Police, community groups collaborate for flag football camp

A youth concentrates on an incoming pass during a flag football camp at Cawley Stadium in Lowell hosted by Lowell Police Youth Services, the Afro-American Community Collaborative and Merrimack Valley Flag Football. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

LOWELL — Lowell Police Youth Services, the Afro-American Community Collaborative and Merrimack Valley Flag Football collaborated last month to offer approximately 50 Lowell youth a three-day flag football camp.

Hosted at Cawley Stadium from Aug. 15-17, this was the second year of the flag football program, which seeks to help youth have fun and build confidence, while also building and strengthening relationships with police officers.

Youth in grades 5-8 participated in the clinic, with T-shirts, flags, water, snacks, and even a post-clinic barbecue provided. Superintendent Greg Hudon and other Lowell Police command staff helped cook burgers and hot dogs.

Lowell Police employees and other volunteers who staffed the program include Sgts. Mike Marshall and Joe Kelly and Officers Kyle Van, Jose Santiago, Dominic Lessieur, Tim Sullivan, Paul Robbins, Emaly Bouasri and Korey Rudy, as well as State Trooper Cliff Desrosena and Burlington Police Officer Melissa Cadet.

“The team at Lowell Police Youth Services has developed an amazing program, and we at the Afro-American Community Collaborative are thrilled to be a part of it. These flag football clinics align perfectly with our mission to connect and build comm-UNITY,” said Rob Mitchell, president of the Afro-American Community Collaborative. “Flag football’s popularity provides an excellent opportunity for our youth to have fun, learn teamwork, build skills, and compete. The upcoming Neighborhood Flag Football Challenge in the fall will be an exciting showcase of the skills honed during the summer clinics. The Acre claimed the championship last year, and the competition is already heating up for this year’s winner.”

In addition to the clinic, boys and girls in grades 5-8 will also be able to participate in a Lowell Youth Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge League this October. Teams will practice together twice weekly, and then play a tournament at the end of the month. For more information, or to sign up or volunteer for the league, email Mitchell at rmitchell@aacommunitycollab.com.

“Merrimack Valley Flag Football has taken much pride in giving back to the community it serves over the years. Opportunities such as these give us the ability to share the sport we love with a broader community; all while giving back to kids who we think need it the most,” said Commissioner Mayon Mitchell. “Flag Football as a team sport builds character and strengthens the idea of working as a collective to accomplish a team goal. Kayla Balamotis and I are honored to be a part of this program and we look forward to working with this group of partners for many more opportunities, such as these, in the future.”

“We are proud to collaborate with two great community partners to offer yet another opportunity for healthy summer fun to youth from across our city,” said Hudon. “Lowell Police Youth Services has created numerous opportunities for Lowell youth to be engaged and healthy this summer, and LPYS has done so while also building lifelong relationships with young people.”