Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibrahim Oduniyi.
Hi Ibrahim, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was a senior in high school, one of my high school coaches offered me an opportunity to work at the Clyde Turner Basketball camp for youth before I left college. I worked at that camp every summer for the next ten years. I also started working with youth in different capacities, from shelters with highly homeless and mobile youth to being an outreach worker in Minneapolis. In 2015 I started Hard In The Paint Hoops (HITP Hoops) through Youth Coordinating Board (YCB), the organization I do outreach work for. The YCB outreach team is about informal mentorship with youth in Minneapolis. What we did originally with HITP Hoops was create space for youth to grow through the game of basketball that we knew through outreach work. Now HITP Hoops has grown to basketball camps throughout the year, training sessions for youth, and is also adding traveling teams for younger ages.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the challenges is adequate space for youth to access these services. Through community, this program has grown with donations from different individuals and groups. Funding has also created problems. Developing more ways to acquire funding is something HITP Hoops strives to improve at.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Youth Worker in many capacities. I do outreach work at Minneapolis Henry High School and downtown Minneapolis in the summer. What sets me apart is my ability to see the greatness in every youth I encounter, even if they don’t see it themselves. The ability to spark the minds of youth sets me apart.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
You can support this cause by donating at HITPHoops.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: HITPHoops.com
- Instagram: @HITPHoops
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCsOV4505lQYPFHEDTZCoBKg
- We Go Hard: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Hitp-Hoops
Image Credits
Bola Ogunlana
