SPHA IN THE NEWS - SPHA Partnering with City of St. Petersburg on Youth Basketball Program
Video report by Kyle Burger, ABC Action News Sports Anchor/Reporter
Article by Nick Fokianos, SPHA Director of Communications
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is partnering with the City of St. Petersburg on a youth basketball program. The Rising Stars Midnight Basketball Showcase is designed to empower local youth through sports, teamwork, and mentorship.
The co-ed basketball program consists of SPHA youth ages 11-17, divided into two age groups: one for ages 11-13 and another for ages 14-17.
SPHA IN THE NEWS:
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"The goal is to build a future of leaders. For them to come and hone in on their skills and build other qualities," said Kiara Lovett, SPHA Director of Social Services. "A lot of the youth spend a lot of time outside playing football, racing, riding bikes. We wanted to incorporate basketball, which would, in turn, build their skills and create positive relationships amongst other youth in their community."
"I can remember-it was a long time ago-basketball was the hook for me. It kept me out of trouble," said Michael Lundy, SPHA President and CEO. "It gave something of a structure and it taught me some skills. As I got older I realized that there's a correlation between basketball and life. And as you learn your basketball skills, you have to practice, you got to show up on time, you got to follow the rules, you got to follow instructions, you got to play as a team."
Tournament Details:
- Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Location: Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center, 1000 28th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
- Admission: Free and open to the public
For more information, contact Kiara Lovett at klovett@stpeteha.org.
SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.
ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):
An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.