Local basketball program continues with prayer, sports, fun
On Sunday mornings, cars fill the parking lot of a northeast Oklahoma City church as church members attend worship services, but a transformation takes place on the property each Friday during the summer.
The lot outside Christ Temple Community Church, 2717 N Kelley, becomes a haven for young people attracted by the opportunity to see friends, play basketball and enjoy a free meal.
The summer nights of hoops once known as Midnight Basketball evolved into the SZN Youth Basketball Program over the years. It was started by Priscilla Meadows-Norwood as a Christ Temple summer outreach, but eventually she created the nonprofit Saving Our Youth (SOY) to offer the program.
In its 26th year, the basketball program takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight each Friday in June and July. Meadows-Norwood looked out over a crowd of young people, adult volunteers and neighbors at the recent 2024 kickoff, which included an opening prayer, a performance by the Douglass High School Drumline, music by a DJ, free food from a food truck, a moon bounce for smaller children and free snow cones from Kona Ice.
More: Giving it her best shot: Why a former basketball standout will help host a summer outreach
And, of course, two basketball games were under way.
Meadows-Norwood said she was reflecting on how the program started out as a few temporary basketball goals placed in the church parking lot to give neighborhood youths opportunities to play pick-up games during the summer break.
“Can you believe it’s been 26 years?” she said.
A safe space for Oklahoma City kids
The youth program was patterned after Midnight Basketball leagues that were started in the 1980s and 1990s in urban areas across the country. The leagues were viewed as a way to give young people a safe, free and fun alternative to getting involved in criminal activity and dangerous endeavors.
Meadows-Norwood said the program initially began as an outreach to children in the neighborhood surrounding the church, but young people from other areas of Oklahoma City and several suburban areas have shown up over the years.
With the crowd size often swelling to 100 or more, she said she has been grateful that several deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office have provided security for the basketball program. Meadows-Norwood said over time, many of them have become well-liked and respected mentors for many of the young people drawn to the Friday night outreach.
The youth program leader said she also appreciated the commitment of people who have made donations to make sure the sports-centric sessions continue each summer. In particular she menationed Charles and Cassie Bowen who donated funds for the installation of a basketball court on the church’s property in 2016. The metro area couple read a 2015 story in The Oklahoman about young people showing up to play basketball when the church’s parking lot had become plagued by cracks and other issues over time.
Cassie Bowen, who attended the program’s kickoff event, said she was inspired to help year after year because of Meadows-Norword’s commitment to the young people and seeing with her own eyes how important the program is to the youths.
“There’s so many kids out here and some of them come back and they are now bringing their kids,” Bowen said.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City program has earned praise from community and elected leaders over the years. Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, offered opening remarks and a prayer at a recent session. She said she remembered playing basketball and eating snow cones at Midnight Basketball when she was a child.
“Community leaders like Miss Priscilla … who continues her work with our youth, who creates a safe space for them to have fun and be kids during the summer — this is what true mentorship and true leadership looks like,” Pittman said.
District 1 Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert also attended a recent SZN Basketball session. She said providing young people with positive, free, community-based opportunities during the summer is vital because they are less likely to interact with the justice system and law enforcement if they have “safe, supportive spaces to be kids.”
Meadows-Norwood said Saving Our Youth accepts monetary donations to help pay for the free meals and other treats offered during the summer. She said volunteers are often needed to help with games, the moon bounce, tutoring and other activities.
How to Help
For more information about Saving Our Youth’s SZN Youth Basketball Program, to volunteer or make a donation, call Priscilla Meadows at 405-501-0367 or go to the SOY OKC Facebook page.