Menchaca brings NYPD and Red Hook youth together, by Nathan Weiser

The first annual Unity in the Community event with Red Hook youth and the NYPD was held in Red Hook on July 30. The day began at 3 pm with street soccer on the fields in Bush Clinton Park, and later four basketball games took place at the Miccio Community Center.

According to Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who played in both the soccer and basketball games, this celebration was put together to create more unity in the community. Some of the organizations that were represented the event included Street Soccer USA, the Old Timers’ Committee, the NYPD, the Red Hook Community Justice Center, Good Shepherd Services and Red Hook Initiative. Fairway contributed food for all the participants.

Kids from the Buena Vista Futbol Club were playing on the Street Soccer field outdoors even in the rain. Adults were playing on the newer field. Tents with food lined Bush Clinton Park. When the rain made the basketball courts not playable, everything was moved inside. Four basketball games ensued between Red Hook and the NYPD.

Menchaca and his staff began planning the event in March at the request of local youth. “This is a test, and I think we accomplished it,” he said. “We want to do it again.”

Menchaca tasked Janet Andrews, a community organizer with the councilman, with finding the kids and police to participate. According to Andrews, all of the youth at the event were either involved in programs at the Miccio Center, attend Pave Academy or are from the community.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Andrews and Menchaca addressed the packed Miccio Center in between games after a performance by an eight-person step dance group. Andrews talked about representing peace, unity and love as well as promoting positiveness.

According to a policeman inside the Miccio, officers particpated from the 76th Precinct and from PSA 1. He said that there were 14 different officers who played basketball with the youth.

An announcer called out all of the highlights while a DJ played music during the games. People stood at the entrance to the gym along one baseline, sat on both sides, and more people from the community were sitting on the stage above the court watching the action. All of the participants in the basketball games wore Unity in the Community t-shirts in various colors of red, white or orange.

The intention of Unity in the Community is to create positive interactions between police officers and local youth. By bringing the two groups together, a more trusting understanding of each other will be fostered over time.