The South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department’s “Balling With A Purpose” (BWAP) initiative is on a mission to keep youth engaged, offer a pathway to gainful employment, and lay the foundation to build generational wealth. The program earned South Fulton a Visionary City Award at GMA’s annual Cities United Summit on Jan. 26, 2025.
Director of Parks and Recreation Tenard Turner explained, “We identified young adults ages 17-28 who were not attending school. Now, we knew that basketball was something that is played by both men and women, and we wanted to use it as a carrot. Therefore, we came up with the name Balling With A Purpose.”
Launched in 2023, the program serves 100 men and women with diverse backgrounds. Participants are required to attend classes scheduled around basketball games. Topics include financial literacy, mentorship, workforce development, records expungement, entrepreneurship, gun violence and housing.
Participants also have free access to a workforce training program in electrical engineering and HVAC, valued at $2,300-$5,000. The city has teamed up with minority-owned business It’s Electric to provide training and job opportunities paying up to $35 per hour. In 2025, the city plans to expand the BWAP Workforce Academy into carpentry and auto mechanics.
Over 70 graduates have completed the workforce development program, going on to pursue skilled trades. “This class gave me motivation to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union, and I am currently working as an apprentice!” said Kevin Thompson, a 2024 graduate.
Partnership with local businesses is a key component of the program. The city’s 2020 strategic plan includes a recommendation to strengthen partnerships with the business community to augment the city’s economic development efforts.
Participants benefit from hands-on experience and mentorship with industry professionals. It is also a rewarding experience for their mentors.
“Working with the City of South Fulton Parks and Recreation team to create this opportunity for men and women to engage in the electrical trade has been one of the most rewarding experiences that we’ve had at It’s Electric,” said Henry Borom, director of the It’s Electric Training Center. “We have received numerous accounts of our students using their newfound skill to improve their livelihood. We are changing lives!”
The city of South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department is the sole funder of BWAP at a total annual cost of $120,000. City officials say that the program helps keep young people out of prison, which is a far greater expense to taxpayers.
“The Balling with a Purpose Workforce Academy is an outstanding example of how our city is using innovative solutions to address community needs. By connecting athletic interests with workforce readiness, we’re not only helping residents find sustainable careers but also building stronger, more resilient communities,” City Manager Sharon D. Subadan said.
South Fulton is Georgia’s eighth largest city, with a population of 110,920 residents. The 8-year old city is comprised mainly of young, Black, middle-income families; 93% of residents have at least a high school diploma, and the median household income is $81,798 (U.S. Census Bureau 2023).
The city is close to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Fulton Industrial District, with available acreage ripe for commercial and industrial growth. During strategic planning sessions in 2020, residents and businesses citied crime, or the perception of crime, as a significant challenge for South Fulton. The city is working to make sure it grows in the right direction.
“The Balling with a Purpose Workforce Academy is a shining example of what can happen when we combine passion, education, and community. I am incredibly proud of the work that’s being done through this initiative,” said South Fulton District 5 Councilwoman Keosha B. Bell. “It’s not just about learning a trade—it’s about providing hope and opportunity to our residents. This program is changing lives, and I look forward to its continued growth.”
