Today we’d like to introduce you to A.R. Cooper.
Thanks for sharing your story with us A.R.. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a southwest Atlanta native. I graduated from Westlake High School and have an extensive basketball resume that extends the globe. I have worked in the NBA as well as played and coached in multiple countries including the Dominican Republic, Spain, France, and Taiwan.
I am the former Fulton County Youth Commissioner and the current owner of two developmental basketball franchises, both named the Metro Ballers, of the Women’s United Basketball Association (WUBA), and the United Basketball Association (UBA). My drive for excellence doesn’t stop at the basketball court. A.R. makes it a point to host basketball clinics for under-served athletes in the countries his team plays, including Australia, Germany, and most recently Lagos, Nigeria.
My passion is my community. Much of my life off-the-court time has been devoted to empowering young people to develop healthier lifestyles – physically, mentally, and financially. I am the author of Cooper Shapes Up, a children’s book that challenges young people to make better food choices and increase exercise. Throughout my career, he has donated more than 1000 books to children in the US, Ghana, and the Dominican Republic. I also host charity basketball games in the Atlanta metro area such as the annual Turkey Classic, which has fed over 2500 families in the last four years.
I am now the Executive Director of Art In The Paint, a non-profit, with a mission to renovate public outdoor basketball courts and install largescale works of art to strengthen communities, promote safety, inspire creativity, and encourage play. I am currently working in partnership with multiple local organizations to try to bring revitalized courts to metro Atlanta neighborhoods and link up multiple localized resources to these new access points.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So far, the path to starting the nonprofit and getting community support for our current Home Court Advantage project has been amazing. Community relationships, access to art, and providing access to necessary resources in Atlanta communities are all at the forefront of discussion right now and all of our partners have been ready and willing to work hard and open up access whenever possible.
Please tell us about Art in the Paint.
Art in the Paint is a nonprofit organization that is focused on meshing together sports and art by way of public outdoor basketball courts. We start by gaining access to local basketball courts by way of partnerships with local municipalities. Once we have access to a court, we determine the needs of the court and commission local artists to mock-up a mural that matches the community and the vision for that court. After approvals, the court is cleaned and revitalized and the mural is installed. Once we finish the installation, we work with organizations in the community to bring access to food resources, fitness programmings like yoga classes and group exercise, and programs to promote art and literacy understandings for the children of that community.
I am most proud of our organization and the push we have recently made to really find a way to bring resources to an area where community members already feel safe, providing direct connections between other organizations and the members of the surrounding neighborhoods. I also have always loved art and the way that art can communicate a vision without words. By using art, we are giving people exposure to view inside an artist’s brain and sparking conversations about what those images mean and how they can possibly be used to promote community.
We are different from other organizations because we don’t just fix the court and leave. Instead, we work diligently to make sure programming and access follow behind us and are maintained. This allows children who may not have a ride to the gym or the community center to be able to still participate and be involved in regular activities that showcase opportunities and understandings that they may have never had a chance to see.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is being an inaugural member of the Fulton County Youth Commission. It was the first time as a child where I felt connected to my community and that my voice mattered. My goal is that through this project, I am able to spark some community interest and give children a chance to be heard and feel valued.
Pricing:
- We currently have a GoFundMe campaign where we are trying to reach our goal of $20,000 to renovate a cluster of courts in East Point, College Park, South Fulton and Atlanta. The average court costs around $8000 to truly revitalize. We would love any community support, large or small. https://gf.me/u/ykgd59
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gf.me/u/ykgd59
- Phone: 770-374-6588
- Email: artinthepaint@gmail.com
- Instagram: @artinthepaintig
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/arelious.copper.5
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