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Stories of impact, upcoming events, chapter highlights, and the latest news from the Association of Midnight Basketball.

AMB 40-Year Anniversary Event
Featured
Anniversary 2026

Celebrating 40 Years of Building Safer Communities

From a bold experiment in 1986 to a proven national movement — the Association of Midnight Basketball marks four decades of transforming lives through basketball, mentorship, and community programs. Join us as we celebrate and look ahead to our most ambitious chapter yet.

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🏆 Summit In Review 📅 August 27–29, 2026 📍 Atlanta, Georgia

The AMB 40th Anniversary National Summit
Is Complete. What a Weekend.

Atlanta, Georgia — August 27–29, 2026

Over three remarkable days in Atlanta, Georgia, the Association of Midnight Basketball gathered for its 40th Anniversary National Summit — the largest convening in the organization's history. From Thursday evening's Welcome Ceremony at Atlanta City Hall to Saturday's games at Forbes Arena at Morehouse College, the summit delivered on every promise.

Thursday, August 27 opened with the official Meet & Greet and Opening Ceremony in the Atlanta City Hall Atrium. Media crews were on-site from the opening moments as youth reporters stepped up to interview AMB leadership in front of the 40th Anniversary step-and-repeat backdrop. A press conference at 5:55 PM was followed by the Mayor's Office Networking Reception.

Friday, August 28 brought the full Association to Rosel Fann Recreation Center for The History & The Association — a morning program that traced AMB's 40-year journey from Glenarden, Maryland, to a national movement. Chapter directors, alumni, board members, and sponsors filled the room. The day closed with a Lunch with the President & Board Members open to all delegates.

Saturday, August 29 was the signature day. Forbes Arena at Morehouse College hosted the Broken Crayons Still Color Youth Safety & Mental Health Summit all morning — an immersive series of simulations including a Mock Car Crash with Atlanta Fire Rescue & EMS, Mock Funeral, Mock Trial, Incarceration, and Reentry experiences designed to reach youth and families with real-world impact. At 3:30 PM, the 40th Anniversary Midnight Basketball Games officially tipped off to a packed arena.

Multiple television and documentary production crews documented the summit throughout the weekend. The 40th Anniversary Awards program honored outstanding leaders, partner cities, and chapter directors. Chapter representatives from across the country showed up wearing the AMB chapter map t-shirts — a powerful visual of a movement that reaches from coast to coast.

View Full Photo Gallery & Recap
40
40th Anniversary Aug 27–29, 2026 Morehouse College · Atlanta University Center, GA

National Program Summit & Basketball Tournament

Three days in Atlanta — Thu: Meet & Greet + Press Conference at City Hall · Fri: The History & The Association (9am–12pm) + Lunch with the President & Board Members at 12pm · Sat: Broken Crayons Still Color Youth Safety & Mental Health Summit at Rosel Fann Recreation Center (8am–2pm) including Mock Car Crash with Atlanta Fire Rescue & EMS, Mock Funeral, Mock Trial, Incarceration & Reentry Simulations, WestCare Presentations · Then 40th Anniversary Midnight Basketball Games at Morehouse College beginning 3:30 PM.

View Full Schedule View Photo Gallery & Recap View Invitation
Upcoming Events

Summit Week Highlights

Two landmark events across Atlanta Aug 27–29, 2026

40th Anniversary Midnight Basketball Games — August 29, 2026, 3PM, Morehouse College Forbes Arena, 830 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta GA 30314
Aug 29 · 3:30 PM Tip-Off · 40th Anniversary Midnight Basketball Games Morehouse College · 107 Fair St SW, Atlanta University Center, GA
Broken Crayons Still Color — Youth Safety & Mental Health Summit, August 29, 2026, 10am–2pm, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta GA 30314
Aug 29 · 8am–2pm · Broken Crayons Still Color Summit Rosel Fann Recreation Center · 365 Cleveland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30354
Friday Partner & Chapter Information Sessions — August 28, 2026, 9am–12pm, Atlanta Georgia — For New & Prospective Partners, Chapters, and City Leaders
Aug 28 · 9am–12pm · Partner & Chapter Sessions Atlanta, Georgia · New & Prospective Partners, Chapters & City Leaders
AMB National Summit & Tournament — Friday August 28 2026: The History & The Association, 9am–12pm + 12pm Lunch with the President & Board Members, Rosel Fann Recreation Center
Aug 28 · 9am–12pm · The History & The Association Rosel Fann Recreation Center · 12pm Lunch with the President & Board
📱 Scan to Register
AMB National Summit 2026
Aug 27–29 · Atlanta, Georgia
Book Your Stay & Register Today
Register Here

Watch the Documentary

See midnight basketball's story told on screen — as featured in the Emmy-eligible HBO docuseries Level Playing Field.

