Dashine Moore is CEO and Founder of Beat the Streets Youth, Inc. in Pittsfield. It is a non-profit organizing free basketball leagues during the summer months.

Moore started this five summers ago. He says high crime rates in Pittsfield worried him, so he wanted to do something about it.

“The problem is that a lot of these kids are giving up on themselves,” Moore said. “They don’t really have anybody to push them. That’s why we’re here, to push them, because what’s happening is there’s not enough programming. There are not enough programs here.”

Then, Beat the Streets was born. Moore added he has spoken to Pittsfield Police Department, which said there has been a noticeable difference.

“He’s like, ‘I just want to remind you that if there’s any violence going on, or we’re having any issues, it is with no kids that are in your program. It is just repeat offenders,'” Moore added.

Vice President and Director of Communications for Beat the Streets, Nikita Ponce, said the league is a family.

“I feel like a lot of people are judgmental towards kids nowadays or scared because of previous behaviors of other children,” Ponce said. “And what I tell them is we’re not all about basketball… We’re more than that here, and I think no one sees that until they come out.”

The Public Relations Director, Ashlee Pemble, said she enjoys seeing the kids become successful.

“The next generation that’s coming up isn’t lost,” Pemble said. “You know we got some guidance for them and these are great kids… You know they want to do better, and the community has really been a great support for a lot of them.”

Cashius Moody, 12, wants to play in the NBA one day. He is a part of Beat the Streets.

When asked about his favorite part of the program, he said, “The competition and the friendships because I know everybody here, and it’s really nice that I know everybody.” He also calls Moore “a good role model and just someone that helps our community.”

Now, as the league prepares for their fifth summer in action, registration will remain open until June 15. Sign-ups can be done here.