Local Nonprofit’s Midnight Basketball Reaching, Positively Impacting Inner-City Youth

Soy OKC is an Oklahoma City nonprofit that is making a huge difference in the lives of inner-city youth. 

Soy OKC, stands for Saving Our Youth OKC.

When Priscilla Meadows-Norwood started midnight basketball 23 years ago, she had no idea of the impact it would have. 

“It’s just a good safe environment for our youth to come out and enjoy a Friday night,” Meadows-Norwood said. 

Every Friday night neighborhood kids come out, to Christ Temple Community Church, located at 2717 N. Kelley Ave., keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. 

“Children can come out and play five and five basketball. They get free food, free drinks, and free Kona ice.” Meadows-Norwood said. 

There’s also a moon bounce, games for all ages, tutoring, mentoring, music, and lots of fun. And the kids are loving it.

“It’s something we can do in the summertime,” said one of the kids. 

Mack Jones came to the camp at 5 years old. He later moved to Washington with his family. He went on to play college and semi-pro basketball. 

Mack remembers playing on the blacktop with portable goals that they had to bring out every week. Now there is a full outdoor court. 

“To see this as a grown up now, and basketball meaning so much to me, and having this court here, it really means a lot.” Jones said. 

The motivation behind the concept is to show kids that the community cares about them. Meadows-Norwood said sadly some of the kids come because they don’t have food at home. 

Midnight basketball is every Friday during the summer months, from 7 p.m. to midnight. Everyone is welcome, and everything is completely free for participants.

The group is always looking for volunteers as well as additional sponsors, you can email them at soyyouthokc@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: News 9 is part of a local initiative that brings all of our local media outlets together to give Oklahoma a United Voice in promoting a healthy dialogue on race. To see more stories, visit UnitedVoiceOK.org.