BY STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com
With the objective of serving under-appreciated youth, The BASE was officially launched Wednesday, April 24 in Indianapolis.
At a gathering of leaders and supporters at the downtown Strada Education Network, the game plan was presented for The BASE Indy.
Founded in 2013 by Robert Lewis Jr., The BASE was started in Boston as a outgrowth of that city’s Astros youth baseball program.
Lewis began coaching the Astros in Boston’s Villa Victoria public housing develop in the 1970s and the president was in Indiana’s capitol to talk about the organization that has now expanded to Chicago, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.
Rob Barber, president of The BASE Indy, spoke about the need and the vision of the group.
Tysha Sellers, executive director of the Edna Martin Christian Center, explained a community partnership.
Milt Thompson, attorney and a familiar voice on Indianapolis TV and radio, told the folks how they can lend financial support.
Indiana native Chuck Harmon, the first black man to play for the Cincinnati Reds and a long-time leader in the sports world who died March 19 at 94, was remembered and honored.
Videos were shown that showed how The BASE operates in Boston and how Pete Rose is on board as a supporter.
Another featuring players from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis pointed out the need.
Lewis rallied the troops Wednesday.
“We’re going to be where our young folks need us most,” said Lewis. “We have to be here.
“Is it about the money? Yes. But engagement is what it’s all about. We are who we’ve been waiting for. Superman and Superwoman are not walking through that door.
“We’re not going to take a day off. We’re not going to take an hour off. We’re going to be right in the grind.”
Lewis talked about empowering the community and that parks and playgrounds that build communities.
“Folks, we have an opportunity to do something special,” said Lewis. “We can change and uplift communities. We have to stand for something bigger than ourselves. Indy, let’s do this.”
From those parks and playgrounds, those young people can be educated and enter the workforce, be productive citizens and provide for their families.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s about the jobs,” said Lewis.
Chuck Harmon’s daughter and caregiver, Cheryl, traveled from Cincinnati to receive a mementos, including a proclamation from Indianapolis mayor Joe Hogsett declaring Chuck Harmon Day in the city. Harmon was a native of Washington, Ind.
“It’s Cheryl’s cousins that I grew up with and had a tremendous impact on our family,” said Barber, who grew up in southern Indiana and played baseball at Indiana University. “It’s probably a big reason why I’m here today.”
Barber talked about walking about from his former long-time occupation and that The BASE is where he’s supposed to be.
Last summer and fall, Barber visited kids around the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood.
“There is a movement happening on the near northeast side of Indianapolis,” said Sellers. “There’s 12,000 people within Martindale-Brightwood. There are a number of people within this community that believe there is a vision to be a thriving community.
“We can come together and make things happen with partnerships. (Young people) are only looking for opportunities to succeed. And they sometimes need people to help connect the dots. We don’t do it alone.”
Sellers, who was born and raised in Martindale-Brightwood, said the Edna Martin Christian Center focuses on education, financial stability for families and community health.
“We want them to move on to college and career and be successful so that they can come back and invest in a community at a higher level in order for us to break the poverty cycle,” said Sellers. “This is about us empowering this community. This is about us working with the community.
“They’re not only going to rebuild this community, but others as well. They’ll come back to wherever they came from to give back to that area.”
There are many other partners, including Play Ball Indiana (part of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and universities around Indianapolis.
Barber, who coached Jeff Mercer (the current Indiana University head coach) when he was younger, took some players from The BASE Indy to their first collegiate baseball game in Bloomington in March.
“I cannot believe how well those young men handled themselves and how polite they were,” said Barber.
One of those youngsters — a player at Arsenal Tech coached by Bob Haney named Josh Morrow — has dreams of being an astrophysicist. Some of the debate at the ball game was about gravity on MIrars.
Barber believes that such high aspirations can be obtained through The BASE Indy and its partners.
He spoke about most people being born on second base with their children coming into the world on third base.
Many of those who The BASE Indy will serve have not even gotten up to the plate.
“One of the things that The BASE is extraordinary at doing is equipping and strengthening the legs of the kids so as they get to first base, they have the resources they need in life to begin to be successful and knock down some of those barriers,” said Barber.
Relating a conversation that he had with Irvington Preparatory Academy coach Davon Hardy, Barber heard about the struggles some of the players have to go through just to get to school and the baseball diamond.
One has no electricity at home.
Another is without food.
A third has a father who is incarcerated.
“What priority would baseball be in there life?,” said Barber, echoing Hardy. “At The BASE — before we can get to the part of teaching the baseball skills (former big leaguer Justin Masterson and scout Mike Farrell are among those who will lend their expertise while Indianapolis Indians president and general manager Randy Lewandowski is also involved) — it’s about giving them an incentive to do something.
“There are some walls we’re going to have to run through to create some opportunities and I’m OK with that. I’m a baseball person. But I’m also passionate about doing the right thing.”
Barber said the The BASE has a proven methodology. But it’s a four-letter word that drives it.
“The thing that drives it is love,” said Barber. “It’s that simple.”
That love in Indy is going to headquartered in Martindale-Brightwood.
“We want to raise their expectations,” said Barber. “I was the first person in my family to go to college.”
A passionate advocate of the baseball community, Thompson also talked about raising the bar.
“Expectations are set so low sometimes we don’t know how low we set them,” said Thompson. “How can we achieve anything unless we’re lifted up?”
Thompson, who has represented several professional athletes, recalled a conversation he had with Indiana basketball legend Oscar Robertson.
He asked the Big O, what he would do against Magic Johnson.
“Milt, what would Magic Johnson do against me?,” said Thompson of Robertson’s reply. “It’s mentality. It’s how you think. You set your expectations higher.”
Thompson talked about how one of his school counselors told him that he was best-suited to work with his hands.
“I didn’t get bitter. I got better,” said Thompson. “That was the best advice I ever heard. My first 10 jury trials, during closing arguments, I was using my hands.
“You set the bar higher, you can go get it.”
Thompson said it is necessary to be honest with yourself in all adversity.
“It’s not always easy,” said Thompson. “You’ve got to take a chance.
“We’re going to fill in the gap. We’re going to do unnecessary things because they are necessary.”
Thompson said the dialogue is being changed in inner cities.
“We don’t have underprivileged kids anymore we have under-appreciated kids,” said Thompson. “That’s the people we’re talking about. They have every have every possibility of greatness. They’re going to use their hands when they talk.
“Want to play the game? Want to pitch in? There are several things we can do.”
Among those things are hosting a fundraiser for the Urban Classic (which will be staged in Indianapolis for the first time in July), sponsor a college tour or career day, serve on an advisory board (education, baseball/softball or life skills/career), connect your personal contacts to The BASE Indy and make a donation to the cause.
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