Memphis nonprofit grinding to give kids boards and places to skate
Benji Smith speaks to a group of skaters gathered at the Raleigh Springs Skate Park June 5, 2024. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Kimathi Coleman’s daughters had recently gotten rudimentary skateboards but they didn’t really know much about using them.
That’s when Coleman saw on social media that the group LaterSkaters Memphis was hosting a free beginner’s session on a tennis court at the Hickory Hill Community Center in late March.
The word “free” especially caught her eye, so Coleman took her girls, 11-year-old Kendal and 7-year-old Leilah, to the session.
“It was amazing. (The teacher) was very patient,” Coleman said. “He was great with the girls, helping them with different moves. By the time they got done, they were doing different moves, (knew) how to do little tricks.”
That wasn’t all. Neither girl had a particularly good skateboard, although they had the necessary protective gear. But before Kendal and Leilah left that day, LaterSkaters gifted them brand-new skateboards.
“They were pretty excited that they were able to have nice, bright, colorful skateboards. The ones they had weren’t as cool as the other skateboards. They skate all the time, especially now that school is out,” Coleman said.
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Jody Callahan
Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.
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