With music, sweat, and slam dunks, Fort Wayne teens came together not to compete—but to connect, in a gym where basketball beats bullets.
A Basketball Court With a Message
Friday night, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne wasn’t just a gym—it was a lifeline.
Teenagers from across the city poured in, greeted not just by basketballs bouncing on hardwood, but by mentors, coaches, community leaders, and even the mayor. The reason? A powerful new event called “Don’t Shoot, Hoop,” aimed squarely at addressing the growing crisis of youth violence in the city.
Instead of lectures or curfews, this initiative took a different shot: basketball.
More Than a Game, It’s a Safe Space
The idea is simple, but the meaning runs deep. Use sports as a tool—something familiar, something fun—to pull teens away from dangerous streets and into a place where they feel seen.
“It’s not just about hoops,” said Jalik Jelks, Athletic Director at the club. “It’s about giving them somewhere to be, someone to talk to, something to belong to.”
Giahnni Sparks, a regular at the club, put it plainly: “You kinda get to do everything here.”
Just one sentence here.
And that everything includes hope.
Community Collaboration in Action
The event wasn’t a one-man show.
The Boys and Girls Clubs teamed up with groups that work directly with Fort Wayne’s youth every day:
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City Life: A faith-based youth initiative known for hands-on mentoring.
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Youth For Christ: A nationwide organization helping teens navigate tough circumstances.
Each one brought volunteers, mentors, and programming ideas to the event. The atmosphere was upbeat, but the goal was serious—combat the stats that keep climbing.
So far in 2025, 14 teenagers—all under the age of 18—have been involved in homicides in Fort Wayne, either as victims or suspects.
Fourteen. That’s not just a number. That’s fourteen futures, fourteen families, fourteen “what ifs.”
Mayor Tucker Steps Onto the Court, Too
And then came a surprise.
Fort Wayne’s newly elected Mayor Sharon Tucker showed up—not to cut a ribbon or deliver a speech, but to cheer.
“I wanted to come in tonight to show my support—not only for the nonprofits, but to also show my support for the kids,” she said.
She stayed for a while, speaking with organizers, snapping photos with players, listening more than she talked.
That kind of visibility matters.
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
Here’s a look at youth-involved homicides in Fort Wayne over the past four years:
| Year | Teen Victims | Teen Suspects | Combined Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 2022 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| 2023 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 2025* | 9 | 5 | 14 |
(*Data as of July 26, 2025)
The trend is grim. And yet, events like “Don’t Shoot, Hoop” offer a counterpoint. A reminder that prevention doesn’t always come from police or policy—but sometimes from pickup games and pep talks.
Not a One-Off, But the Beginning
This isn’t just a feel-good Friday night flash in the pan. Organizers say the event is set to return.
The next one is already scheduled for Friday, August 1, running from 9 to 11 p.m. at the same gym on Fairfield Avenue.
They’re hoping to expand, bring in more community groups, and make it a recurring part of Fort Wayne’s youth safety strategy.
One sentence to break flow.
They want it to stick.
Voices From the Gym Floor
One coach shared how just last month, a kid in his mentorship group lost a cousin to gun violence. “He was angry, and rightfully so. But here, on this court, he lets it out in sweat, not fists.”
A volunteer said she watched a shy 15-year-old open up to an older teen mentor between free throws. “It’s those little things. That’s where the change starts.”
And maybe, just maybe, that’s where the shootings stop.
