The Winter Olympics contained sports unfamiliar to many people. So the idea of coming up with a back story for the athletes was remarkable. These stories draw the viewer in and establish a human connection to athletes from all over the world. As I prepare to leave the house for a visit to the Greenlaw Community Center in Memphis, I can’t help but think of one such story. It’s about an Afghan child who (on vacation with his family) tied boards to his feet to try and ski. A local skier saw him, and decided to procure some skis for him. Roll the clock forward fifteen years, and that boy is now a young man competing in the Winter Olympics. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened (or not happened) if that onlooker had decided it would be easier to ignore the boy than to get him some skis.
Some sports have a much larger fanbase than those in the Winter Olympics: there are an estimated 11 million skateboarders in the United States. It’s a relatively new sport, which gained prominence in the late seventies, bloomed in the eighties, dipped in the nineties, and exploded in the 2000’s.
Pro Skater Tony Hawk is not only a household name, but a big time brand, whose endorsements are sought due to his prominence in the sport as well as his wholesome family-friendly image.
The 2000’s have ushered in an entirely different kind of skater: grown-ups. They have families, jobs, and lead responsible lives as active members of their communities. The only thing they lack is an actual place to skate: Memphis has no skateparks.
One of these grown-ups is Aaron Shafer. He’s a doctor – a researcher who spends his days at St. Jude working on solutions to viral epidemics that plague humans worldwide. He spends his nights on a skateboard ramp in his backyard.
Recently, with the help of the Memphis Athletic Ministries, Aaron got the chance to test a theory: If you put skateboard ramps in Memphis Communities the kids will benefit from them. His idea was that skateboarding could actually make the communities better.
There are many who disagree with him. There are those who say our inner city youth aren’t interested in skateboarding.
I open the door of the Greenlaw Community Center and hear the familiar sound of young people playing. Many of these sounds emanate from the doorway in front of me – the entrance to the basketball courts, where the next Magic, Jordan, or Kobe are practicing. I peek into the gym just as a young man drives to the basket, attempting some crazy backwards 360 layup attempt. He doesn’t even come close to making it.
“That was nice,” one player says, “How much for lessons?”
When I turn around, where I see another young group gathered around a large doorway. I make my way through the crowd to see what everyone is buzzing about. It’s a brand-new skateboard ramp. This being the first day of the new ramp’s completion, I’m wondering if Aaron’s “field of dreams” theory is true: if you build it, they will skate.
Kids wait for their turn to skate
There are a lot of young kids on the ramp, decked out in pads and helmets. They are clearly new at this. They wobble, struggling to maintain their balance as they slowly skate back and forth across the ramp. Two instructors stand among the crowd overseeing things and offering words of encouragement.
As I stand here watching, Aaron shows up. “Isn’t it great?” he says, “That’s Mark Janneta,” he says, pointing to one of the instructors. “He works for Memphis Athletic Ministries.”
Recently, the Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM) took over four community centers the city was planning to shut down. The ramp is part of a pilot program, designed to promote athletics in Memphis communities. The skateboards, helmets, and pads are all provided to the kids by MAM and Skatelife Memphis.
Mark Janetta helps a young man drop-in for the first time
Suddenly I am struck with the notion that if I come back in six weeks, some of these kids I’m watching now might be getting pretty good. I jokingly tell Aaron that “some of these kids might be skating better than you before too long.”
“I hope so,” he says as he pushes a young girl on a skateboard across the ramp, “That’s what this is about.”
Dr. Aaron Shafer pops a frontside air
No one knows for sure what’s going to happen in Greenlaw. But I’m struck with the idea that a door is open that wasn’t here yesterday. I’m also confronted with the laws of youth: the more doors of opportunity the better. Whether it’s skateboarding, basketball, or anything else, kids need healthy options. The more the better.
Who knows what the impact could be? Could the person who got the Afghan child skis have predicted that child would grow up and compete in the Olympics? One thing that is for sure, if he hadn’t, that child would definitely not have grown up to compete in the Olympics.
