Overcast skies and intermittent drizzle could not overshadow the 12th annual Peace in Da Paint basketball event hosted by co-founders Kentrale Armani Washington and Kisha Turner of Fredericksburg.
Peace in Da Paint is an annual event organized to teach local youth about gun violence through basketball and community togetherness. The inaugural tiny mite game kicked off at 9:30 a.m. at the Mayfield basketball courts, with the Jackets winning 29-6 over the Mambas. In total, four games were played throughout the event.
Over the course of the weekend, 118 bicycles were collected and given away to children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. More than 1,500 people attended over the course of the four-hour event, and some were fortunate enough to leave with PlayStation 5s, scooters, and gift cards.
Washington stressed the need for kids to know that the community is there for them.
“We need action, not just words,” he said. “The community needs to move as one unit. It was an amazing event; the brief rain didn’t put a damper on things, and the kids played well.”
More than 100 bikes were donated to Fredericksburg-area youth.
Gary Holland, a pastor at Zion Church in Fredericksburg and founder of #ENOUGH, a local nonprofit organization, loved how the event allowed people of color to come together to support businesses and youth.
“We don’t have enough events like this in the area. It was an excellent day. The turnout was great, and I assisted with getting people registered to vote while handing out free Black Voters Matter T-shirts,” Holland said.
Co-founder Kiesha Turner noted how kids from all over Fredericksburg came together in Mayfield to compete in the annual basketball tournament.
“We do it for the kids. We all need to unite and continue to build the community,” she said.
The high school and adult basketball games were action-packed, and many spectators had their phones out to record. Democratic congressional candidate Eugene Vindman enjoyed a courtside view of the action.
“It’s great to be out here watching the kids play basketball and seeing all the support they are receiving from the community,” Vindman said.
Musical airwaves during the event were controlled by DJ Trini of 93.9 WKYS and celebrity DJ Crush Groovey out of Richmond.
Four basketball games were held during the event. (Photo by Jessica Parks)
During halftime of the teen basketball game, Fredericksburg City Schools superintendent Dr. Marci Catlett spoke about expectations for the upcoming school year. Elementary students will not be allowed to have cell phones, while middle and high school students will need to lock their cell phones away in magnetic pouches during school hours.
A plethora of local vendors supported the event, such as the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee, All in One Moving and Storage, Zion Church, Renee Garland of Samson Properties, Men of Purpose, and the Fredericksburg Preschool Program, to name a few. Various food trucks were on hand, while refreshments were distributed free of charge to all participants, courtesy of the Peace in Da Paint organization.
Mayfield Civic Association President Trudy Smith Wilson had nothing but kind words regarding Washington’s efforts in the community over the years. Smith-Wilson was glad to see everyone stick it out despite the rain.
“I appreciate Fredericksburg Parks and Rec assisting with the setup and cleanup of the event. There are a lot of secret donors for the event; it truly takes a village to get it done,” Smith Wilson said.
For Washington, the event has brought memories that will stick with him forever. He recalled how North Stafford High School graduate and NBA Cleveland Cavaliers player development coach Chris Darnell came and talked with the youth in 2021.
Backyard Band, one of the pioneers of go-go music, performed at the 2022 event. Last year, a girl hit a half-court shot to win a PlayStation 5. And then there was the time Washington stayed up all night scrambling to find jerseys in 2021 because his jersey provider fell through due to supply issues.
Washington and Turner also thanked the Fredericksburg NAACP, Fredericksburg Public Schools, Xavier Richardson, and the other supporters of this year’s event.
