First WNBA Event Will Feature Currently Incarcerated Youth Participants
The nation’s premiere law enforcement/community relations behavior change model will conduct its first training event with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), in partnership with the Los Angeles Probation Department Youth Camp Program, and the US Department of Justice , on Sunday, September 12, 2021. The LA Sparks will be the first WNBA team to take part in the formal training of probation officers in the state of California.
Rushia Brown, LA Sparks Director of Community Relations and Youth Sports, ensured that Game Changer 121 would take place at Staples Center by donating meeting space and game tickets in order for LA County Probation officers, and juveniles currently placed in LA County Youth Camps, to spend time discussing problems and devising solutions, followed by attending the game together. The US Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Service, the California Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) and the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) will provide funding to cover the cost of Game Changer training law enforcement personnel.
The LA Sparks are creating a safe environment that allows for all participating probation officers to receive continuing education training units in Community Policing and Communication from STC and POST.
Game Changer 121 marks the second occasion that Game Changer has partnered with the Los Angeles Probation Department in a manner that allows juvenile incarcerees to leave their youth camps to engage in the formal training of members of California law enforcement while receiving the enriching experience of being educated by law enforcement at a collegiate or professional sporting event.
Up until this recently, COVID-19 has prevented the 4.5-year-old model from conducting in-person operations, which trains members of law enforcement and community residents through moderated focus groups that typically occur three hours before the start of collegiate and professional sporting events.
For more information on Game Changer please visit: GameChanger1.org