Who We Are

Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops (DSGSH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of young people. We offer opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills, build resilience, and reach their full potential. Our programs are tailored for underserved youth and young adults, especially those affected by gun violence or living in high-risk neighborhoods. Through our initiatives, we aim to foster personal growth, teamwork, and emotional well-being, with a focus on reducing gun violence and promoting unity within communities..

Our Programs:
Building Strong Leaders for Today and Tomorrow

Basketball & Leadership Training

Our basketball programs go beyond the game. We teach life skills such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and strategic thinking while building self-confidence and leadership abilities.

Trauma Healing & Support

We offer a space for youth who have been impacted by gun violence to heal and process their emotions through trauma-informed care, group healing and on-on-one mentoring.

Violence Prevention Events

_{Whether it’s hosting basketball} _{tournaments in our inner-city neighborhoods or organizing talent shows that highlight the diverse skills of our youth, we create safe spaces to educate communities on violence prevention. Our events also raise awareness about gun violence and its profound impact on our young people.}

The impact we’ve made, by the numbers.

2023-2024

Youth & Young Adults Served

Free Programs

Boys to Men Program Graduates

Our Center For Excellence

In 2024, we proudly launched our Center for Excellence – a dedicated space designed to help our youth grow, learn, and feel supported. Below, you’ll find an overview of the center’s features and the option to reserve the space for your upcoming event!

_{Youth Connect Area}

Space for up to 12 youth

_{Safe & engaging environment for youth to connect with peers}

W-fi
65″ Smart TV
Basketball Fun Zone
Plush Beanbags

Reserve

Private Office Space

1 Office room

_{_{Safe space for 1-2 people to work}}

W-fi
Printer
Sitting/Standing Desk
Main Amenities

Reserve

Classroom

15 seats at tables

_{Space to teach and learn valuable skills}

W-fi
Dry/Erase Board
Stationary

Reserve

Podcast Room

2-4 seats

_{Platform to create content and share stories}

W-fi
Podcast Equipment
LED Lighting

Reserve

Expanding our Reach

Our work isn’t just about basketball- its about creating lasting impact. We’re dedicated to expanding our programs to reach more youth and young adults in underserved areas, particularly those impacted by gun violence. By implementing youth programming, hosting basketball events and community gatherings, we can connect with families and offer resources, mentorship, and hope to those who need it most.

Learn More

We’d love to host your community’s next violence prevention event!

Schedule an event Now

Support our Mission: Get Involved!

We rely on the generosity of people like you to continue our vital work in the community. Here’s How you can help:

Donate: Whether its a one-time donation, monthly contribution, or annual commitment, your support helps us provide free programs, mentorship, and life-changing opportunities for youth.
Volunteer: Get involved and make a direct impact in the lives of young people. Volunteer your time, expertise, or mentorship to help guide the next generation of leaders.
Attend our Events: Join us for our annual gala and basketball events, where you can connect with like-minded supporters, learn about our work, and help fund the growth of our programs.

Words from Our Youth

I just wanted to say I’m thankful for every member in DSGSH. Thank y’all for this camp this really meant a lot to me. I love how y’all run the camp and I love the name “Dont Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops” and the other “Boys to Men”. From what I’ve been seeing and what I’ve been taught while I been here everything really hit me and everything they talk to us about at this camp is everything we need to know to succeed in life. They are the same skin color as us trying to get us head smarts so that we wont be stuck in a lifestyle cycle that people my skin color believe is the way to live. They wanna see and give us the stuff they was missing at our age and I got real love and respect. Always.