When Cliff Gates picked up the phone, he didn’t know what to expect.The head of Community Outreach and Pastoral Care for Mountain West Church in Tucker had been working for weeks to organize a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The little bit of money he would raise would go to charity. But that’s not what he really wanted out of the event.
Gates dreamt up a 3-on-3 tournament with a twist: each team would be paired up with a DeKalb County police officer. Boys and girls ages 11-18 would come for basketball, but leave with a personal connection to the law enforcement community. And vice versa.
With all that’s been happening across America, Gates saw an opportunity to change things at the grassroots level.
“It’s so important that we encourage interaction between kids and cops and strengthen that relationship,” Gates said.
It’s a noble idea, but would it, he wondered, gain any traction?
The phone call he received changed everything.
On the other end was the Community Relations team from the Atlanta Hawks. They wanted to support Gates’ tournament in any way they could.
Need uniforms? We’ve got them. Games and entertainment? No problem. Tournament logo and signage? We can handle that. Oh, and we’ll send the Hawks mascot and some cheerleaders while we’re at it.
Gates was floored. His small idea to make a positive change in the community was now being fully embraced by an NBA franchise. Things just got real.
“I really felt like God was working in this circumstance,” he recalled. “Knowing that DeKalb Police were so committed to having a space where officers could interact with the community, and then for the Hawks to offer to help in this way…it was the hand of God.”
For their part, DeKalb Police have embraced the idea of a basketball tournament with open arms.
“These kids are the future leaders of our community,” says Tucker’s police liaison, Lt. R.S. Smith. “In some cases, they’ll be our brothers and sisters on the police force. It’s so important that we take opportunities like this tournament to connect with them and get to know them in a positive environment. Our officers are really grateful and looking forward to April 29.”
The tournament has a name (“Tucker Hoop Summit”), a date (April 29) and a location (Tucker High School). Not only are the Atlanta Hawks and DeKalb Police onboard, the Police Athletic League, Tucker Recreation Center and the City of Tucker are also stepping up to support the event.
With less than a month until the tournament, Gates’ dream is on the cusp of being a reality.
“Our partner agencies have come together in some ways that they haven’t before,” Gates said. “It’s encouraging and inspiring to know that we live in a city where people are taking pride in the health and well-being of their community.”
