Dominic Brown and friends are on a mission to help at-risk kids from our toughest neighborhoods embrace sports, not crime or drugs
A Boutte couple and a friend who is studying to become a pastor are working hard to keep parish kids active in sports – and out of trouble.
They started their good work after they were told the Boutte Booster Club was looking for new leadership and couldn’t continue without it.
That’s when Dominic Brown, his wife, Triche, and Ralph Young agreed to “pick up the ball” and run with it.
“This club is important to parents and to children because it helps kids keep busy and gives them something positive to focus on,” Dominic told the Herald-Guide.
“Through sports activities the kids learn life skills like leadership, responsibility and determination.”
“We teach these kids about goals and we steer them in the right direction by challenging them with healthy and wholesome sports competition.”
Dominic says he recruits children from communities with the “worst reputations.” He encourages them to channel their energy
into baseball, football, and basketball instead of the ugly alternatives: drugs, crime, violence and life on the streets.
“We have good kids in every community that are getting into trouble because there is nothing constructive for them to do to stay busy,” he said.
“What we need are gyms in areas like Boutte, Luling, Des Allemands and the surrounding communities. They would give children a safe place to play instead of hanging out in areas with high drug and crime statistics.”
Dominic reminds kids that athletics is only half of the solution.
To play high school and college sports, kids still have to maintain good grades.
“My wife tutors some of the kids on the team who may be having problems with their class work, and Ms. Dana Coons helps also.
She’s a teacher whose son plays on the team,” he continued. So far, 175 kids have enrolled.
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