ABOUT YOUTH IN CRISIS MINISTRIES
"There are always stories about what is wrong everywhere, and there are never enough stories about what is good. Coming here today, I want to celebrate and promote what is good. You've got families, local officials, community activists, kids, and folks from the city police department all here enjoying the day..."
Every third week in July over 1,500 members of the community pour into Mattapan's Walker Park and celebrate with free food, pony rides, train rides, bouncy castles, a children's crafting center, a farmer's market, and a 30 game basketball tournament. It is a celebration of life, love, and community that is all too scarce in Mattapan. Youth in Crisis has been providing the area with this event for the past twenty years, and while Scoops 'N Hoops has gotten bigger every year, the cry from the community is consistent: we need more. Not out of greed, but out of necessity.
Founded over two decades ago, Youth in Crisis aims to provide more. Dedicated to youth mentoring, crisis management, and community outreach, Youth in Crisis creates positive social outlets for youth throughout the city. The 100 Slices event, the Got Peace basketball tournament, Summer Nights program, and Scoops 'N Hoops are just some of the impactful programs that we run every year.
PHILOSOPHY
All About the Outcomes
“Twenty-one years ago, a kid came up and he wanted to play basketball,” explains Seymour about the origins of the organization. “Everything is about outcome – the outcome of this story is he had a gun on his waist. He gave the gun up to play basketball and eat food. I’ll never forget that.”
Since our beginnings over two decades ago, we’ve been driven by the desire for actions to speak louder than words. Youth in Crisis Ministries emerged out of this need to provide a better path forward for our young people. Getting connected is the first step- you never know who can change your life in a fraction of a second just by taking the time to connect. We strive to connect young people with resources, and with each other, so that they can move down a continuum towards success.