The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

A last-minute change of venue brought District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez to P.S. 8 in Bedford Park on March 2 to present a proclamation on behalf of the New York City Council to Bronx local nonprofit, Theory 9, for what was described as the group’s continued community service and support of its “Rising Kings” basketball teams.

 

Established in 2019, Theory 9 has hosted many holiday events, basketball tournaments, and food drives in and around the Kingsbridge neighborhood, and its organizers, including Shakir “Chip” Seagers and Izaiah “Zik” Barrow, pride themselves on creating programs that introduce “knowledge, self-worth, and love” to youth while also bringing education to underserved communities.

 

During her remarks on the night, Sanchez paid tribute to Seagers and Barrow and said, “So, we live in a community that has incredible challenges, right? We have a lot of problems that other communities don’t face, and it’s because of what we look like; it’s because of our history. So, there’s a lot of things that are stacked against us, but it doesn’t matter because we got heart, right? We got Theory 9.”

Sanchez said she was proud to call Kingsbridge her home because it included the next generation of leaders like Seagers and Barrow. “Together, we’re doing what the world says we can’t,” she added. “We’re looking outside and we’re bringing resources in and we’re lifting each other up.”

 

The councilwoman said Seagers, a coach, a music manager and marketer, a former recording artist, the founder of Theory 9 Inc. and more, had a personal investment in the success of the community. “He’s a staple,” she said. “He teaches and counsels y’all, the students who need the most support. Shakir makes sure that every youth has a mentor and that you have a fair shot to succeed. In only four years, Theory 9 has supported 2000 families, hosting over 150 events since launching. He also helped to replace the basketball courts in the area, create an educational curriculum, and started a new basketball team.”

Sanchez went on to acknowledge how Barrow was known as the renowned neighborhood floorman due to his day trade which she said he learned on his first job site at 11 years of age from his uncle and granduncle, now 81, while his friends were hanging out in the park. “He’s not just a loving husband and father, but he’s a master floorman,” she said, adding that Barrow was the embodiment of what it meant to find what you’re good at, and then become the best at it. “They [his elders] taught him how to be a man and a gentleman,” she said.

 

After the presentation of the proclamations, one of the two honorees’ friends said, “I’m very happy and proud to see all of these Black and brown young men with their pants up. Keep ’em up!” he said. ”

Kendred Smith, otherwise known as “Jimi Kendrix,” is a 7-time, Grammy-nominated music producer who has worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Rihanna, 50 Cent, Tupac, and others, said he has been a friend of Seagers for almost 20 years. Kendrix said he previously coached basketball, was a teacher for 10 years, and also worked as a paralegal for the district attorney. As such, he said he was familiar with the process of working with criminals and arraignments.

 

He told us he was supposed to be attending a party downtown on the night of the award presentation but had to come to be present for his friend. “Chip has really been a big part of my life ’cause he’s one of the first artists that I’ve produced and he’s like my family.” he said. “When I see him, I see me, and it’s a pleasure to see him get his followers, and I pray that this won’t be the last time as well.”

Kendrix said it took everything in him to hold back emotions and tears on the night because he knows how hard Seagers works [“tirelessly’] when there are no cameras, when money needs to be allocated for programs and people in the community, and when people do not always give that money. “It has to come from somewhere, so it is very powerful to see this young man who is still in his prime, still here, still in the trenches, still willing to give 150 percent,” he said.

 

Kendrix said if there were more like him and more support, more council people reaching out into the community, the borough would see a lot of crimes being curbed. “Because it’s an outlet and the right people are in place that has their ear and their trust,” he said.

He continued, “When he told me about this, I was like yes! This is more of what we need! He really has been a consistent staple, which is needed. He plays sports. He’s heavily in the music industry. He’s also heavily in the community with the young boys and girls. This was needed for many reasons, not just for him but for the young people to see that there are other options beyond running in the streets. [You can be] shootin’ on a hoop, rappin’ on a song. You can also be a representative of your community, like a constituent and be able to give back and be a rock star, so this was something that I just could not, COULD NOT miss!”

 

Of Barrow, who Kendrix said he also knows, he said, “He’s also a very good man. He’s been raised right. His grandfather has got him on the right path. He learned a trade which is very important. We needed it for so long but it’s been phased out of the educational system.” He added that he also used to do construction work. “It was fun to me to learn a trade,” he said.

He concluded, “I’m just proud to be here and proud to say that I know this young man and I pray that God continues to bless him, God continues to bless the councilwoman, God continues to bless these young people and that it all works out.”

 

During the event, Theory 9 was also presented with new equipment on behalf of Gatorade, and new basketball kits donated by the Community Police Relations Foundation (CPRF), a national nonprofit organization that helps serve marginalized communities in hopes of uniting and fostering a prosperous relationship between communities and local law enforcement.

David Seagers, 34, Shakir’s brother, was also present for the presentation, ahead of a move to Vietnam to play professionally for a basketball team there. “I grew up playing in a local club in The Bronx, and it’s taken me all around the world at this point,” he said. “I’ve been to over 30 countries playing basketball, and it all started on my end in Kingsbridge.” He said Indonesia was one of his favorite places, but he’s also played in China, New Zealand, and Russia to name a few.

 

Asked for his reaction to the event, he said, “I’m super excited for my brother, Shakir Seagers, and Theory 9. He’s the founder and to see the change that he’s come and made, to see the kids come out and the families, it’s awesome.”

Reacting to his award, Barrows said in part, “I’m not going to go too much into detail but 15, 16 years ago, before half of y’all was even a twinkle in your parents’ eyes, me and Chip wasn’t even thinking of this. We was actually on the other side of town. Dave knows. We came up very far, very far. As brown and Black men, the greatest thing you can do is love each other. Don’t forget that. Go back to the court and build. There’s gonna come a time when me and Chippy not gonna to be here, coach not gonna be here, Farina’s not gonna be here, Bella’s not gonna be here. It’s just going be y’all, and there’s gonna be another group of young boys that’s gonna be lookin’ up at y’all, all googly eyed like, “Yo, what we gonna do?”

 

He continued in part, “A lot of y’all ain’t got a pot to piss in or no window to throw it out in. That’s what my mother used to tell me but I’m telling you I understand what that means, but as long as y’all got us, everything will work. The only thing we ask is that you raise up, respect your parents, take care of the block. I don’t care what you do, what color you want to wear, what color you don’t want to wear, just make sure you take care of the block, and reciprocate the energy. Remember this – this is not done because y’all are handsome and we like y’all. This is done because it needed to be done. So, when the time comes, give it all back, and take some young boys under your wing and show ’em the path. Any women that come through your life, take care of them and protect them, the kids y’all make, raise them. If they ever need something, reach out…..and take care of the block.”

Click here to view a short video of the various team players in action.

 

Click here for details of a carpenter apprenticeship recruitment drive.

 

Click here for details of an announcement last September by Mayor Eric Adams about the launch of a new workforce trade and development program at Bronx Community College funded by $18.6 million federal grant.