Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Davis.
Eric, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Athletics and Education played an instrumental role in my life. As a young man who grew up on the Northside of Chicago (Uptown), I truly understand first hand the struggles that children at the BASE Chicago face on a daily basis. The most impactful thing that has ever happened to me in my lifetime occurred in the Uptown theater when I was 13 years old, I was shot while involved in gang activity. It took almost losing my life to make me realize, I wanted to live my life and experience every good thing that life had to offer. Many people came to my assistance (Black, White, Asian, Hispanic) and supported my journey young and old men and women to tell me how much they loved me, how I was put on this earth to make a difference. I will never forgot those words, I will never forget those people who cared about me, that’s why I’m so dedicated to the mission of helping. Every good thing that’s happened in my life, whether it’s getting an athletic scholarship to the University of Houston, Playing on a historically successful basketball team (Phi Slama Jama) in college, signing with a NFL football team, becoming a Chicago Police Officer, being the Executive Director of the Chicago Baseball and Education Academy affiliated with MLB and now being the Executive Director of The BASE Chicago, being a husband, a father, a grandfather. All of those wonderful things occurred because of the love and support of many believing in me, the children I work with at the BASE Chicago are not like me, they are me. It’s my obligation to give back the love and support that was given to me, to the Children of the west side of Chicago.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The journey has been interesting and has many challenges. It would be a very easy journey if we only had to teach baseball, reading, and math. We have quickly discovered that we are and must be dedicated to the young people in our program and their families. My team understands that for the BASE Chicago to be successful in our outreach efforts we need to fully understand all the issues our children face on the west side of Chicago(Gangs, Drugs, Guns, Poverty). We have a great opportunity to teach in the Garfield Park community, in our attempt to be the best teachers we can be at the BASE Chicago our team is also willing to be attentive students to the needs of the community we are so fortunate to serve.
The BASE Chicago – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The BASE Chicago is a model that began in Boston MA. When Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein and his twin brother Paul began working with the BASE Boston they were impressed with the baseball skills of the young people at the BASE Boston but extremely excited about the high school graduation rates of the children at the BASE Boston. The high school graduation rates at the BOSTON Base turned into many first-generation college students. When Theo Epstein came to the Chicago Cubs organization and realized the issues of youth violence facing many of Chicago’s neighborhoods Mr. Epstein believed that the BASE Chicago needed to be created. The BASE Chicago supplies a travel baseball experience where children from economically struggling communities will travel and play baseball in some of the best tournaments in the United States. How the children at the BASE Chicago pay for these opportunities is that they attend school, no gang activity, they must come and study every day at the BASE Chicago clubhouse, a 365-day safe environment that supplies educational support, tutoring, Stem training, SAT and ACT Prep.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe some of America’s greatest resources live on the west side of Chicago.
We will improve high school graduation rates in the Garfield Park community.
We will build a new normal where we don’t become successful to move away from Garfield Park, we become successful and come back to Garfield Park to be the example of success.
The BASE Chicago will introduce young people on the west side of Chicago to the path of college and university attendance.
Success at the BASE Chicago will be seeing our children improve in activities off the playing field, family, community and educationally.
Contact Info:
- Address: The BASE Chicago
230 N. Kolmar
Chicago Illinois 60624 - Website: www.thebase.org
- Phone: 773-368-8587
- Instagram: @thebasechicago
- Facebook: The BASE Chicago
Image Credit:
Eric Davis
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