Community Highlights: Meet Jakiera Daniels of National Association for the Advancement of Black Pickleballers (NAABP)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jakiera Daniels

Hi JAKIERA, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
First, let me just say thank you to the readers who have shown interest in my brand and are taking the time to read our article. You are appreciated! Today, I am an aspiring and up-and-coming pickleball professional who has been an athlete – from track & field, basketball, flag football, kickball, tennis, and racquetball – all of my life. Thanks to Goombay Sports, a local DMV social sports league for urban professionals, I now have my first opportunity to play a sport at the pro level! My introduction to pickleball began in 2023, when Goombay added a pickleball league to its list of team sports. Ten months later, I was sitting in my living room with my partner at the time, venting about the non-existence of black people being broadcast on the pro level. “But surely we play,” I thought, “And surely there’s some of us who are exceeding at a pro level.” Long story short, that conversation led to the start of NAABP! NAABP stands for National Association for the Advancement
of Black Pickleballers. It’s Pickleball with a Purpose: to lift up our community by paying it forward through philanthropy and fundraising efforts, and through drives, charities, and donations. With a percentage of their membership, NAABP members also have the opportunity to pay it forward, as well as provide sponsorships for our active members working hard to take their talents to the next level. The NAABP mission is build up the black community with health and wealth through the sport of pickleball.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t been smooth because it has yet to be paved. I find many other companies, groups, and organizations are working on their own blueprints to create a space for black people in pickleball, but I can’t say that any of us are leading the way just yet. Like any groundbreaking project, there will be obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments, but I have been persistent and relentless because my focus is on the greater purpose – to lift up our communities and members through this sport. Despite my struggles, I have the faith that breakthroughs, miracles, future success, and recognition will come for black pickleball.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about National Association for the Advancement of Black Pickleballers (NAABP)?
NAABP welcomes all members and alliances of the sport of pickleball. A portion of our monthly membership fees will be paid forward to our charity of choice. Our members can be proud knowing that they will be giving back to their community in something they are passionate about. Moreover, we’ll be able to provide scholarship funding for our members who play pickleball and need support with travel expenses to play in the top qualifying tournaments. Our purpose and mission are to use this platform to bring the Black community of pickleballers together as an entire association and support each other’s growth through the giving of our memberships. Our specialty is creating our own space in the sport of pickleball for Black players without having to wait for others to welcome us or use hand-outs to succeed. NAABP is most proud of being the go-to source for our own, preserving our own, lifting our own, and giving back to our own. Ultimately, I want your readers to know that NAABP will be a resource beyond our pickleballers. It will expand into our communities and build on our strengthening together as a unit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://NAABP.co
• Instagram: NAABPickleball
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1E4HYZLDiP/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NAABPickleball