Joseph Harris

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH:

The picture shows young men in our community coming together to inspire our youth through basketball. We invited kids from the community to a basketball camp that was sponsored by a few local men—leaders within the community.

I was in a place where I could give back in many ways. So when the opportunity came to partner with a young man who had an organization called Breaking the Cycle, I took it. At the time, I had a good job and the time to contribute to his cause, which aligned closely with my own. That shared purpose brought us together.

We are Middies, and for those coming up behind us, there are certain values, skills, and lessons we believe they should learn—about life in Middletown, about sports, and about the pride that comes with being part of our community. It’s not just physical. It’s spiritual. It’s the heart you carry when you say, “I’m a Middletown Middie.” And that comes from investing yourself in something bigger.