A journey of thousands of miles really does start with a click for kids these days.
This summer, high school students in South Dallas practically grew up around the world, thanks to a state-of-the-art program created by the Mavs Take ACTION! and the Too Fly Foundation.
Students simply put on a headset and zoom in on the globe to visit the dramatic scenery of Slovenia at the castles of Würzburg, Germany.
The youngsters then opened a Mavs-inspired workbook and answered travel questions about each country and the players who call the destination home.
“Mavs Take ACTION! wanted to work with Too Fly because of the innovative aspect of bringing travel experiences to students who may not have had the opportunity to do so,” said Kamri Brown, who serves as the Mavs’ corporate social responsibility coordinator.
“We wanted to make sure that all students have equal opportunities and are exposed to programs like Too Fly. We love being able to create the ‘Mavs Tour,’ which allowed students to have an immersive experience from the locations of their favorite Mavs players.”
In February 2022, the Mavs and the Mavs Foundation donated the most extensive technology center in franchise history to For Oak Cliff. The organization is now located in the former Moorland Family YMCA, which served as a community center for black leaders during part of the Jim Crow Era and the Civil Rights Movement.
Now she belongs to a new generation of world changers and – world travelers.
That’s because, in February, the Mavs donated new high-tech Oculus headsets to the For Oak Cliff technology dedication to allow people to travel virtually. The notebook and work program came next and this summer everything reached new heights.
DALLAS MAVS: A GLOBAL FRANCHISE
International travel is essential for the Mavericks because the franchise has long been one of the most diverse teams in the NBA, with players representing various nations over the past 40 years.
Current international players on the roster include Dāvis Bertāns (Latvia), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Josh Green (Australia), Maxi Kleber (Germany), Frank Ntilikina (Rwanda/Belgium/France) and Dwight Powell (Canada).
Ntilikina, a 6-4 guard for the Dallas Mavs, has perhaps one of the most interesting international stories in the NBA. His parents fled war-torn Rwanda and moved to Belgium, where the future NBA star was born. A few years later, his family immigrated to France, where Ntilikina dazzled on the basketball court.
Last summer, he won a silver medal with France at the Tokyo Olympics and published a children’s book about his life.
Escaping a place during genocide and starting over in a new land is an incredible tale of survival. Ntilikina is proud of every country he represents, including Rwanda, where his parents were born and raised. Stories like his highlight why the Mavs wanted to enter the world of youth travel.
Ntilikina and Doncic, originally from Ljubljana, Slovenia, were just 19 years old when they debuted in the NBA, and everything was brand new on and off the court.
“You deal with a lot of things in life and being a stranger,” Ntilikina said in a previous interview. “You’re coming to a new place and you’re young, so you have to get used to a lot of things in basketball, but also in life … and dealing with cultural differences.”
Thanks to the Too Fly Foundation and virtual headsets, kids can now visit Ntilikina’s hometown, along with Doncic’s Slovenia and other countries the Mavs represent. It bridges the gap between gamers and youth in exciting new ways. This allows children to ask questions and create more meaningful relationships.
When the NBA focuses on the communities and countries the players come from, it builds confidence for kids locally and around the world. It humanizes players and gives kids the chance to dream big.
Last year the NBA had 109 international players representing 39 countries around the world.
The Too Fly Foundation knows that a world outside of yours is changing lives.
Co-founder Bola Ibidapo was born to Nigerian parents and from a young age she was drawn to the world around her. Her love for people fueled her passions.
Ibidapo also believed that travel should not be a privilege, so she stepped out in faith and co-founded the Too Fly Foundation with friend Brandon Miller in 2016 to raise the next generation of leaders.
She believes that the time to form a leader is now.
“And I’m proud to say that I’m doing my part to encourage these brilliant young people,” Ibidapo said.
Too Fly aims to bridge the gap between students and opportunities by providing resources and travel experiences. The foundation says travel can transform and inspire the next generation. This is especially true in the era of COVID-19 and as the economy takes a hit.
“Travel@Home was created during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ibidapo, who also serves as executive director. “Too Fly wanted to create an experience that piqued the curiosity of young people at home who may not be given or exposed to the opportunity to travel.”
Too Fly offers travel grants and passport scholarships to underserved students who want to study or volunteer abroad but may not have the financial support to do so.
The Too Fly Workbook designed with the Dallas Mavs is probably one of the coolest travel and basketball printables made for kids. Each page brings athletes and countries to life and sparks creativity for young and old alike.
The travel experience and curriculum was shared with For Oak Cliff students in June 2022.
Too Fly and the Dallas Mavericks plan to expand the program throughout Dallas in 2022-2023. For Oak Cliff will also continue to promote technology opportunities for children and families in the Oak Cliff superblock.
“Representing the Dallas Mavericks meant a lot to me growing up in this community,” said For Oak Cliff co-founder Taylor Toynes. “For the Mavs to always come and be so popular is a real relationship. Building a genuine relationship with a professional sports team is a huge encouragement.”
