Gratitude: Ex-VUU player tries to improve lives

Each day in the African-American communities across the United States, three children are killed by firearms, 292 babies are born to teen-age mothers, 794 babies are born into poverty.

These statistics from the Children's Defense Fund frighten Raymond Neblett.

"They make me want to cry," he said.

They also inspire him to act, and for that, he is thankful.

"We want to attack the behaviors that led to those situations," Neblett said.

Neblett grew up in the Gilpin Court public housing project in Richmond. He seemed to be headed in the right direction when he received a basketball scholarship to Virginia Union University.

Neblett played four seasons at VUU. Not long after leaving college, his life changed.

An armed-robbery conviction sent him to prison for 14 years. He was 40 when he received parole.

He is thankful he was released while his mother still is alive. He is thankful his family -- two sons, a daughter, three grandchildren and 10 brothers and sisters -- stood by him.

And he is thankful for the second chance, not just to work on his life, but also to work on the lives of children and teen-agers.

"You can say I lost my way, but I think that's a cop-out," Neblett said. "I got away from the basics fundamentals and principles I had been taught.

"I tell guys that now. Principles are the guardrail for your life. They keep you from running off the road."

Soon after leaving prison, Neblett learned about the New Y-CAPP, a private agency that deals with children with mental health and behavioral issues.

Y-CAPP helped Neblett, 45, receive certification in such things as CPR and medication management and sent him for training in behavior modification.

"Talk about being thankful for something," Neblett said of Y-CAPP.

"Y-CAPP would not be where it is today without individuals like Raymond," said Y-CAPP co-founder Jonathan Coleman.

Neblett has been an in-house counselor in a group home, facilitated therapy groups and chaperoned children to sporting events.

Now, he works at Armstrong High School as a one-to-one counselor.

He also helps coach the Armstrong boys basketball team.

But Neblett's passion, and the opportunity for which he is most thankful, is Inner City Basketball.

Last summer, Neblett organized what he hopes will be the first of many Inner City Basketball camps.

He found sponsors. He persuaded high school and college players to donate time as counselors. He lined up speakers.

The camp was held at Neblett's "home" court, the Calhoun Community Center in Gilpin Court.

"We thought we would have 60 kids," Neblett said. "We had 165. We had to move part of the camp outdoors. I'm thankful we didn't have a drop of rain that week."

Neblett had made sure the fundamentals of basketball were taught, but he had a larger agenda.

"We told the kids, 'If you came here just to play basketball, hit the door'," he said. "Instead of basketball trophies, we gave out character trophies.

"Every day at 1 p.m., we held 'Manhood 101.' Every day, we had a different speaker. Someone from the police department spoke. Someone from the Army spoke. George Lancaster [Highland Springs boys coach] and Dave Robbins [former Virginia Union men's coach] spoke."

Neblett insisted the camp be free so parents would not have to worry about finding $400 or $500 to pay for a week of camp.

"Raymond had a message, and it was echoed time and time again: You don't have to take shortcuts," Robbins said.

"I think he's thankful for his life today. I'm extremely pleased with the way Ray is handling his business."

Inner City Basketball is not a business for Neblett. He sees the nonprofit organization as more than a one-week camp.

He envisions an opportunity for inner-city children to participate in a summer of basketball competition equal to the AAU, at little or no cost.

"Not to rival AAU, but to work with AAU," Neblett said. "AAU basketball costs money. These kids and their parents don't have the money.

"When you realize you can have an impact on other people, it will make you cry because they're happy. It will make you feel better. I'm thankful for that feeling."