And what if a little ramp in Greenlaw ends up having an impact? Who knows- ten years from now maybe someone from the Greenlaw community skates in the X-Games? No one can be sure, of course, what impact the Greenlaw ramp will have, or if it will have an impact.
One thing that is for sure: a possibility is here today that didn’t exist yesterday, and children thrive on possibility.
(Photos by Michael Cardwell)
[...] been, but it had a definite limp. After picking up our friends the Kloskys, we made our way to the Greenlaw Community Center at Mill and Third. The guys from Skatelife were just finishing setup, but quickly, a tall, skinny [...]
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I’m taking my Cub Scouts down there this Saturday. Aaron and I both moved here from the same area in CA where we had the option to surf every morning. We also had access to several public skateboard facilities when it was flat. Not to mention bike lanes, bike only paths, well maintained recreational facilities–but I wander.
Kids in this town have very few opportunities to play hard outside. You know, exercise for something besides their fingers on the game controller. We need more and exciting opportunities–skateparks, climbing walls, bike only paths, etc.
We’re in an exciting time. We have several long sought after recreational amenities coming to fruition. Let’s keep our eye on the ball.
Thanks for the article. We had a fun time hanging out with those kids (and young adults) when we were building it. We’re having a lot more fun now that it’s done. Of course I like to go down there and skate it myself, but I’m really excited to see the young locals skate.
In just the past few weeks, quite a few of these kids have become pretty good. I am amazed at the progress they have shown so far and I can’t wait to see how much further they will go. I learned a number of years ago that, in skateboarding, there will always be someone younger and better than yourself. Well right now I’m seeing a whole new crop of those younger, better skaters coming out of Greenlaw and I don’t mind it one bit.
Actually, Ian, just across the river is an example: Olympic speed skater Kimberly Derrick, who learned to skate at SkateWorld in West Memphis.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/feb/13/skater-puts-bad-memory-on-ice/
Love, love, love this story. So cool.
Well written, Ian, and that picture, “Kids wait to skate” says it all. I soooo want a copy!
Aaron, way to go! You’ve shown that with a will (and a huge heart), there IS a way.
You’ve accomplished so much and set an incredible example for all Memphians. Don’t like what you see? Don’t see what you like? Do something about it. And dude, you have!
This warms my heart!
I’m totally biased of course, but this is a really amazingly well written article. Thanks so much Ian. you totally get it.
Ian, you hit it out my man, you hit it out. I know Aaron from our shared experiences at St. Jude and shared life stories from our California upbringings. I admire and respect the life’s work that Mark Jannetta pursues every day and the passion and care that Aaron Shafer brings to this pursuit. I thoroughly enjoyed working hard with these brothers constructing this tangible representation of their collective dream. I hope this is a seed from which a tree grows bearing loads of fruit in happy and focused kids. The endeavor of skateboarding, undertaken with these kind and present mentors will provide many opportunities for all of these great children to pursue and capture the present moment, with all of their beings. Without that present moment firmly in their grasp, they just might fall. While being one with that present moment, they just might learn to fly.
What a fantastic story, guys! Way to go , Mark and everyone – we at Visible School are definitely pulling for you. We need to share our life with one another and see these imaginary barriers fall, in sports, same with music…can’t wait to get down there…lovelove it…
There’s a song by Kutless: A “Smile” says it all. Ian, great message. Mark & Memphis Athletic Ministries, keep it up! It takes more than passion and vision to touch lives. More than an example, you definitely demonstrate the love of our Father. Where would we be without the ones who spoke into our lives?
WOW ! What a great article. Ya’ll are doing a great thing at Greenlaw and for all the children of Memphis. I know how hard you worked to get this done and I also know you had a lot of help. God Bless all who pulled this off.
Keep up the GREAT work.
Vince
Good article, and great work Mark! God Bless.
Mark, Detric, April and Aaron. You all have proven that when everyone pitch in an work together kids lives are changed for the better.
Bless you,
Kelvin Bowen
Executive Vice President
Memphis Athletic Ministries