DALLAS — Nancy Lieberman Charities continues its mission to bring sports, health and wellness to the youth across the country by unveiling another Dream Court in Dallas.
The nonprofit, headed by basketball Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian Nancy Lieberman, teamed up with Dallas Influencers in Sports & Entertainment to present the outdoor basketball court at Old East Dallas Work Yard Park on Thursday, Nov. 9.
The partnership also includes the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, and children from the Dallas Police Department Kids & Cops program, an initiative of using sport to bring community and law enforcement together, were at the event.
After the ribbon-cutting, the kids enjoyed some time on the court and Lieberman even joined the fun by showing them a few skills herself.
The Dream Courts initiative was sparked by Lieberman in hopes of providing a place where children can feel safe and build relationships all by taking part in the game she loves – basketball.
Lieberman told WFAA when she was growing up in New York “Dream Courts” is what happened to her and helped make her the person she is today, including growing her confidence.
“It was my dream to be on a court because I couldn’t be bullied, you couldn’t pick on me, you couldn’t tell what I could not be,” Lieberman told WFAA. “We want kids to go out there and commune with one another. We want them to breathe for mental health – just to feel comfortable with who they are, and also be in a healthy environment for them to thrive.”
The Dream Court at Old East Dallas Work Yard Park marks the initiative's 127th overall and the 35th in the DFW area. In March 2023, a court was unveiled at Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Sr. Middle School.
The initiative is something Lieberman is proud to continue across the country. Dream Courts serve more than five million children.
Lieberman compares the courts to pop-up classrooms – a place where children can not only express themselves but also gain access to a place where they can grow.
“We’re meeting children where they are, where they feel comfortable…” Lieberman said. “We want to be allies to these young people, especially in underserved communities. I was that kid.”
When you talk about legacy, Lieberman said it’s not about who you are, but what you do for others.
If you want to learn more about Nancy Lieberman Charities and its Dream Courts initiative, click here.