Level Playing Field — Official Show Poster
HBO Original Now on Plex
Docuseries Season 1 · Episode 101 · 2021 Vox Media Studios

Level Playing Field

"Midnight Basketball" — Episode 101

Produced by Vox Media Studios and originally broadcast on HBO, Level Playing Field is a six-part docuseries exploring how sports intersect with race, identity, and social justice in America. Episode 101 spotlights midnight basketball — tracing its origins as a bold community experiment to a proven national movement that keeps young people safe and transforms lives.

6
Episodes
HBO
Original
2021
Released
FREE
On Plex

Media Coverage

What journalists, reporters, and publications are saying about midnight basketball across the country.

Official Media Wrap Report · 40th Anniversary City of Atlanta Celebration & Press Conference Aug 22–28, 2026
12
Outlets Reached
4 / 2 / 6
TV / Radio / Digital
2
Press Conference Venues
40
Years of Impact
Coverage & Event Highlights
City Hall Reception
Mayor Dickens with city & Morehouse leadership — commemorative 40th Anniversary league jacket presentation
11 Alive Atlanta
Mayor Dickens press conference coverage — Aug 28
The Maroon Tiger
Safety message brought to Morehouse — coverage of AMB's campus presence
Spokespeople
Mayor Andre Dickens · Romando Davidson · Dr. Cynthia Williams
Locations
Atlanta City Hall & Morehouse College · Atlanta, Georgia
Coverage Mix by Media Type
Television (4)
11 Alive (WXIA) CBS 46 Atlanta Fox 5 Atlanta Channel 2 WSB-TV
Radio (2)
V-103 Atlanta WAOK 1380 AM
Podcast & Digital (6)
The Maroon Tiger Atlanta Daily World Rolling Out Westside Atlanta On The Frontline Podcast Morehouse Campus Media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2026  ·  Fort Worth, Texas SCARED STIFF Pilot Partner
No Shots Fired — Caskets of Compassion, Fort Worth Texas
Gun Violence Prevention Faith Community Guns to Gardens Fort Worth, TX

Churches & Clergy Bless Chop Saw, Host "Caskets of Compassion" to Kick Off National Crime Prevention Month

Noon gathering at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church honors lives lost to gun homicide and suicide in Tarrant County

Faith leaders from several denominations gathered at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, 2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 for the Guns to Gardens Blessing of the Chop Saw and Caskets of Compassion — a powerful memorial and action event sponsored by Guns to Gardens Tarrant County and the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas.

Clergy read the name of each Tarrant County resident who died from firearm homicide or suicide last year, placing a card with their name in a casket as a remembrance. The event highlighted a striking reality: firearm suicides claim more lives than firearm homicides in Tarrant County each year.

"We will continue to see senseless homicides and suicides in our community until mayors and city leaders take this situation seriously and invest more crime-prevention dollars back into the communities that need them most. This is not about politics. This is about compassion and mercy."

— Pastor Kyev Tatum, New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church & Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

More than 35 guns were collected at last year's event and transformed into garden tools for community use. Since then, the church planted a garden in memory of Morningside teen Trevell "Tre" Boyer, killed by gun violence — now a thriving food forest in ZIP code 76104, a community facing low life expectancy and significant poverty.

Upcoming: Guns to Gardens Gun Collection
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church · 2864 Mississippi Avenue · Fort Worth, TX 76104
Bring unwanted firearms to be transformed into garden tools for community use.
Watch Video New Mount Rose Pastor Kyev Tatum · 817-966-7625

Chapter Highlights

Upcoming Events

Oct
18
2026
Guns to Gardens SCARED STIFF Pilot Partner Fort Worth, TX

Guns to Gardens — Unwanted Firearm Collection Event

Bring unwanted firearms to be safely collected and transformed into garden tools for community use. Hosted by New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church and the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas. Following the Caskets of Compassion ceremony on October 1, this collection event continues the community's commitment to turning instruments of harm into tools of life.

2:00 p.m. New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church 2864 Mississippi Ave · Fort Worth, TX 76104
No Shots Fired — Caskets of Compassion

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