Basketball program founder empowers Montreal youth on and off the court

With a focus on athleticism and academics, Denburk Reid is empowering youth with his Red Rush basketball program.

The founder of Montreal Community Cares (MCC), Reid is an important figure in the sports community in the city.

For more than 20 years, Reid has been found on many weeknights running basketball practices for boys and girls aged 10 to 19.

The Red Rush Basketball Leadership Program is part of the MCC Foundation, allowing kids from underserved communities play on a competitive team and make a promise to keep their marks up in school.

It’s all about “keeping the kids off the streets, giving them discipline in terms of their behaviour, giving them an opportunity to hone in on their skills on the court while they’re going through school,” Reid said.

Players receive support by participating in workshops that help develop their leadership skills and encourage community service.

“It’s given me a lot of confidence,” said participant De’nae Reid. ”I feel very comfortable speaking in front of audiences. I also have time to reflect about myself and develop my mental health.”

The meetings are a safe space for straight talk and self-awareness. Workshops for older players include personal finances and career planning by sharpening their skills -- beyond basketball.

“It helps me think and it helps me really understand that if basketball doesn’t work out for me, like there’s other things I can do in my life and it helps me like know what kind of goals I want to achieve,” said participant Harmony Robinson.

“If I don’t make it to that highest level, well, I have an interest in something else. So it’s not like a backup plan, but it’s like, if I don’t succeed in that, I have something else to do and I’m still going to be fully happy with it,” added Aika Miyake.

One person who didn’t have a backup plan was Jaheem Joseph. He was a high-level basketball player at age 18 when a fireworks incident cost him his right eye. Teams that wanted him suddenly rescinded their offers, but Reid brought him on board.

“Red Rush changed my career because they’re the first ones that accepted me, even when I had this incident. All the teams left me out. They were like, ‘Oh no, we don’t know if you’re going to still be good.’”

Joseph persevered and earned himself a spot on the Concordia University team and The Montreal Alliance.

Now he shares his story of adversity with the younger Red Rush players as a mentor.

“Giving my effort, giving my max,” he said.

Giving back is the cornerstone of everything Reid does.

“This program is a great help for the kids, first of all, because it teaches them that there is a life where you can balance your passion and also your duty in the community,” said Eliel Bastien, a parent of three kids in the program.

Reid is considered a giant on the court and in the community, teaching grit and strength of character.

The Montreal Community Cares Foundation also raises money so more kids can experience the power of sports. Reid said 75 per cent of his players continue their education after high school.

“Scholarships, graduate university, pursuing their masters, all of that. When people told them that they would not have ever been able to graduate high school,” he said.