Youth-N-Action leads Montgomery kids to buckets and ACT boosts
Youth-N-Action, established in 2016, aims to help at-risk children in Montgomery. Children participate in basketball, golf and track and field. Academically, 70% of participants improve their ACT scores.
But Pierre Mays founded the organization with much more than a number in mind.
“When I was a kid, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to a lot,” Mays said. “I really wanted the kids here to be able to get those same opportunities as far as traveling and playing sports and things that they normally wouldn’t get.”
Youth-N-Action’s AAU basketball affiliate, Team Dr1ven, competes across America.
“Playing with good players,” Youth-N-Action rising freshman Jay Jay Jackson said, “playing all over the country has just been super fun. Playing teams out of the country like Canada.”
Team Dr1ven even won a tournament out in Las Vegas. They are bringing high-level basketball to the Yellowhammer State.
“Very important for the city of Montgomery, probably the state of Alabama. Because people think Montgomery or Alabama doesn’t really have such great basketball players. That’s why they go other places to get their players,” said Youth-N-Action rising sophomore Jarrett Friendly.
Friendly and his teammates are making a statement while taking coach Mays’ advice.
“On the court, just talking to my teammates,” Jackson said, “being able to tell them where we are on the court, what plays we are running. Off the court, I would say like in the classroom, helping a classmate.”
Focusing on academics and sports could be easy, but Youth-N-Action takes the education a step further.
“We’ve been doing it so long and we’ve had so many kids that go on to college,” Mays said. “So we understand the importance of just outside of athletics and academics. You have to be able to navigate throughout this world.”
Youth-N-Action hosts life skills workshops and guest speakers.
“It has helped me with my communication skills,” Friendly said, “helped me grow as a person. Talk to people.”
And gets participants closer to their dreams of college basketball and beyond.
“If basketball doesn’t work out after college,” Jackson said, “I’d like to become a surgeon or a lawyer.”
Fellow Youth-N-Action rising freshman Keith Mason Ellis would like to attend college to become a corporate lawyer or an architect. And one more thing.
“After I graduate,” Ellis said, “I would like to start something like this, like a nonprofit to just give back to my community and help them.”
Taking after his leader, Coach Mays.
“My proudest moment is seeing kids achieve their goals no matter what the goal is,” Mays said. “If it’s passing the test, if it’s making a basketball team. In golf, if they do a par four. Whatever it is.”
It brings a smile to Mays’ face because of the difference he’s making. Youth-N-Action has helped 300 kids and counting.
