Home Court Partners with A Boy and His Dream Foundation to Honor Garfield Park Scholars

With clear skies and scorching weather, Breakthrough’s Home Court series held its first outdoor installment of the summer on Friday, June 29. Food, games, competition and scholastic achievement were seminal in bringing the East Garfield Park community together in the sweltering sun.

Home Court, an annual summer block party series, was created more than a decade ago to offer a safe and engaging space for the residents of Garfield Park during its historically violent summer months. With help from the community and long-time partners, Home Court has grown from a youth basketball tournament to a summer-long, weekend block party for all ages. Thanks to collaboration with Communities Partnering 4 Peace, each Home Court Friday features a concert or movie screening following the daytime activities.

As young adults get ready to transition to college life across the country, A Boy and His Dream Founder Sunny Akhigbe chose eight high school seniors from East Garfield Park to honor at the Foundation’s first scholarship award ceremony Friday. Founded in 2015, “A Boy and His Dream” was created to help support children like the four billion youth globally dealing with a lack of resources and opportunity similar to what Akhigbe experienced growing up.

Akhigbe said being able to support the recipients in their educational endeavors is the type of legacy he always wanted for himself and his foundation.

“Just knowing that from 10 years from now, A Boy and His Dream will be part of the change we are hoping to see in this world, that is the legacy and impact we hope to leave,” he said. “It all starts with just one kid.”

The Home Court series is committed to serving the residents of Garfield Park, including its youth. Through fun and engaging activities, Breakthrough hopes to bring the community together to usher in a safe and stable summer for all to enjoy.