By: Blanca Flores

On Saturday, Aug. 17, the annual Hoops in the Hood competition final brought together youth from 13 different Chicago neighborhoods to play in Seward Park. This Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago program is an anti-violence strategy to keep youth away from gangs. Their zero tolerance policy for fighting and arguing has proven positive results and no incidents. The event Saturday afternoon concluded a summer long competition that had these 13 communities playing weekly games on local gyms or neighborhood streets that were closed to traffic.

The 13 organizations that were part of the tournament were the North River Commission (Albany Park); Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council; The Resurrection Project (Pilsen); Claretian Associates (South Chicago); Teamwork Englewood; BUILD (Humboldt Park and Austin); Enlace Chicago (Little Village); Chicago Men in Action (Near North); the Lawndale Christina Development Corp. (North Lawndale); Near West Side CDC (West Haven); The Community Builders (Quad Communities); and Breakthrough Urban Ministries (East Garfield Park). The winners of the 8-10 and 11-14 divisions came from Near North Side CDC and the North Lawndale team won the 15-19 year old division.