By Joseph D. Bryant
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
Music echoed through the gym at Cooper Green Homes, blending with the sound of bouncing basketballs and the shrieking of shoes across the floor as more than 80 girls spent part of their spring break refined their “skills and drills.”
Children from HABD communities throughout Birmingham participated in the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District’s Skills & Drills Basketball Camp. The workshop March 30-31 included girls 7 to 18 who received one-on-one training and encouragement.
The workshop is part of the “GIRLS,” Girls Involved in Recreation, Leadership and School program by HABD. Standout basketball players from Wenonah High School were the in-house experts.
Among those players was Kaitlyn Rodgers, a senior from Wenonah High School and a prized college recruit heading to Ole Miss next fall. Rodgers was courted by several schools including The University of Alabama, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Southern Miss.
Rodgers in 2015 earned the title of Birmingham Metro Player of the Year.
“I want them to know that you can do whatever you want to do,” said Rodgers, who plans to major in broadcast journalism. “They can respond well to me because I’m like them. It is something fun to do on their spring break.”
While the program centered on athletics, organizers said there was much larger purpose.
“We want to surround our girls in an environment that promotes not only athletic achievement, but also high self-esteem and personal achievement in whatever category they aspire to dominate,” said HABD Director of Resident Services, Galvin Billups. “Sports is the theme to promote these larger concepts.”
The sports workshop was a first for Kiara Little, a 5th grader at Oxmoor Valley Elementary and a resident of Kimbrough Homes.
“I enjoyed it because I got to learn more about basketball and I got to meet people I didn’t know,” she said.
Little said she especially enjoyed the pre-game warmups.
“We had to run up the hills and back. That made me tired, but I didn’t get too tired,” she said. “It was a good experience because I never got to do anything like this before.”
Little said she plans to play basketball in high school.
Before the first ball hit the floor, the girls received some sporting and life coaching from Wenonah High School coach Emanuel Bell. Bell stood near three state championship trophies and displayed his championship rings as tangible rewards of hard work and dedication.
“Pray and play,” he said. “You pray for it and then you go and play for it. You’ve got to get your brain mentally ready to take on the challenge.”
In his no-nonsense style, Bell also stressed the importance of balance by student athletes.
“Let me break it down for you. If you don’t get your lesson, you can’t play no basketball,” he said.
The first physical activity was led by HABD Recreation Director Darius Hall. Grabbing a cordless microphone with one hand and his other outstretched, Hall woke up his new recruits as he called out workout directions. But even he couldn’t keep a straight face as the girls sprinted down the court, trying to keep up with his directions.
Standing on the sideline, HABD Board of Commissioners Chairman Cardell Davis had already traded in his tie, dress shirt and slacks for sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“The biggest benefit is giving these girls a chance to have camaraderie and getting to be with other girls from the housing authority community,” Davis said just before joining the girls on the court. “They’re also getting to learn skills from some of the top basketball players in the state. This is a perfect mix.”
HABD President Michael Lundy also spent time observing the action and meeting the young players.
“It is refreshing to be in room filled with so much energy,” he said afterward. “Our kids are enjoying themselves in a safe environment surrounded by both peers and mentors. This is just another way we can all work together to uplift our youngest residents and inspire them to succeed in the gym, in the classroom and wherever else they chose to go.”
