The third-annual Courageous Games, which were held over the weekend on Wayne State University’s campus in Detroit, has been a labor of love for founder Keith Williams, a Motor City native.
“Since 2012, my mission has been clear: To help and support kids who face challenges in their lives,” said Williams, a former Wayne County commissioner and current Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus chair.
The mission of the nonprofit holding the event, Courageous Inc., is to build “communities through strengthening families.” The Detroit-based group says it collaborates with organizations that provide social service assistance and promote healthy lives and employs a coaching staff who serve as role models to youth on being “productive and successful citizens and athletes.”
Courageous Inc. also provides after-school sports for Detroit Public Middle School students.
To date, hundreds of youth and adults hailing from Southeast Michigan and the greater Midwest have attended the organization’s Olympic-style, two-day event that features basketball, track and field, swimming, softball and baseball.
Michigan elected officials have sought to fund youth sports in recent years. In the past, state budget funds have helped to power Detroit-area youth programs like the Detroit Police Athletic League, an agency that has provided baseball, football, soccer and other sports since 1969.
American baseball legend Ron Teasley Sr. | Ken Coleman
Track and field was featured during the Courageous Games. | Ken Coleman
Youth baseball was featured during the Courageous Games. | Ken Coleman
Keith Williams and Wayne County Commission chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) | Ken Coleman
Similarly, the Courageous Games has secured local private business and some local government funding. Continental Foods, Greektown Casino and Wayne County Community College District helped to fund the effort.
Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell, a Detroit Democrat, said the effort directed toward children is important to the Motor City and Southeast Michigan.
“The skills that you learn in organized sports you take with you into life as an adult,” said Bell, a financial supporter of the games who attended a Friday news conference with Williams to promote the effort.
On Sunday, American baseball legend Ron Teasley Sr. attended the effort. Teasley played baseball at Wayne State University, in the National Negro League and with Major League Baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers minor league organization during the 1940s and ’50s. The 96-year-old also coached baseball and basketball at Detroit Northwestern High School during the 1970s.
“It’s so wonderful to watch kids play baseball,” said Teasley as he sat with his family.
authored by Ken Coleman
First published at https%3A%2F%2Fmichiganadvance.com%2F2023%2F07%2F17%2Fdetroit-leaders-celebrate-3rd-annual-courageous-games-for-kids%2F
Comments are closed.