Community Impact
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport will hold its second annual Juneteenth 3‑on‑3 basketball tournament and backyard barbecue on June 19, inviting teams of four players from grades five through twelve.
Organizers expect about 128 young athletes to compete, emphasizing equal access to youth sports by removing pay‑to‑play barriers.
The event is presented by People’s Credit Union and carried out in partnership with Viking Hoops and the Butler Basketball Club, adding a DJ, hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s to the festivities.
Heather Hole Strout, executive director of the MLK Community Center, explained that the tournament reflects a broader mission to provide affordable recreation for Newport County residents through programs in food, education and community support.
Sean Daly, head of People’s Credit Union, said the partnership underscores the credit union’s commitment to the community, while Viking Hoops founder Jim Psaras and his daughter Julia Psaras highlighted the growth of their nonprofit basketball initiative.
Butler Basketball Club, founded in 2016 by Randy Butler and Janetta Donovan, continues to use the sport as a vehicle for community programming, and the tournament marks a milestone for the organization.
The center served more than 8,700 people last year, illustrating the impact of its outreach, and officials hope this year’s Juneteenth celebration will build on that momentum.