By Benicia Ciara, TMDN
On any given day, Curtis Jones Park in Detroit might be a quiet green space. But once a year, it becomes the epicenter of joy, unity, and purpose for the Hoopfest celebration—a three-day basketball and culture event that fuses free fun with deep community impact.
Hoopfest 2025, powered by NW Goldberg Cares, wrapped its third and final day on Sunday, July 20, with more than 1,500 people in attendance, a 3-on-3 adult tournament, free gym shoe giveaways, music, and the electrifying energy of a celebrity basketball game hosted in-partnership with Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield.
“This isn’t just a tournament. It’s a love letter to our community,” said Daniel Washington, founder of NW Goldberg Cares.
This year’s festival partnered with Occupy the Corner, an initiative led by Council President Mary Sheffield.
“Mary’s been supporting us from day one. It was a natural fit to fuse her energy with ours,” Washington said. “This is undoubtedly her most successful Occupy the Corner to date.”
Together, the two teams made magic—welcoming NBA Hall of Famers Chris Webber and Jalen Rose, and local stars like Sada Baby and Baby Money to the court for a dynamic celebrity basketball game.
While the event includes fierce competition and fun—with bounce houses, food trucks, and art—Washington emphasized that Hoopfest is rooted in honoring the late Curtis Jones, a promising basketball player and NW Goldberg native whose dreams were cut short by educational neglect and systemic failure.
“Curtis Jones was from Stanton Street. He was just a young boy chasing the dream of playing ball at the highest level. But he was failed by DPS, by society,” Washington said. “We want to uplift that story, not just the tragedy, but the legacy he left behind.”
Hoopfest doesn’t just uplift Curtis’ name—it elevates the entire neighborhood. From youth clinics hosted by Motor City Crews to free food and no entry fees, the weekend is intentionally accessible to all.
“You can do dope things as a young Black man with a heart for your community,” he Daniel Washington
For more information on upcoming events or to support, visit www.nwgoldbergcares.com or follow @nwgoldbergcares on Instagram and Facebook.
