By Mark Haynes | OBSERVER Correspondent
The spotlight was on basketball Aug. 24 at Sacramento State as the Kings and Queens Rise co-ed youth sports and mentoring league wrapped up its seventh season with an exciting finale. The event featured thrilling championship games, delicious food trucks, and a special appearance by the beloved Sacramento Kings mascot, Slamson. While many sports enthusiasts are looking forward to the start of football season, this day was about supporting the passion and talent of the young hoopers and bringing the community together.
The event stemmed from a collaboration between The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, Black Child Legacy Campaign, My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento programs, and the Sacramento Kings. During an interview with The OBSERVER, Marquis Lawson, the program manager for Black Child Legacy Campaign at the Rose Family Creative Empowerment Center, emphasized the significant impact of such experiences on the youth.
“I think we’re planting good seeds within the youth,” Lawson said. “I think it’s special for them to play here at Sac State because it opens their eyes to something bigger. Some of these kids have never been on a college campus before, and I don’t think they’ll ever forget this.”
Among Black Child Legacy Campaign’s objectives during summer break from school is to provide children constructive activities and keep them away from the streets. The basketball league lasts eight weeks and has 24 teams, involving more than 350 participants in grades 4-11. This season marked Slawson’s first year as a coach, and he willingly embraced the responsibility, understanding that it extended beyond sports.
“Having the kids around this type of energy and higher education and all these good people will help them see themselves as leaders in the future,” Slawson said. “They can see themselves being able to be part of something bigger than the neighborhood they grew up in. It’s more than basketball. It’s leadership, love, and light.”
The Sac State basketball gym was filled with huge smiles from children, proud parents, and community leaders. Together, they all contributed to making the day memorable. Anglin Baker might’ve been the person with the biggest smile. He has worked with youth for nearly two decades and is a community incubator lead for Black Child Legacy Campaign.
“This is probably one of the most beautiful and fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Baker said as he stood watching kids play. “Seeing so much joy and understanding some of the backgrounds, family situations, school situations – to have a couple of hours of happiness fills my heart.”
From the moment attendees were greeted by staff at the door to watching the games and witnessing the first Kings and Queens Rise cheerleading squad, dedicated Black individuals led all activities. It was a powerful visual that genuinely stood out. Throughout the daylong event, an overwhelming sense of peace, camaraderie, and love was displayed by all.
Everyone looked like family. The children adored the adults involved, all of whom they had known to be of help to their growth as individuals. But it took time and effort to reach this juncture. It took a lot of work from the managers who worked with the kids all summer.
“It starts with having the right people in place and being held accountable,” Baker said. “If you said you will be somewhere at 6, be on time or early. Having leaders who are willing to share their stories with the kids and talk them through problems they might have is very important when building relationships, especially with teenagers.”Kings and Queens Rise was established in 2018 following the tragic killing of Stephon Clark. To find more information about the Black Child Legacy Campaign, visit blackchildlegacy.org/contact/.