Philadelphia Youth Basketball
Title: Philadelphia Youth Basketball: More Than Just a Game
Student Interns:
Alex Goldsby
Drexel University College of Medicine
Ash Holland
Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Humza Imam
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Jeremiah Goldstein, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Community Preceptor:
DaTwan Bolden
Philadelphia Youth Basketball
Community Site:
Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB)—built of, by, for, and with the communities it serves—provides a safe, nurturing environment for young people to build the skill sets and mindsets they need to succeed on the court and in their education, careers, and lives. PYB uses a holistic, community-centered approach, combining high-quality basketball training with academic enrichment, mentorship, and place-based programming that meets young people where they are.
Team’s Experience:
At Lace Up and Learn Up (LULU) Summer Camp, the Bridging the Gaps interns served as coaches for children going into 3rd through 9th grades, helping to develop their skills on and beyond the basketball court. Most of the day was spent on the courts: mornings for skills and drills and afternoons for tournament play. Midday was reserved for education: learning about health literacy and character development and helping young people grow into individuals who embody the community agreements of “Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Safe Space, Care, and Trust.”
At Early Learners Summer Camp (ASH), the BTG intern served as coach/camp counselor, bonding with and educating children aged 4 to 11 and leading morning movement activities. One-on-one activities were focused on offering choices for autonomy and attuning the children to their bodies and emotions. Group activities were designed to help campers embody the community agreements of “Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Safe Space, Care, and Trust” through actions and movement.
Reflections
The LULU Summer Camp has made this summer one of my favorites. Working with and learning from the kids has been a wonderful experience. This summer, I had the opportunity to teach a bit about health literacy, including cardiovascular health and mental health. Each week, I watched the kids become more open and eager to learn. I’m grateful to have been in their presence and to have learned from them in return. I also felt embraced by the coaches, who helped build a safe and supportive community for everyone involved. Overall, this experience has deepened my passion for educating youth on things beyond sports.
Alex Goldsby
The BTG CHIP experience has been affirming and eye opening. My experience has been both an invitation and a challenge to grow both my capacity to hold myself and others, and to create boundaries and discipline that open pathways for greater compassion, creativity and freedom. I came in the first weeks and got to know the campers and participated in exercises on the court with them. I learned about some of their unique differences and needs and how I could support them to grow. Throughout the all-hands sessions on Wednesdays, it has been good to hear from people who have firsthand experience and understanding of the rampant systemic failures that affect us all. I have also learned the importance of loving my work, finding passion and compassion for myself, and others. As the weeks have progressed at camp, I have been given opportunities to lead the children in daily physical warm-ups where I infuse emotional learning, teamwork, care, empathy, and respect through movement and play.
Ash Holland
I am incredibly grateful for the past seven weeks spent with Philadelphia Youth Basketball’s LULU Summer Camp, working with and learning from the campers. It was inspiring to see the joy the kids found on the court and, even more, how basketball became a vehicle for building character, intentionally balancing skill development with literacy, mindfulness, and health education. By supporting campers through challenges on the court, we modeled resilience, teamwork, and emotional regulation, learning that trust built through listening and genuine connection opened the door to real conversations about cardiovascular health, nutrition, and mental health. Each week, I watched the kids grow more open and eager to learn, while feeling embraced in turn by a coaching staff that built a safe, supportive community for everyone involved. I learned from every member of the PYB team what it means to show up with presence, patience, and dedication, and this experience has deepened my passion for educating youth on things beyond sports. I hope to carry these lessons into my future clinical practice, where building relationships will matter just as much as sharing knowledge.
Humza Imam
