Finding Solid Ground on the Basketball Court: Araya and Shamiya’s Story

February 9, 2025

In Brownsville, Brooklyn, young people like high school seniors Shamiya and Araya carry a lot on their backs. Years of divestment and institutional racism have left opportunities scarce and communities divided by gang lines. “I think that [people] feel like gangs are the only way to survive, or dropping out of high school or not being able to follow their dreams because they can’t be a kid,” shares Shamiya. It was along this backdrop that Araya and Shamiya first encountered PeacePlayers.

Both girls were in the eighth grade when PeacePlayers’ Coach Alesha and Coach Wray walked into their school and offered something new. “It wasn’t just about basketball. It was also about how we’re feeling, about our mental [health],” says Araya. It was also their first time getting coached by women, someone they could really see themselves in. “They made me feel comfortable in all ways. I could go to them for anything – if I’m feeling down, if I need help with basketball, anything like that.”

PeacePlayers’ core values – seeing people as people, inside-outside transformation, and culture of collaboration – were present in every practice and conversation. “On the court, it helped me a lot. I would get mad so easily. But PeacePlayers taught me to just breathe. You have other teammates, you have help,” Araya shares. Off the court, though, the support and guidance she found also made a difference: “I was just a quiet person. I never spoke up for myself. I would just let people walk over me, and, if I needed help with something, I would never make it known. Now, I’m more of an outspoken person. I try to help people. I never judge anybody, no matter what they’re going through or what kind of background they have.”

Shamiya’s experience followed a similar path. Through basketball, she learned what it means to be a teammate and a leader. One value in particular stayed with her: Seeing People as People. “I go to a school with diverse people, and learning other people and not just seeing them as a color have helped me at school. Also, you’re not only collaborating with your culture, and it’s made me a better person as a whole.”

In addition to their growth on a personal level, PeacePlayers was also key in sustaining their friendship. When it came time for highschool, Shamiya and Araya parted ways, but the program kept them connected. Practices and group meetings created space for deeper understanding, allowing them to learn about each other not only as players, but as individuals. Conversations about emotions – conversations they had not shared before – became possible within the supportive structure PeacePlayers provided.

For Araya and Shamiya, PeacePlayers was more than a place to play. It was a space where two young women found the confidence to believe in themselves, and look to the future with hope.