Beyond The Lines

Beyond The Lines examines and discusses how sports and life issues intersect in the lives of our youth athletes. We, as adults, parents and coaches, look at our youth as the voice and leaders of our future, but we rarely listen to them or even give them a platform to express themselves. Sports and life issues go hand-in-hand. They both compliment each other. They both enable our youth to become those leaders that we want and expect them to become. Beyond The Lines will be the platform to discuss the wide range of sports and life issues. You will hear from various guests, including youth athletes themselves. It's more than scores and highlights. Beyond The Lines is about educating and informing with the focus on our youth.

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Beyond The Lines

Serving the Underserved

June 17, 2025 • Jason Davis • Episode 82

In Episode #82, I have a candid and enlightening conversation with Jason Williams. Jason is the Youth Director at Renew Birmingham and the Internship Director at Buildup Community School also in Birmingham, Alabama. We begin the conversation discussing Jason's favorite sports as a kid and which sport he ultimately became very good at. Jason talks about the Renew Birmingham program, how he got involved in it and how the program helps out youth in the city of Birmingham. Jason explains, in detail, the challenges the youth, that his program serves and advocates for, deal with on a daily basis. Jason also discusses his own challenges in dealing with the underserved community, his desire to help those in need and the restraints that Renew Birmingham are dealt when it comes to working with the local and state governments of Alabama. We discuss how the internships at Buildup Community School, in an ingenious way, prepares young kids for a career in the trades. Jason offers his insight as to why the disparities exist between black and white communities when it comes to healthcare, education and employment. Finally, Jason offers advice to young kids as to how they can improve their lives and potentially find a great career. In the end, I offer my 'Three Takeaways.'

This is a very informative and sobering discussion. I recommend everyone listen to it. As always, thanks for listening. Take care.

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