A Community Celebration Returns for Its Second Year
The MLK Community Center, a fixture of recreation in Rhode Island for nearly eight decades, is set to host its second annual Juneteenth 3×3 Basketball Tournament and BBQ on June 19, 2026. The free event, aimed at youth aged five to twelve, expects 128 participants to form teams of four for a day of competition and camaraderie.
In partnership with Butler Basketball and Viking Hoops, the tournament blends sport with a festive atmosphere, featuring a barbecue, music, and treats supplied by Ben & Jerry’s. Registration is required despite the free admission, ensuring that every child who wishes to play can be accommodated.
Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director of the MLK Center, expressed gratitude to the sponsors and partners that make the gathering possible. “This event underscores our commitment to equal access to youth sports and to building a spirit of community,” she said.
People’s Credit Union, a long‑standing financial institution founded in 1922 and headquartered in Middletown, Rhode Island, serves as the event’s sponsor. The credit union’s philosophy of investing in programs that create real impact aligns with the Center’s mission.
Viking Hoops, founded by Jim Psaras and now led by his daughter Julia Psaras, brings its own legacy of youth basketball development to the tournament. Butler Basketball Club, established in 2016 by Randy Butler and Janetta Donovan, also contributes to the competitive field.
The MLK Community Center itself traces its roots back to 1922, when it first opened its doors as a modest recreational hub. Renamed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, the Center has grown to serve over 8,700 individuals in the past year alone, the highest number in its history.
Beyond the basketball action, the event offers a space for families to connect, for local businesses to showcase their support, and for the broader community to celebrate Juneteenth’s heritage of freedom and unity.