Dominant performance by Deaf Community basketball team as they edge out NYPD in exciting court showdown
NYPD and Deaf Community Unite on the Basketball Court
A unique citywide basketball tournament is bringing the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the deaf community together, fostering connections and showcasing potential job opportunities within the NYPD.
The tournament, initiated by Heriberto Almonte and David Perez, students at the Rochester Institute of Technology for the Deaf and interns in the NYPD Summer Internship Program, aims to connect the NYPD with the deaf community. Alden Foster, the assistant commissioner of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, collaborated with Almonte and David on ways for the NYPD to engage the deaf community more effectively.
Almonte and Perez explained that the tournament is an opportunity for young deaf people to learn about job possibilities within the NYPD and build a connection with the NYPD. Playing against the NYPD makes young deaf individuals feel impressed and gives them the realization that there is an opportunity for them within the NYPD.
The Deaf Community team has already won against the NYPD teams from the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. On Aug. 13, they defeated the cops from the Brooklyn team 53-28 at the NYPD Community Center in East New York, leading the series 4-0. The final game between the Deaf Community team and the NYPD's Staten Island team is scheduled for Aug. 14.
The young players are in shape for the final game, and they expressed that winning against the NYPD is about enjoying the game and strategy, and the only obstacle between the Deaf Community team and a clean sweep is the NYPD's Staten Island team.
The NYPD has hired 55 young interns with disabilities for the 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), 22 of whom have hearing impairments. Programs like SYEP show young people with disabilities that there are job opportunities for them at the NYPD and teach cops how to interact with people with disabilities effectively. Alden Foster, the assistant commissioner of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, expressed the importance of NYPD officers learning basic sign language while on patrol.
Officer Angel Familia, the NYPD liaison to the deaf community, has played a key role in this effort by advocating and working to improve accessibility and inclusion for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants in the NYPD’s youth programs. The initiatives help build skills, increase awareness of law enforcement careers, and foster a connection between the deaf community and police.
While detailed statistical data on the overall impact or year-by-year achievements are not provided in the current search results, the program's emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility highlights significant progress in diversifying youth opportunities in law enforcement. Additional achievements include visible community engagement and recognition, such as sports events involving deaf participants and NYPD officers, which underscore relationships built and empowerment of deaf youth through such programs.
Perez, whose major is business and administrative support technology, noted that the NYPD internship program had a positive impact on his life and gave him the thought that he could work for the NYPD after graduating from college. Almonte, who participated in the NYPD Summer Youth Employment Program before the NYPD Summer Internship Program, shared that working for the NYPD inspired him to "do great things" and led him to make a change in his life.
In conclusion, the NYPD Summer Youth Employment Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Youth is advancing accessibility, tailored resources, and inclusivity for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth in NYPD summer programs. The Deaf Community basketball team is on the verge of a clean sweep against the NYPD at the first citywide NYPD versus Deaf Community basketball tournament, highlighting the positive impact of these initiatives on both communities.
The basketball tournament organized by the NYPD and the deaf community presents a platform for young deaf individuals to explore sports-betting possibilities within the NYPD, as they connect with officers during competitive games. Alden Foster, the assistant commissioner of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, is encouraging NYPD officers to learn sign language not only for effective communication with the deaf but also to ensure a smoother sports-betting experience for all parties involved in the tournament.
