on Thursday, November 11th from 6 pm to 7:30pm at the Sportspark Basketball Courts.

The game will be played between the Officers in PSD and the Youth Center Parents.

In the summer of 2009, the Public Safety Department  played a game of Basketball at Blackwell Park with members of the Roosevelt Island Youth Center - now it's their parents turn. About the game with the Youth Center, Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra  wrote at the time:

The Youth Center team came out victorious with a 62-60 win over the Public Safety Department. Many folks in attendance commented on what a great game it was. But, more important were the new relationships that have been forged by this event. The players from both teams went back to the Youth Center afterwards and talked over Pizza and Refreshments. Kudos to Charlie DelFino and Coach Steve Morgan for their involvement in the festivities.

2009 Roosevelt Island Youth Center/Public Safety Department Group Photo

Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Basketball Game Between Public Safety Department & Youth Center A Great Success!

Basketball Game Between Roosevelt Island's Public Safety Department and Youth Center

I watched a pretty good game of full court basketball last night between the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and Youth Center at the Blackwell Courts. The game was part of Roosevelt Island Connect, a Community Outreach Initiative between the Public Safety Department and Youth Center.

The Public Safety Team was in blue and Youth Center in yellow. The game was well played with some great shots, drives to the basket and tough picks.

Game Photo

According to Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

The Youth Center team came out victorious with a 62-60 win over the Public Safety Department. Many folks in attendance commented on what a great game it was. But, more important were the new relationships that have been forged by this event. The players from both teams went back to the Youth Center afterwards and talked over Pizza and Refreshments. Kudos to Charlie DelFino and Coach Steve Morgan for their involvement in the festivities.

After The Game Handshakes Between Teams

This was a great idea and I hope it continues with similar events.

Good job by all involved!

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Connects With Youth Center On Basketball Court - Thursday August 20 Blackwell Court

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Youth Center Basketball Connect Image From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra sends the following message to Roosevelt Island community:

As part of our Community Outreach Initiative, the Public Safety Department has teamed up with the Youth Center and will be hosting a Community Basketball Game on Thursday, August 20th. The game will take place behind the Youth Center at the Blackwell Basketball Court and feature a team from the Public Safety Department playing with a team from the Youth Center.

The game should kick off about 6:30PM. The members of the Youth Center and their parents will be treated to Pizza and Refreshments after the game.

Great idea!

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee Chair Erin Feely-Nahem appreciates this ourteach undertaken by Mr. Guerra. She comments:

Sounds like a great idea, and an evening of fun. Although we are traveling the next day, I'll be sure to be there for the excitement!
Good Luck to all.

UPDATE 8/20 - RIRA President Frank Farance supports this initative as well:

I think you're on to some good community-building ideas, which might have positive long-term effects for the Island. I hope you guys can do something like this on a regular basis. In general, Thursday nights at 6:30 are good and I would watch/participate; unfortunately, I am out of town just for next Thursday. Great work!