E-Mail
Print
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) -- which has been in the headlines recently for its work in investigating synthetic drugs and bath salts -- was among those that worked to bring the training camp called "Game Changers" to Buffalo.
The training camp runs on Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through early October at the Delavan Grider Community Center.
This training camp is focusing on "high-speed" basketball, not the playground variety, said Dale Kasprzyk, DEA Resident Agent in Charge, who spoke during the announcement on Friday.
"We're bringing in professional basketball trainers. We're bringing in young people that have played college basketball at a very high level," he said.
Other groups -- such as Kids Escaping Drugs -- will be discussing drug issues and available drug-treatment programs, said Kasprzyk.
"We have people from the Buffalo Police Department and the community action officers from the police department will be here to talk to the parents ... about any issues that they may have," he said.
The Game Changers program is modeled after Saturday Night Lights in Manhattan, the city said.
The money for the program comes from confiscated drug money.
"By using money seized from cases that take drug dealers off the streets, we are able to give kids in this neighborhood a safe and fun place to go on a Friday night," he said.
