Outrage About the YMCA, But Make Sure You Know the Rest of the Story

When Eboni Maze posted about an incident involving African American youth at the YMCA on the evening of Fri., Aug 8, she was outraged and wanted action.  She got it in so many ways. 

By morning the post had reached 16,000 people and to date, it has reached 22,000 plus. Making it one of the most rapidly moving posts ever on our Wichita Community Voice Group page.  

In the post, Maze shared

“It’s a sad day in hell where in a city on one side of town you have teenagers fighting and shooting each other at the mall and on the other side of town you have a group of kids getting kicked out of not one but TWO YMCA’s all cause they were trying to have some hoop sessions.”

According to the post, the kids were turned away from the North Y and then after they were given entrance,  were kicked out by the WSU Y after police said “they looked like they had guns.”  

The group eventually went to the Forum where they were able to play their game.  

Getting it Right 

Big ups to Maze, who kept digging until she uncovered the real story and kept working for a resolution that provides our youth a safe place to gather for an evening of fun and recreation.    Even bigger ups to Maze who admitted where she had the story wrong and posted corrective narrative.  The problem is despite several posts, her attempts to set the record straight have only reached  a fraction of those who saw the original post.  

This is our attempt to help the corrected information reach a larger audience and to share the next steps Maze and Cure Violence team are working with the YMCA to achieve.  

That next Monday,  Maze and her son Chuck met with the North YMCA Director Trey Hightower.    

“I’m glad this took place because A LOT of confusion was cleared up from both ends,” wrote Maze.  

It turns out: 

1.  The youth did not physically go to the North YMCA. Instead they called the North Y earlier in the day requesting “some things.”  

According to our conversation with Maze, the youth were told their requests went beyond what could be handled on short notice and without approval.  

2.  Police kicked the youth out of the WSU Y.  

WPD was not involved with the incident.  The individuals who put them out of the WSU Y were WSU Police officers.  

3.  It turned out several parents had called the WSU Y to warn them about the planned game and their fear the event might turn violent.    

It turns out Chuck and a player from the opposing team made a “fake dis song” and posted it on social media to hype up the game, but there actually wasn’t a beef between them.  “Both parties involved were explained that, while they were trying to bring the people out, that simply was not the way to go about it in which they understood,” Maze included in her second post.  

4.  The Forum did let them play, but not out of the kindness of their heart. 

Maze said she found out later one of the boys paid the hour rental fee for use of the Forum’s Court.  

As a followup to the meeting with HIghtower Maze posted, “Needless to say, although this convo should have and could have taken place BEFORE the post Trey understood that I was in full Momma Bear mode.”

Next Steps 

The good news is Hightower is working with Maze and the team from Cure Violence.  

“Talks are being had to bring Teen Night back to the North YMCA,” wrote Maze.  

According to Maze, and not confirmed by the Y the Y is working on plans to “bring Teen Night back to the North YMCA.”

According to Maze, the activity will be open to all youth, free of harge, whether or not they have a Y membership.  This could possibly happen every other Saturday evening if turnout is good for the events.  

Other Facilities

There were a lot of comments to Maze’s post asking why weren’t city recreation centers open for the youth.  There were even references to what ever happened to Hoop it Up, a once popular summer basketball program that gave participants a safe activity.  

We asked 1st District Council member about what the City of Wichita can do to provide safe options for youth.  He said the gyms used to be open, but youth stopped coming and due to lack of participation, the programs were discontinued. 

The same could happen if the Y starts up and program and participation falls off.  

The new Brewer Recreation Center in McAdams Park is set to open in early November and with multiple basketball courts, he hopes that center will be a place youth can use in an organized and safe manner. 

In addition, Johnson called on other facilities to open their gyms to youth.  

“There are a lot of gyms in the city that remain closed and could be opened,” said Johnson, pointing specifically to a number of churches with basketball courts.