When he saw too many kids without a focus and without something to do, especially as opportunities were fewer and farther between amid the pandemic, Dashine Moore took the steps to establish the Beat the Streets basketball program. Now in its third year, Dashine sees the value of the evolving program continue with the cost of traditional summer camps continuing to rise out of the reach of many young people and their families. Galvanizing the support of various nonprofits to make it all come together, Dashine has a particular drive to give back to the community as his own path has been a long and winding. This included five and a half years of incarceration. That experience is a lesson he shares with young people in the program to urge them to make better choices. His time away from his sons in prison also makes it all that sweeter to see the success of his boys, one in prep school and one who just won a state championship as a member of the Taconic High School basketball team. Dashine has a powerful story and I appreciate having the opportunity to share it in this episode. Also, we cover: Kicks for Kids and the support of Barrington Stage Company, the power of role models, legendary youth advocates Manny Slaughter, Shirley Edgerton and Valerie Hamilton, a community center, mentorship programs, financial literacy, his experience at Norfolk prison in Boston, his business Mr. Feets, the economics of sneakers, flipping sneakers, selling paintings, bringing back the Gather-In and more.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dashine Moore.