Don't Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops

Beyond the Game: Building Skills for Life

Give to the Max Day | Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops (DSGSH)

Every young person deserves the tools, support, and opportunities to thrive, not just on the basketball court, but in life.

Rooted in Minneapolis, Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops (DSGSH) supports young people impacted by gun violence, trauma, and loss through social-emotional learning, mentorship, leadership development, and healing-centered programming.

Basketball is one of the ways we connect with young people. It helps build trust, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. But the heart of our mission goes much deeper than the game.

We use the game to open the door. We focus on the skills that help young people succeed in life.

The Real Work Happens Beyond the Court

Through our Boys to Men camps, mentorship, workshops, and youth development activities, we create opportunities for young people to develop essential life skills, including:

• Emotional awareness and self-regulation: Recognizing emotions and developing healthy ways to manage stress, anger, grief, and frustration.
• Conflict resolution: Learning to communicate, navigate disagreements, de-escalate conflict, and make thoughtful decisions.
• Healing and resilience: Building coping skills and finding support while navigating difficult experiences.
• Healthy relationships: Practicing trust, empathy, respect, accountability, and positive communication.
• Self-worth and confidence: Recognizing personal strengths and seeing possibilities beyond life's challenges.
• Leadership and decision-making: Developing the confidence and responsibility to make intentional choices and positively influence others.

These skills extend far beyond our programs. They matter at home, in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and throughout life.

Why This Work Matters

Young people impacted by violence and trauma deserve more than a safe place to spend time. They deserve opportunities to build the social and emotional skills that help them navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, and envision a future filled with possibility.

Our Boys to Men application data from 2023–2026 reflects 325 applications across 62 schools and learning centers. Among applicants, 91.7% reported exposure to gun violence or the loss of someone to suicide, while 34.5% reported being a victim or witness of violence.

These figures reflect experiences reported by applicants and underscore the importance of supportive relationships, emotional wellness, mentorship, and opportunities to grow.

Every young person is more than what they have experienced. With support, opportunity, and the right tools, they can continue to learn, heal, and shape their future.

Your Gift Invests in Skills for Life

Your generosity helps support opportunities for:

• Social-emotional learning and life-skills development.
• Healing-centered workshops and emotional wellness activities.
• Mentorship, positive relationships, and leadership development.
• Safe, structured environments where youth can connect and grow.
• Boys to Men camps that combine personal development, relationship-building, and meaningful engagement.
• Basketball and other activities that help us connect with young people and reinforce positive life skills.

The goal isn't just to help young people become better players. It's to help them build the skills to navigate life, manage challenges, make healthier choices, and lead with purpose.

Help Us Invest in Their Future

Imagine a young person learning to pause before reacting, communicate through conflict, ask for support, recognize their worth, or make a healthier choice in a difficult moment. Those skills can matter long after a program ends.

This Give to the Max Day, we invite you to stand with DSGSH and invest in young people. Your support helps create opportunities for growth, healing, emotional wellness, and leadership.

You don't have to play basketball to change the game. You can help change what is possible for a young person by investing in the skills they need for life.

Give today. Invest in growth. Stand with our youth.

Together, we can help young people build a future defined not by their circumstances, but by their potential.

Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops (DSGSH)
Beyond the game. Building skills for life.