Volunteers weather the storm, build KaBOOM! playground

NBA star Antawn Jamison sponsors new play area for Bossier City neighborhood

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For release: Sept. 8, 2008

More than 200 volunteers answered the call for help and converged on a Bossier City, La., neighborhood Saturday to build a basketball-themed KaBOOM! playground with NBA All-Star Antawn Jamison.

The construction was postponed two days by Hurricane Gustav, creating concerns that not enough volunteers would be available after the last-minute change. But KaBOOM! officials said the volunteer turnout was the best they had ever seen after a postponement.

The KaBOOM! playground now standing in the 2700 block of Foster Street is close to a Community Renewal Friendship House, which opened in the Barksdale Annex five years ago, reaching out to youth and families with after-school programs, service projects, mentoring, arts, computer training, GED courses and much more.

The playground was sponsored by NBA veteran Antawn Jamison, a star forward with the Washington Wizards, in partnership with Bellaire Baptist Church and Community Renewal International.

"It's very important for kids to have the opportunity to play. I first met KaBOOM at the All-Star game in New Orleans and I fell in love with this concept. In today's society a lot of kids are not using their right to exercise and play because they don't have a place to do that. This is giving kids the opportunity to have fun and be kids," he said.

"A lot of youth feel there is no way to be successful, no way to make it. I want to let them know if they continue to work and be positive in everything you do, you can be successful. You can make a difference. There is a way up and there is always a chance that by working hard and staying focused and staying disciplined, you can be successful as well. We want to help set them in the right direction."

Jamison also said he was delighted to work with Community Renewal on the project.

"If you see the passion of these people and how much they really care about the community and how much they want to see the youth succeed in the world and in life, it makes me proud," he said. "These are the heroes. These are the people that are really making a difference. It's not guys like myself or musicians or actors. These people are hands-on every day."

Children from the Friendship House Kid Club were the first to run onto the new playground.

"The playground is open for business!" shouted Kodi Garrett, 11. "I love it! I like the climbing walls, the monkey bars - everything. This is magnificent!"

Amber Watson, 8, said the playground is a special place.

"Everyone should be thankful. This is so fun. Now we can run around and play," she said. "When you come to the playground, your mothers and dads can get a break. This is wonderful. I'll come here everyday!"

Community Coordinator Manuela Standard said she could not be happier for her Kids Club.

"I'm as happy as a child myself," she said. "There are a lot of children in this neighborhood who have nothing - and now they have a place to play safely. I'm so thankful."

Bellaire Baptist donated additional funds and worked tirelessly with city and parish governments to secure the donation of the land for the playground. Church members, some of whom helped build the mission house, also helped build the playground. Other partners donated food, water, tools, and materials.

Volunteers came from as far away as Dallas to work with Antawn and members of his family, the Bellaire family, the Community Renewal family, Barksdale Air Force Base and many others.

"I thought this was a wonderful cause for the community and I thought, Hey, let me dig my hands in, too. Volunteering just warms your heart. The children are so excited. It's worth it to see them smile," said Chandra Wilson, a homemaker from Dallas and sister of Lonzo Sheffield, who lives in the Friendship House.

Amanda Waddell, who works for a Shreveport attorney, said it was inspiring to see people from all walks of life working together to benefit children in the community.

"This is going to mean so much to the children and it's so rewarding. It's only one day of work and it makes such a big difference in these children's lives. It's a great way to give back," she said.

Shelley Ryan Gray, director of partnerships for Community Renewal, helped organize the build. "This playground is an example of partnerships, the wonderful joining together of people from across the nation," she said. "What we hope to do is have this represent what will be happening across the country as Community Renewal expands to other cities, that partnerships will help them build stronger cities."

Community Renewal International is a nonprofit effort to restore safe and healthy communities through caring relationships. Founded in 1994, Community Renewal reaches at-risk youth through Friendship Houses built in impoverished neighborhoods, strengthens education through the Adult Renewal Academy, partners with The Fuller Center for Housing and connects caring partners who turn their neighborhoods into safe havens of friendship and support.

Contact: David Westerfield, director of communications
(318) 425-3222
davidwesterfield@communityrenewal.us