Area Teens Hope To Follow Ivy League Footsteps Of One Of Their Own
By Barson Harris

Members of Brooklyn Chiefs wear No. 69 to show support for "one of their own" during recent visit to University of Pennsylvania.

Thirty-five youngsters and adult chaperones from the Brooklyn Chiefs Youth Organization boarded a bus and headed south to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia last Saturday. The Chiefs (not to be confused with Canarsie High School sports teams) is a non-profit organization that uses competitive sports to attract local teenagers to improve the academic, social and health of youngsters by their participation in football and other aspects of the program.

The excursion provided an early introduction to post-secondary education and information about specific activities they need in order to gain entry to Ivy League institutions.

According to a report by the Task Force on the City University of New York's (CUNY) Black Male Initiative "…exposure to college should begin as early as second grade. This exposure shows a direct correlation with improved literacy rates and graduation while decreasing incarceration and other undesirable outcomes (2006)."

A major supporter of this trip was Senator John L. Sampson, who said, "…What made my decision to support this project 'a no-brainer' was the Chiefs' fusion of sports with academics. Every sports program should follow their lead…The singular focus on sports is archaic."

Another interesting dynamic was that a former resident of both the Glenwood and Breukelen houses is currently a starter for the university's football team. Naheem Harris was born and raised in Canarsie and presently is the starting defensive tackle for the Quakers. From his campus dorm room, Naheem coordinated the tour and also secured guest passes to UPenn's game last Saturday against Georgetown University. By the way, the Quakers defeated the Hoyas, 48-13.

"It is important that I never forget where I come from. I had the same challenges as any young person from Canarsie. If I can do it, so can they. I want to contribute to helping kids from my neighborhood succeed," he told his visitors

London Nichols, 17, starting defensive lineman for the Chiefs, was impressed. "I am definitely applying to this school. I am going to re-take my SATs so that I can submit a higher score. If Naheem can go from the projects to an Ivy League school, so can I."

The Chiefs will host Homecoming Weekend on October 20-21 at nearby Thomas Jefferson football field at Flatlands and Shepherd avenues. The community is invited to participate in the Homecoming parade, which will assemble at Flatlands and Pennsylva-nia avenues at 9:30 a.m. on October 21, before the Chiefs face the Staten Island Hurricanes.

For further information about the Brooklyn Chiefs, visit them on line at www.Brooklyn Chiefs.Com or call Executive Director/Founder Barry "Jus" Hall at 646-731-8180.

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