EDUCATION
recording studio in a professional sports arena in 2018 . Since then , the Kings have used the studio to make top entertainment talent accessible as mentors for youth throughout Sacramento . “ When we have top entertainers come in , we schedule studio sessions where they speak to youth groups and offer a fun and supportive environment for them to be mentored ,” says Matina Kolokotronis , Sacramento Kings chief operating officer . Recent performers include Coolio , Saweetie and Montell Jordan .
The Sacramento Kings also offer youth healing forums , which promote physical and mental wellness , STEM education workshops and a math skills basketball board game called NBA Math Hoops that allows students to learn fundamental math skills through the sport . In 2021 , Sacramento ’ s Team Unstoppable won the NBA Math Hoops national championship .
Second-half action July 27 during Sacramento Republic FC ’ s upset victory over Sporting Kansas City in the semi-final match of the U . S . Open Cup at Heart Health Park . The team offers a STEM education program for local students . PHOTO BY STEVE MARTARANO
STEM success
Sacramento Republic FC has launched a similar educational board game called STEM Goals . STEM Goals powered by SMUD was created by Learn Fresh , the same educational game company that was behind the NBA Math Hoops game . The aim of STEM Goals is to score points through goals by correctly answering STEM-based questions about clean and renewable energy . A pilot program of the game was launched in fall 2021 to 10 Title 1 schools in the seven SMUD service wards .
“ In addition to playing the game , we are also hoping to introduce the kids to potential careers in STEM ,” says Kevin Burdick , director of community investment for Sacramento Republic FC . Sac Republic has a goal to increase the number of participating schools to 15- 20 . Once a school signs up , a Republic FC player is brought into the classroom to help introduce the game .
At Taylor Street Elementary School in Sacramento , a few Sacramento Republic FC players were on hand to unveil STEM Goals to the class . When the students found out they were playing with a professional soccer player from the game , they got very excited . “ We ’ ve had to replace a couple of the player cards in the games because the kids wanted to get them autographed ,” Burdick laughs . The organization also offers complimentary tickets for the fifth and sixth grade students who play the game at their participating schools .
Another big effort by the organization is to create more publicly accessible places to play soccer . It focused on futsal , a soccer-based game played on a hard court , usually indoors . In 2019 , there was only one public futsal court in Sacramento County . “ We saw this as an opportunity to reinvest in underserved communities ,” says Burdick . “ We come in and take over an unused or vacant space and do some construction and resurfacing and open up a brand-new , state-of-the-art futsal court for anyone to play on for free .”
Since 2019 , Sac Republic has opened up 10 futsal courts . The City of Sacramento followed suit and opened up two of its own . Mayor Steinberg ’ s recent commitment to build a new $ 50 million youth sports complex in the underserved Meadowview neighborhood of South Sacramento was also a welcome announcement for communities who have been demanding a project like this for some time .
Making golf accessible
When the pandemic shut down basketball play , the Kings and Queens Rise organizers added golf . Since golf can be played outdoors , it offered a perfect alternative . The organizers partnered with First Tee – Greater Sacramento , the Cameron Champ Foundation and OneSwing Golf Academy to make golf accessible to local youth . Cameron Champ , a player on the PGA Tour , got his start with First Tee , a Sacramento nonprofit that works to bring the game of golf to inner cities and underrepresented youth .
“ We want all youth to know that the game of golf is available to them , that it ’ s accessible ,” says First Tee Executive Director Angie Dixon . To do that , First Tee partners with Youth on Course , which is a national organization that gives green fee discounts to kids . With the discount , youth can golf for $ 5 . Based on their participation , students can also earn a set of free clubs . “ It ’ s really important to us that we don ’ t just dangle a carrot in front of them and show them this really fun thing that they got to try once ,” says Dixon . “ We want to make sure that it ’ s something they can do in the future .”
Kings and Queens Rise sign up about 10 youth golfers at each of the nine golf sites . First Tee ’ s outreach offers various programming options , summer camps , after-school programs and Saturday programs , all at affordable prices . It offers a school program as well . Each of the
62 comstocksmag . com | September 2022