Leditt Butler, Hub City Street Hoops Y1000 provides opportunity for Lubbock area youth

LUBBOCK, Texas — With our focus on Non-Profit Organizations who truly give back to the community, I couldn’t think of a better person or organization to feature for our sports story than Leditt Butler and his growing sensation after school program: Hub City Street Hoops Y1000 (HCSHY1000).

What originally started out several years ago as a simple idea for a neighborhood street ball program, for LISD Teacher Assistant and basketball enthusiast Leditt Butler, quickly began to grow over a short period of time. Some things in the universe are just meant to be, and it seems that Butler was the right guy for the task of filling an inspiration gap in the area by becoming a mentor and source for kids of all ages who are looking for something positive and fulfilling to do after school.

“It started simply with just my nephews and having games at the YWCA gym, and then it morphed into about 10 kids joining us daily, and before we knew it we had 30-kids showing up at the gym every day,” says Butler. “We had kids from Coronado, Monterrey, and then from sections all around town showing up.” The director there (Glenda Mathis) noticed something very cool happening in the afternoons at their gym, and subsequently a great connection was made between the two. “Hub City Street Hoops started with a collaboration at the YWCA with Glenda,” recalls Butler, “and it quickly blossomed into a consistently attended youth program which was great for the kids, as it allowed them a safe and friendly atmosphere to spend quality time with other kids, learn to improve their communication skills, and do it all through what they love the most–athletics.”

And the competition wasn’t bad either. “I believe they also learned the benefits of healthy competition,” says Butler, “we had good competition there every day.” In fact, they have even developed a healthy and friendly annual match with the Lubbock Police and Fire Departments called the Youth vs. Police game. “It’s great for the youths,” says Butler, “and first responders to see each other in a different light—it’s been great because we have started an annual event where we all get to come together, have some good and healthy competition and get to know each other better on a personal level, which is great for everybody.”

Over time the program has grown into a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. “What started at the YWCA on 35th (which is now at 63rd & Elgin) eventually moved to the 1-9 skatepark over off E. 19th, and now we have moved the program permanently to Project Intercept. Project Intercept is an alternative school for kids with learning challenges, and it’s designed to give our youth a place to come after school to escape those problems that they may have connecting with other kids,” says Butler.

“We also,” states Butler,” “work alongside the school with their after-school programs, which combines both a healthy and safe environment for kids who may not otherwise have that kind of space to be in otherwise.” The after-school program runs every weekday from 4-6 for the school, and is open to the public for all kids from 6-8pm and summers. The only requirement is that they must be between the ages of 10-17 years old. “In the summer however,” says Butler, “we go some days from 10am to 8pm. The address is 1323 E. 24th St.

It’s easy to see when talking with Leditt how passionate he is about the program. “I love interacting with the youth of our community,” states Butler, “when I originally started working with the YWCA I started to notice how much I enjoyed becoming both a mentor and friend to many of the youths that I was originally working with. Helping other kids who reminded him a lot of himself when he was their age began to rub off on the Hub City Street Hoops foiunder. Over time it inspired him to an even higher purpose to further his own education and become an educator for the LISD system. “That (helping the kids) made me want to become a Teacher Assistant,” says Butler, “I saw myself in them, and was inspired internally to help them too.”

Lubbock is fortunate to have folks like Leditt Butler in the community. Rare it is these days when people give so much of their time in order to help out others. The youth of our community deserve great mentors like Leditt, and organizations like Hub City Street Hoops. And he is not stopping there. Says Butler, “We are currently updating our website to split Hub City Hoops from our new nonprofit organization, which is now called Hub City Y-100 (HCSHY1000). Its main focus goes beyond basketball, and focuses more towards a youth and community based program to empower them to become a bigger part of the community growth here in Lubbock.

HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN GET INVOLVED:  HCSHY1000 takes donations and 100% of all proceeds go directly to the program. “Right now,” says Butler, “all funding goes towards snacks and equipment for the kids. In the future we are looking to purchase a new vehicle for transportation, which will give access to more Lubbock area kids to visit and benefit from the facility usage.” Adds Butler, “So there’s lots of opportunity for our program to grow–all donations are appreciated and go to a great cause to support all of our youth here in Lubbock who want to participate, between the ages of 10 and 17. All kids are welcome to our Y1000 program for things like MENTORING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH–we also want to create programs that help our youth to determine and plan their long term goals, whether they be community based, or individual growth base.”

HOW TO CONTACT THE ORGANIZATION:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.hubcitystreethoops.com

Mail: 2820 61st St.  Lubbock, TX  79413

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.