The inaugural Dreams to Destiny Football Camp is set to kick off this weekend. Second Baptist Church, in partnership with Empowered Life Community Development Corporation and the Spearmen Youth Development Center, is launching the camp for nearly 150 children from the Erie Public School District and R.B. Wiley Community Charter School. The students are in third through sixth grade. The camp focuses on combining a love for sports with literacy development.
“It was several conversations. It was organic,” said Rev. Darrell K. Cook. “We had conversations around literacy, team building and digital responsibility among our kids. Once I connected with Steve [Spearmen], we discussed football as a platform to have these conversations in an environment that makes sense. We have the kids’ attention when we’re talking about football, and football just opens the door.”
The free camp was funded through donations from Wegmans, Donatos Pizza and the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC).
The camp will open tonight at 6 p.m. at Second Baptist Church with the literacy component of the program. The children will rotate through different stations focused on reading comprehension, digital literacy, financial literacy and social-emotional learning, according to Rev. Cook.
“What we’re doing tonight is the literacy portion with the parents because it starts at home,” said Spearmen. “Once we educate them on the beginning stages of what we’re trying to do, then we’ll have fun with the kids. They’ll be there for the camp. My main goal is to make sure they are academically prepared for the future.”
The camp will shift to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. Campers will participate in football activities while also engaging with educational topics at each station. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Spearmen will lead the coaching staff along with several community leaders, including former Cathedral Prep standout football player Billy Lucas.
“Football was a big part of my life and still is a big part of my life,” said Lucas. “So it means the world to me to be able to give back to the kids through something that many would say I excelled in. It’s important to give back in a way where they can learn while also being exposed to literacy. It’s amazing to do something positive for the community and the kids through something I love.”
Leaders hope the camp becomes the launching point for an annual program and other community events designed to enrich the lives of children throughout the city.
“I’m hoping that it takes off,” said Spearmen. “I’m hoping that we can get an inner-city youth football league going. I’m hoping we can raise some money to create a fund so we can manage it and make sure these young men and women have the right equipment and all the tools they need to become great.”