Lawmaker, J.J. Barea launch basketball initiative in schools

By THE STAR STAFF

District 13 (Manatí, Florida, Barceloneta and Arecibo) Rep. Jerry Nieves Rosario, who chairs the House Northern Region Committee, joined former NBA basketball player José Juan Barea and other sports advocates at Juan Ponce de León II School in the Municipality of Florida to launch the initiative “El Junte Pa’ Tu Cancha.”

“The idea is to transform and empower the student population,” Nieves Rosario said. “It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the special event ‘El Junte Pa’ Tu Cancha,’ a community outreach event supported by outstanding Puerto Rican basketball player José Juan Barea. This event, which takes place in various schools, seeks to inspire, motivate, and promote the comprehensive development of youth through sports and community unity.”

“El Junte Pa’ Tu Cancha” was born in recognition of the importance of rescuing and revitalizing sports spaces in island communities, the legislator noted. Sports, beyond competition, are a powerful tool for social transformation, he said.

Barea, a source of national pride who won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks and an example of perseverance in international basketball, is the motivational epicenter of the event, which includes:

* Sports clinics led by Barea and other sports professionals

* Motivational talks and leadership workshops

* Spaces for dialogue between young people and inspirational figures

* Cleaning and beautification of the selected court

* Recreational and cultural activities for the entire family.

“We have a very serious commitment to our student population,” Nieves Rosario said. “For this reason, we will not rest in our efforts to positively impact the daily lives of our beloved students, who are the future of our beloved Puerto Rico.”