Skills Nation CEO Marcell Nelson and partners Cliff Bates & Charles Baskins are Detroit native who has a strong passion for the youth and also basketball. From growing up in Detroit, Nelson, Bates & Baskins knew firsthand the importance of staying positive and motivated while chasing their dreams.
When we talk about the city of Detroit, we can not look past the crime and poverty rates. With a crime rate of 2,057 per 100,000, Detroit was the second-highest in the nation after St. Louis. Detroit has a poverty rate nearly three times higher than the national average—roughly 35%. In Detroit, the child poverty rate is even higher, at more than 50%. Marcell and his partners know it’s imperative to help young athletes get the exposure to hopefully land them college scholarships and overcome such rates.
Skills Nation is a platform developed to give back to young athletes. Not just giving back but also creating something special for the kids in their city and community. Something they can be apart of and something that can help build confidence in their games.
Skills Nation believes the importance of youth development is to promote positive development, help youth navigate adolescence in healthy ways and prepare them for their future by providing a platform where coaches of all levels can view and track their growth. This platform can help players get footage out to the world so everyone can see their talents and skills.
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