FLINT, Mich. — The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV) and Gus Macker tip off the 3-on-3 basketball tournament this weekend. With over 100 teams registered to participate, the Macker is sure to provide a fun and competitive atmosphere for all.
The weekend starts today, Friday, September 17th with a free kids camp, a car show, backpack giveaway and tournament registration. On Saturday and Sunday, the real fun starts, with tournament games starting at 8:30 a.m.. Through the day there will be free throw and slam dunk contests for all age groups.
Tournament Schedule
Friday, September 17
4 p.m.-7 p.m.
– Macker Registration
– Detroit Pistons Legends Camp
– Back To School Rally
– Car Show
Saturday, September 18
7 a.m.-12 p.m.
– Registration
8:00 a.m.
– Opening Ceremonies
8:30 a.m.
– Games Begin
11 a.m.
– Youngsters Free Throw Contest (ages 6-8)
12 p.m.
– Free Throw Contest
1 p.m.
– Youngsters 3 Point Contest (ages 9-10)
2 p.m.
-Slam Dunk Contest
Sunday, September 19
8:30 a.m.
-Games Resume
For more information about the event, contact, Marketing Director Kevin Mays at kevin@sbev.org. You can also reach our team at (810) 893-6098 or by email at info@sbev.org.
About Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village
Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village occupies the former George M. Dewey Elementary School, established in September 1921. The building, soon entering its tenth decade, has seen several changes in ownership over the years. After it ceased operating as a school in 1991, it was purchased by Jobs Central, Inc. (later renamed Career Alliance, Inc.), which specialized in career readiness and job training. The building was renamed the Sylvester Broome Jr. Training and Technology Center (or the Sylvester Broome Center, as it is more popularly known in the Flint community), and opened in 1995. Under Career Alliance, the Broome Center eventually reached 93% occupancy before closing in 2012, in spite of much community effort to spare the programs and keep the building open.
The Broome Center then sat empty for approximately three years before being purchased in 2015 by two business owners wishing to invest in north Flint, an area known for its high crime that had seen little redevelopment in at least a decade. SBEV has 62,000 square feet of space wholly devoted to the developmental needs of north Flint’s youth population who have been deemed “at-risk.” Eventually, the SBEV mission is to reach all youth in the city of Flint. The space is dedicated for learning, developing, leading and investing in children and youth through employment, community health and community engagement.
At SBEV, they firmly believe that if they empower and provide the resources to youth, they will be the catalyst to drive change in the community. SBEV plans to provide youth a safe harbor and an alternative to gangs, drugs and violence. The SBEV building is nearing 100 years old, and it was redeveloped in 1964 and again in 1995, the latter renovations generously funded by a $4 million grant given by the C.S. Mott Foundation. At that time, the building underwent extensive renovations.
