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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - BREC is partnering with Empower 225 and the Mayor’s Safe, Hopeful, Healthy Initiative to host Late Night Hype, a new program in Baton Rouge that aims to brings hoops, harmony and hope to young people in the Capital City.

The introductory kick-off, or “Tip-Off,” event of the series will occur on Friday, April 5 at BREC’s Gus Young Avenue Park from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Late Night Hype series will continue every 2nd and 4th Friday throughout May, June, and July.

The series was inspired by the success of a community-based violence intervention program by the parks and recreation department of our nation’s capitol in DC as well as the famous Rucker Park tournaments.

The “Tip-Off” event on April 5 will be focused around basketball, with skills coaching available for kids ages 11 and up at the beginning of the event and a tournament for ages 16 and up to follow. The tournament will feature two brackets: Community and Community Leaders/Partners. After the bracket victories, catch the ultimate showdown: Community Members vs. Community Leaders. Some possible familiar and surprising faces are expected to be on the basketball court. Basketball isn’t the only activity happening, though. Throughout the event, attendees can also participate in recreational activities such as inflatables, video games, youth cooking classes, karate lessons, and more. Attendees will also be able to enjoy free food and music, collect giveaways, provide input on what future events should include, and take advantage of community resources. Individuals and teams can sign up for the basketball activities onsite, beginning at 6:45 p.m. All attendees are asked to sign in for free entertainment and food.

The mission of Late Night Hype is to provide youth in high-crime, underserved neighborhoods with fun and wholesome activities, along with resources and social services that empower them to break the cycle of violence and crime. It is a true collaboration of organizations and individuals who aspire for a Safe, Hopeful, Healthy Baton Rouge and to empower our city’s youth to reach for the stars and meet their potential. The hope is for the program to grow into the same type of success that the city of DC has seen with it over the years. BREC has seen an uptick in violence in and around parks and its basketball courts in recent years, and the hope is to work with community partners, leaders, and residents to harness the teaching opportunities of basketball and the joy of summer outdoor events in the park with helpful resources to create a special atmosphere that everyone can enjoy together.

The local program’s founding partners: Empower225; BREC; and the Mayor’s Safe, Hopeful, Healthy Initiative are seeking the involvement of local leaders, non-profits, corporate sponsors, and other governmental agencies to be a part of the program and help bring resources into the community.

Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to visit: brec.org/LNHPartners and complete the form or contact Susan Rogers or JT Terry with Empower225 at dream.center@empower225.org.

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