#YouthUnfiltered - Seattle Slam Youth Basketball Tournament

#YouthUnfiltered - Besa Gordon was out with the youth during the Seattle Slam Basketball Tournament, a free two day celebration of basketball and fitness in Downtown Seattle. Created by the City of Seattle under Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan, basketball courts were constructed beneath the monorail tracks in the shadow of the Space Needle. It was a unique and memorable occasion which aimed to bring people from across Seattle together.

“I came to see all the kids out here and shoot around,” Kentwood High School Student Caleb Ross said. “I’ve made a lot of new friends out here from all different teams around.”

For the kids, seeing Denny Avenue turned into a space for them to get active and play basketball was inspirational. City of Seattle Youth Mentorship Development Director Romell Witherspoon said that it’s important to lead the youth in the right direction through action.

“We just want to give them a target,” Witherspoon said. “We want them to be a part of something, and let them know that they don’t have to leave this city and that this city cares.”

Mayor Harrell preached the importance of teamwork, and said that he aims to use programs like this to help youth build life skills which can impact them for years to come.

“All of these skills are critical, and we really want to take this area and reactivate it,” Harrell said. “I think the city has a role to help develop our youth.”

You can see more in the segment, and make sure to tune into #Back2Besa this Saturday at a special time of 11:30 pm after the news on FOX13 Seattle and Sunday at 10am on FOX13+ for more great stories like this one.