At the Durango Juvenile Detention Facility in South Phoenix, a modest gym has become the launchpad for a pioneering program that fuses basketball with behavioral health.
Founded by Dana Burns, a South Phoenix activist who herself has experienced incarceration, the initiative — called “Shoot Your Shot” — aims to curb youth violence by teaching resilience, positive decision‑making and life‑skills to the facility’s roughly 130 residents.
Basketball as a Bridge to Behavioral Health
Each afternoon, the echo of bouncing balls mixes with the rustle of worksheets. Participants take part in free‑throw drills that double as moments of reflection, while trained staff guide them through exercises that replace negative vocabulary with constructive language.
The curriculum, developed by A Permanent Voice, integrates mental‑health education with sports, offering books and worksheets that help teens navigate challenges such as choosing healthier social circles and resisting negative influences.
Community Engagement and Mentorship
Mark Eastin, community and culture manager at Maricopa County Juvenile Detention, stresses that relatability is key; programs that mirror the lived experiences of youths are far more likely to succeed.
Eastin notes that the partnership with local volunteers and the broader South Phoenix community creates a network of mentors who remain connected to participants after release, offering resources and continued support.
One teen in the program expressed a simple yet powerful ambition: to become a role model for younger siblings and nieces, showing that a different path is possible.
A Permanent Voice: Building a Stronger South Phoenix
The organization behind the initiative, A Permanent Voice, focuses on strengthening the South Phoenix community and addressing key local issues. Its work extends beyond the detention facility, seeking to empower youth through mentorship, education and advocacy.
Learn more about the program and its impact at https://apermanentvoice.org.