Planting Justice’s youth interns turning fresh fruits and veggies into healthy smoothies. Photo courtesy of Planting Justice.
As Earth Day approaches, the NBA Foundation recognizes its nonprofit partners that are dedicated to providing career development opportunities in the environmental sector.
Organizations such as Planting Justice, United Way Capital Region and The Blueprint Foundation have all been awarded grants by the NBA Foundation and use those resources to further their respective goals.
Mason Martinez, The Blueprint Foundation’s Communication & Development Manager, said it’s important that their organization has the opportunity to work with an association that many of their students admire.
“It’s been really rewarding to be recognized by a large organization such as the NBA Foundation and to be reaffirmed that we’re on the right track,” Martinez said. “The NBA is a dream and aspiration to our youth who love basketball.”
The NBA Foundation’s continued commitment to support educational career opportunities aligns with United Way California Capital Region.
“Ultimately, our goal is to foster a brighter future for young people in our community,” Dr. Dawnté Early, President and CEO of UWCCR, said.
The work of nonprofits in Oakland has attracted members of the Golden State Warriors, such as Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry, through the shared goal of empowering youth, communities and uplifting strength and resilience that are already in those communities.
“We’re so thankful for the NBA Foundation’s work in our community,” Sherif Musaji, the Communications Director for Planting Justice, said. “It’s all so connected.”
Members of the Blueprint Foundation pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of The Blueprint Foundation.
Getting Opportunities
One of the core values of the NBA Foundation is to provide under-resourced youth with job opportunities in new and growing industries.
UWCCR remembers the tech boom and the missed opportunities. One of the goals from its Green Ambitions program is to make sure new economies are open to diverse communities with the green jobs evolution in California.
“We’re using this grant the way it should be used, with intention, heart and an eye on the future,” Early said.
For Planting Justice, one of its core values is economic justice. It provides opportunities with re-entry services, job skills training and paid internships.
“I think we get a lot more engagement by being able to treat it like a job,” Musaji said. “And that’s a really valuable skill and (provides them with) an environment for learning a lot of different hard and soft skills.”
These nonprofit organizations value their partnership with the NBA Foundation, as it empowers them to expand their reach and connect with more communities.
“Sports at their best, can be such an amazing unifier and (a force for) bringing together the community,” Musaji said. “We really appreciate folks in organizations using their bigger platform and reach for social good.”
The NBA Foundation and Blueprint share the same goal of seeing under-resourced youth transition from school to meaningful employment. With the support of the NBA Foundation, Blueprint has been able to strengthen its programs with new staff, perspectives and partnerships.
In addition, Martinez said The Blueprint Foundation is hoping to pour resources into building a more diverse green movement and a focus on more collaboration with environmentalists of color.
“It’s important for youth to see a reflection of themselves in the professional fields that we’re training them for,” Martinez said.
Expanding Their Relationship
The power of sports creates connections beyond the court.
The work that nonprofits do in cities like Oakland provide a unique bond to organizations such as the Warriors. Even after the Warriors left Oakland in 2019, Planting Justice grant writer Mark Fujiwara says the Warriors made an impact in the culture and life of Oakland by continuously choosing to use their resources to help the city.
“It’s more than just a reinvestment in a community, it’s about building those relationships,” Fujiwara said. “It’s people in the community helping people in the community.”
Dr. Early said because UWCCR saw how the NBA Foundation uplift local organizations throughout the country to do transformative work, they knew they had to be part of that momentum.
“This partnership isn’t just about continuing, it’s about deepening our commitment to justice, opportunity and equity,” Early said.
Learn more about the NBA Foundation and how they support various nonprofits in the environmental sector here.
