In a notable first-time collaboration, Uplift Project, Inc. (UPI), the Beta Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and USA Lacrosse jointly sponsored their first-ever lacrosse clinic last week as part of the 6th District Boys Leadership Camp on the campus of Winston-Salem State (NC) University.
The annual week-long camp seeks to provide enrichment opportunities for 8-14 year-old African-American boys from North and South Carolina. Over 250 boys participated in the lacrosse clinic, which was added to the camp’s line-up of activities for the first time this year.
Brian Silcott, vice-president for sport growth and development at USA Lacrosse, served as head clinician for the event.
“The enthusiasm and eagerness to learn that I saw from these young boys was incredible,” Silcott said. “Lacrosse has a rich history and is a sport that offers so much in terms of physical fitness, teamwork, and discipline. I was thrilled to be part of bringing it to this community.”
Silcott provided the campers with an overview of the Native American origins of lacrosse and informed them about great African-American lacrosse players like NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown. He then introduced the fundamentals of ground balls, passing, and dodging.
USA Lacrosse also supported the clinic with sticks and balls for all the participants.
The idea for the clinic arose from conversations between Jackson Spells, a 2024 Duke lacrosse commit, and his father, Darrell, a member of both the UPI programming committee and the Beta Phi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
"We felt like this was the perfect opportunity to expose a large number of kids to a game many have never seen,” said Jackson Spells. "Our goal is to grow the game. We wanted to introduce these boys to lacrosse and hopefully spark an interest that will grow into a lifelong passion."
Dr. Melvin Miller, chairman of the Boys Leadership Camp, appreciated the opportunity to provide the campers with exposure to a different sport.
“This clinic represented a significant step in expanding the horizons of our campers,” Miller said. “We are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage our boys and provide them with opportunities they may not have had otherwise. Lacrosse was a fantastic addition to our camp, and we are grateful to UPI and USA Lacrosse for making this possible.”
Uplift Project, Inc. is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide education, mentoring, strategic leadership, and community development to help young people prepare for future success.
"Partnering with USA Lacrosse and the 6th District of Omega Psi Phi for this clinic has been a remarkable endeavor and they have been fantastic partners,” said Brian Beverly, president of Uplift Project, Inc. “Our mission includes creating opportunities and providing resources for young people to experience new things and develop diverse interests. This inaugural lacrosse clinic certainly fits the bill.”
For more information about USA Lacrosse's diversity initiatives, please visit usalacrosse.com/diversity-inclusion.
