Have you been impacted by gun violence in Chicago? If so, how?
While I was at school, I got word that I lost a few of my teammates in Chicago due to gun violence. After multiple losses, I came home and got professional help to cope with the loss[es], but I realized that I was being selfish in a way. There are so many people in Chicago who have been impacted by the violence in the city or have family members who have been.
Who are you hoping to reach with Project Swish, and what types of programs are you offering?
I wanted my organization to get the guys off the streets during the high-crime times. So, prevention from a mental health aspect is key. If people aren’t on the streets during these times, they’re less likely to be impacted on the back end.
Also, I host panels with NBA and WNBA players to let the [Project Swish] leaguers tell their stories. [I want to] just let [young poeple] know, like, how being vulnerable is OK, to let them know that getting help is also OK. If I wasn’t able to get professional help when I needed it, it’s possible that this league and Project Swish might have never happened. I could be living a far different life.
