BOSTON, April 23, 2015—Kids and teens from across Boston and Revere came together at UMass Boston with prosecutors, victim advocates, and others who serve their communities at District Attorney Dan Conley’s seventh annual Basketball for Peace tournament in Dorchester.

“So many times when we hear about violent crime in Boston, we hear about this neighborhood fighting with that neighborhood, or this street fighting with that one, or even one block against another,” Conley said to the assembled group of about 100 kids between 12 and 15. “But the truth is, most young people in this city aren’t fighting. You’re going to school. You’re playing sports. You’re hanging out with your friends. And every one of you deserves the opportunity to do that safely, with the support of those of us in law enforcement.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley was joined by sports and media giants for the 7th annual Basketball for Peace tournament this week at UMass Boston. From left are Jermaine Wiggins, former New England Patriots tight end and current radio personality; Charlie Titus, legendary UMass Boston athletics director; Bryan Salmond, FOX-25 sports reporter; Leon Powe, former Boston Celtics power forward and currant consultant; District Attorney Dan Conley; Steve Burton, WBZ-TV sports reporter and youth advocate; and Cary Shuman, editor in chief of the Independent Newspaper Group and recipient of the Massachusetts State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Award.

Conley organized the annual games seven years ago to supplement the Soccer for Peace tournament he’s hosted each summer since taking office. The goal is to bring kids together with each other and with the law enforcement professionals who protect them, building bridges between individuals and forging bonds with prosecutors. Conley’s assistant district attorneys, victim advocates, civilian investigators, and support staff all turned out in force to referee, distribute uniforms, serve food, and otherwise assist in the games.

The games were held this year at UMass Boston – a school, Conley said, that has turned out political leaders, visionaries in science and technology, and countless successful men and women who sought a world-class education in the heart of Boston.

As in prior years, Conley named a handful of public figures as honorary captains and role models for the kids:

Leon Powe, who scored 21 points for the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, addressed about 100 kids and teens at Suffolk DA Dan Conley’s 7th annual Basketball for Peace tournament this week. Powe drove home the importance of education as a starting point for every career, whether in sports, business, or any other field.

Steve Burton, sports director for WBZ-TV news; Michael Holley, legendary sports reporter and current WEEI radio host; Brian Salmand, anchor for FOX-25 news; Cary Shuman, editor in chief of the Independent Newspaper Group; and Jermaine Wiggins, former New England Patriots player and current Hot 96.7 radio personality. Vice Chancellor Charlie Titus, UMass Boston’s first director of athletics and an inaugural member of the Little East Conference Hall of Fame, was honored with a lifetime achievement award. Former Boston Celtics power forward and current Boston Celtics consultant Leon Powe was the day’s featured guest speaker.

As a special gift, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate pledged a free VIP tour for every young player who attended.

The youngsters represented teams from the Young players this year will represent the Blackstone Community Center, the Bromley Heath Tenant Management Corporation; St. Peter’s Teen Center; the New Academy Estates; Codman Academy Charter High School; Project RIGHT Inc.; the Revere Police Athletics League; and the South Boston Community Center. Partner agencies include UMass Boston, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, New Balance, the Boston Celtics, and Crystal Rock. Conley’s game plan had the teams playing against each other for the first five games, then mixing things up for a second set of five games by creating new teams whose players didn’t know one another.

“It’s a way of creating trust and friendship with other kids and learning that we’re all much more alike than different,” Conley said.

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