Former NBA players bring HOPE to Atlanta

Students involved in Atlanta ISD’s “ACE Summer Academy” met in the middle school gym on June 20, to learn about basketball fundamentals and important mental health skills.

The HOPE Initiative along with two former NBA players with the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) Dallas Chapter brought a wealth of knowledge to our corner of the state to teach the students mental health skills they’ll need for life.

Former NBA players, Willie Davis and Morlon Wiley, were on hand in hopes of using their platforms to equip students with life and social skills, such as leadership, teamwork and mental toughness.

Davis was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1968 draft and Wiley was drafted in the second round, 46th overall, by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1988 NBA draft.

The focus of HOPE Initiative is to help students with character development, student behavior, academic confidence and community engagement.

The HOPE Initiative specializes in providing intentional programming for transition-age youth living in communities with little or no resources.

The NBRPA was founded in 1992 and is a non-profit association comprised of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters.

The Texas ACE (Afterschool Centers on Education) provides no-cost activities before and after school and during summer for K–12 students in Title I schools.

Local programs also provide homework help, tutoring, and other targeted needs-based assistance, as well as enrichment activities that build character, confidence, and leadership skills.