Kenn Hicks, Ballin’ for Peace’s Executive Director and a nationally recognized expert on behavioral training to prevent violence and gang prevention activities.
When we participate in large events – from concerts to conferences, from amusement parks to athletic games — we display our brand in several ways. First, street ball players, including well-known basketball stars from the street ball league, are present to not only show off their skills on the court, but also to uplift the crowds with their own words of wisdom. Some of these athletes grew up in financially challenging environments where they had to learn how to navigate away from a potential world of crime and into a state of consciousness that promoted self-worth, self-discipline, and good citizenship.
Another key part of the Ballin’ for Peace is our message about peace and the importance of uplifting others. We convey this idea through information referral resources sharing and our own educational programs.
At any given event, we may host introductory mini-workshops on such topics as “Keeping the Peace”, educational options, college funding, and preparing for careers in media and other professions that attract youth interested in entertainment. Participants are invited to register for our current community empowerment classes, especially our free violence prevention trainings, offered at various accessible locations throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As an information clearinghouse, Ballin’ for Peace also offers registration signup and referral services for GED programs, college admissions, employment, health and social services conducted under the auspices of some of our affiliate organizations.
Ballin’ for Peace core staff and team of expert consultants have conducted workshops and trainings in life skills development on topics such as:
• Violence In Schools
• Gang Prevention
• Self-Esteem
• Family Planning
• Teen Pregnancy Prevention
• Health Care Services
• Getting a High School Diploma or GED
• College Prep
- The Basics
- Funding Sources
• Employment Services
• Behind The Music
- Hip Hop Music and Me
- Industry Standards
• Financial Planning
Agencies such as the Red Cross and the Los Angeles economic development organizations have participated in several Ballin’ for Peace past events, providing onsite information screening, and referrals for further services.
We have adopted initiatives for school dropout prevention, violence prevention, gang prevention, school improvement, and leadership building. These initiatives reflect our unstinting commitment to halt the spread of unbridled aggression in some people which, if left unchecked, can destroy individual lives, tear apart families, and disrupt entire communities. Our newly revised extracurricular program iincorporates added content for our workshop modules, with all of our programs designed to produce measurable outcomes that support the goals of our initiatives. In addition, our new roster includes the following classes and workshop modules:
• Domestic Violence: Signs, Symptoms, Prevention
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Financial Career Prep 
• Digital Literacy/Computer Training
• Leadership Skills Development
• Media/Communication Prep
• Social Media Networking Career Prep
• Extracurricular Scholastics (with emphasis on reading, math, geography, and science),
• Girl Talk (self-esteem development combined with unintended pregnancy prevention)
• Web Design Basics
• Resume Writing
• Health Empowerment (degenerative disease prevention)
• Healthy Eating
• Fitness (in conjunction with various sports and athletic programs)
• Public Speaking
Download: Domestic Violence Prevention Brochures by Kenn Hicks
