OU Football Players Tackle Gang Prevention

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- OU defensive back Jamell Fleming and other Sooner players will be taking time to speak to kids in the Oklahoma City Police Department's FACT program about gangs.

The football players' goal is to motivate kids to stay out of gangs, stay in school and work hard in order to achieve their goals.

The players will speak at the Oklahoma City Police Department's Family Awareness and Community Teamwork (FACT) Recreation Center at N.E. 33rd Street and Lottie on Thursday, September 16, at 7 p.m.

"Sadly it appears that many athletes only make the news when they get into trouble or when they perform well in their sport, but in this case kids can see that these guys care about them and are giving back to the Oklahoma City community," said FACT Police Sergeant Jermaine Johnson.

FACT Program Supervisor Lt. Paco Balderrama added, "It is important for our kids to know that people care about them, believe in them and want them to succeed, but this success comes at a price. Some of the OU players experienced a similar environment growing up and they were able to overcome it. Speaking from experience goes a long way to these kids."

The FACT program is a proactive outreach started by the OKCPD focused on gang prevention. The FACT program has four police officers who work in plain clothes in order to build a rapport with the kids and give them character building training and mentoring.