The Magic Johnson
Foundation and his clothing line Magic 32 have teamed up with the Native American
Youth to Elder Foundation (NAYEF) and local DJ’s to organize a Hip-Hop basketball
league to uplift Native American communities.
The Magic32 NAYEF All-stars
is a basketball league made up of mostly Native Americans that use Hip-Hop and
basketball to speak out against issues plaguing their community.
"I feel that Magic32
and NAYEF share the same qualities of teaching today’s youth the importance
of education, family and a healthy drug free lifestyle," Johnson told AllHipHop.com
"By using basketball as the means of communication it is a great effort
that I am excited to be a part of.”
The Magic 32 NAYEF All-stars
are currently holding tournaments at Indian Reservations and Tribal areas across
the country.
"Our mission is to
simply empower the kids that are native to this country through sports, music
and mentoring." said Nelson Hernandez, an NAYEF organizer. "We are
trying to get kids to realize that they are not invisible and that they deserve
a voice and NAYEF is that voice."
The Magic 32 NAYEF All-stars
hope to not only assists in building stronger Native American communities, but
all communities.
The group also hopes to
establish a stronger Native American presence in Hip-Hop.
"Our players and DJ’s
are role models in the community and have turned their lives around," Hernandez
continued. "This is what we want to show kids. Never give up regardless
of where you grew up. The projects, ghetto, reservations, it’s all the same.
Why not do things better, why not work harder, why not make things happen?"
The Magic 32 NAYEF All-stars
are in the process of starting the second leg of their national tournament with
their first stop at Dry Creek Rancheria Band in Pomo, California and ending
in Lawrence, Kansas.
"With these programs
we hope to create a bridge between the old ways and the new ways," Johnson
added. "We hope to inspire not only Native children but all ages of all
races to challenge themselves and make their dreams become reality. Our basketball
team and presentations are the mouthpiece and living message that kids see in
person."
The Magic Johnson Foundation
was created by Ervin "Magic" Johnson, former NBA Allstar and Vice
President of the Los Angeles Lakers.
For more information log
onto: www.magicjohnson.org.
NAYEF is a non
profit organization established in Utah by CEO and President Nelson Hernandez,
for any questions or info regarding tour dates, contact nayefceo@aol.com
