Dallas, September 29, 2025
News Summary
The 9th Annual ‘Together We Ball’ event at Southern Methodist University united community members, including pastors and law enforcement, for a day of basketball and activities. With free admission, the event featured a youth skills camp, a community resource fair, and a showcase of law enforcement vehicles. Organizers aimed to foster positive relationships between police and residents while providing scholarships and engaging youth in sports and mentorship.
Dallas
9th annual “Together We Ball” unites community at SMU
The 9th annual “Together We Ball” event brought pastors, North Texas law enforcement, children and community organizations together for an all-day gathering at Southern Methodist University. The event took place on Sunday at Moody Coliseum on the SMU campus and was free and open to the public. Organizers designed the day to strengthen community relations through basketball and a variety of interactive activities, including youth programming, public safety demonstrations, and a community resource fair.
Key details
The 9th annual “Together We Ball” event took place on Sunday at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
Participants included pastors, North Texas law enforcement, and children from the community.
The event aimed to strengthen community relations through basketball and interactive activities.
It was held at Moody Coliseum on the SMU campus.
The event was free and open to the public.
Activities included a youth skills and drills camp, police vehicle showcase, and a community resource fair.
Schedule
- 11:00 AM – Youth Skills & Drills Camp
- 1:00 PM – Police Vehicle Showcase and Community Resource Fair (featuring safety information and job opportunities)
- 1:15 PM – High School Exhibition Game
- 2:30 PM – Community Hour with Dallas Mavericks entertainment and a 3-point contest
- 2:30 PM – SMU College Campus Tour
- 3:30 PM – The “Big Game,” featuring police, pastors, and community leaders, along with scholarship and Mavs ticket prize drawings.
Programs, prizes and community resources
Toska Medlock, a program manager at Project Unity, highlighted the community-focused aspects such as face painting for children and entertainment from the Dallas Mavericks. A $1,000 college scholarship and Dallas Mavericks ticket giveaways were included in the event. Medlock expressed hopes that the event would help reshape perceptions of law enforcement, encouraging positive relationships.
Officer Reginald Luster from the Dallas Police Department described the aim of building friendly bonds between police officers and community members. Project Unity provided a total of $2,000 in grant awards; both a college student and a youth organization received $1,000 each. SMU’s basketball teams hosted the youth basketball drills, supporting skill development and on-court mentoring.
Additional programming and context
The event included “Together We Dine” at the University of Texas at Arlington later that week, featuring an art exposition called “The Gullah Journey” from West Africa to Mexico. Participant fourteen-year-old Nyla Banks commented on the importance of sports for youth discipline and engagement in positive activities. The event concluded with a basketball game promoting teamwork, hard work, and perseverance.
Why it matters
Organizers and participants described the event as a chance to connect residents with public safety professionals, local churches, college programs and job information. The mixture of athletic competition, youth instruction and practical resources aimed to create informal settings where relationships can form, scholarships and grants can be awarded, and community organizations can share services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the event?
The 9th annual “Together We Ball” event took place on Sunday at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
Who participated?
Participants included pastors, North Texas law enforcement, and children from the community.
What was the purpose of the event?
The event aimed to strengthen community relations through basketball and interactive activities.
Where on campus was the event held?
It was held at Moody Coliseum on the SMU campus.
Was there a cost to attend?
The event was free and open to the public.
What activities were included?
Activities included a youth skills and drills camp, police vehicle showcase, and a community resource fair.
What was on the schedule?
11:00 AM – Youth Skills & Drills Camp
1:00 PM – Police Vehicle Showcase and Community Resource Fair (featuring safety information and job opportunities)
1:15 PM – High School Exhibition Game
2:30 PM – Community Hour with Dallas Mavericks entertainment and a 3-point contest
2:30 PM – SMU College Campus Tour
3:30 PM – The “Big Game,” featuring police, pastors, and community leaders, along with scholarship and Mavs ticket prize drawings.
Who provided grants and scholarships?
Project Unity provided a total of $2,000 in grant awards; both a college student and a youth organization received $1,000 each.
Were there prizes?
A $1,000 college scholarship and Dallas Mavericks ticket giveaways were included in the event.
What other programming was part of the week?
The event included “Together We Dine” at the University of Texas at Arlington later that week, featuring an art exposition called “The Gullah Journey” from West Africa to Mexico.
Event features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | The 9th annual “Together We Ball” event |
| Location | Moody Coliseum on the SMU campus |
| Participants | Participants included pastors, North Texas law enforcement, and children from the community |
| Key activities | Youth skills and drills camp; police vehicle showcase; community resource fair; high school exhibition game; community hour with Dallas Mavericks entertainment |
| Grants & scholarships | Project Unity provided a total of $2,000 in grant awards; both a college student and a youth organization received $1,000 each. A $1,000 college scholarship was included among prize giveaways. |
| Special programming | The event included “Together We Dine” at the University of Texas at Arlington later that week, featuring an art exposition called “The Gullah Journey” from West Africa to Mexico |
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: North Texas Nonprofit Hosts 9th Annual Together We Ball
- Dallas News: Pastors, Police and Community Leaders Gather in Unity
- FOX 4 News: Together We Ball Event
- Wikipedia: Community Policing
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Youth Program
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
