Oakland Midnight Basketball League

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

In 2018, the Alameda County Probation Department (ACPD) helped reinstate the Oakland Midnight Basketball League (OMBL) in order to: 1) provide a safe activity for players and attendees during hours when shootings increase in Oakland; 2) connect players and attendees to helpful resources and services in the community; and 3) foster positive relationships between players, their peers, and adult mentors. Each season, youth and young adults ages 16-25 play on one of 12-16 teams over a period of eight weeks. Games take place between the hours of 9pm and 1am, and players are required to attend a life-skills workshop for one hour before their game each week. The most recent season, Summer 2019, served over 250 players, 89% of whom said they received helpful information from workshop speakers and 78% who said they planned to stay in touch with players or adults they met through the league. ACPD has been a primary funder and integral partner of the league since its inception in Summer 2018, and ACPD recently received a $1 million grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections to help operate 6 seasons of the OMBL over 3 years.