SEED WEEK 2016
Each summer in New York City, the SEED Project hosts a week of activities (July 26-29) showcasing their program in West Africa and raising funds to support our mission to empower the next generation of African leaders.
This year, top leaders from the financial, non-profit, and sport sectors from around the world came together to celebrate our 15th program year. Additionally, 10 of our SEED Academy graduates from around the world attended the week of activities.
From our annual summer party fundraiser with more than 300 guests to the bright lights of world-famous Dyckman Park, it was quite a week. Please enjoy our recap and photos.
SEED x KNICKS x DYCKMAN YOUTH CLINIC
July 26th, 2016 // Dyckman Park, NY
For the third straight year, SEED teamed-up with Dyckman Basketball to raise awareness about SEED's work in West Africa and the local New York communities that Dyckman reaches on a daily basis. Together, this unique, international partnership provides a platform to share new ideas and culture -- with the highly-charged NYC streetball atmosphere as the backdrop.
This year, we partnered with the NY Knicks and hosted a youth basketball clinic for 150 youth from the local community. Seven SEED alumni participated as coaches alongside NY Knicks and Dyckman coaches. The three-hour session featured a mix of on-court drills and life skills activities.
SEED Summer Party
July 27th, 2016 // Marquee Nightclub, NY
More than 300 guests helped us raise $60,000 to support our programs in Senegal and The Gambia.
Student-Athlete Career Services Day
July 28th, 2016 // City National Bank, NY
For the 3rd consecutive year we hosted our Student-Athlete Career Services Day to support our student's ongoing professional development. This year, we partnered with City National Bank, where eight SEED alumni enjoyed a 3-hour career services workshop. Led by SEED Professional Board Members, Michael Wieder (Wayup), Nina Boyd (Wayup) and Todd Burach (City National Bank), the students first received resume, cover letter and interview prep skills from Wayup, a career services and job employment agency.
Then, City National's Entertainment Group provided a detailed look at how their company works and the different career tracks available at the bank. Senior Executives from the group led a roundtable discussion where alumni had the opportunity to ask about career related advice. Finally, Todd led the group through a personal accounting activity to help our students properly manage their finances as they begin to earn an income and plan for their futures.
Team Africa vs Team New York
July 28th, 2016 // Dyckman Park, NY
For the 3rd straight year, we teamed-up with the most famous streetball court in the world, Dyckman Park, and Nike, to host one of the most highly anticipated streetball events of the summer. SEED Academy Alumni (students from a Senegalese boarding school for student-athletes), and select local NY student-athletes with African roots, took on a group of talented Dyckman Park All-Stars.
Each game in this series of current high school and college standouts has come down to the wire and this one was no different. After Team Africa mounted a furious comeback to cut Dyckman's lead to 1 with 90 seconds to play, Team Dyckman finished the game on a 6-0 run to win their straight All-Star game.
Most importantly, the sold-out game raised awareness about SEED's work in West-Africa and the impact Dyckman has on its surrounding community.
