The
Metro Mayors Coalition is a group of mayors and city managers that work
together to facilitate collaboration among the Boston Metro area and
deal with common issues. Established in 2001 by the Metropolitan Area
Planning Council, the coalition has grown to accommodate 13 mayors and
city managers from Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea,
Everett, Malden, Melrose, Medford, Quincy, Revere, Somerville and
Winthrop.

Funding for the tournament came from the Charles
Shannon Community Safety Initiative, a state grant program designed to
aid government agencies, community organizations, and law enforcement
officials in their efforts to combat youth and gang-related violence.
The Shannon Community Safety initiative was established in response to
increased gang-related violence around the Metro Boston area, an issue
Saturday's tournament hoped to counteract by bringing police officials
and local teenagers together in a fun, mutual environment.

The
tournament was successfully kicked off last year at Revere High School
and Saturday's tournament was just the second year of what the Metro
Mayors Coalition hopes to become a long-standing annual tradition. The
weather was scorching hot as the nine teams squared off in the double
elimination event, followed by a three-point shot competition at the
end. Teams consisted of teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, some
of who were joined together through their local high schools and others
who were matched up by community youth programs.

Attendance was
reportedly up from last year as the tournament brought together an
impressive turnout of players, police officials, and fans from all nine
towns and cities involved. Mayor Curtatone came with his three sons to
cheer on the players and support the event. When asked about the
tournament, he said that strengthening the relationship between youths
and local law enforcement officials in fun, communal events like this
is a critical part of the struggle against gang-related crime and
violence. He added that he hopes for the event to "grow exponentially"
over the next few years.

Police officials created a great
atmosphere for the event by coaching some of the teams, refereeing the
games, organizing the brackets, and shooting around with the players
between games. Mama Gina's Pizza in Union Square sponsored the event
and provided pizza for all players, law enforcement officials and fans
who attended. Chelsea emerged as the winner of the tournament, knocking
off Quincy in the finals, while a representative from Quincy won the
three point competition, making an impressive 17 three pointers in 1
minute and 30 seconds.

Amy Desrosiers, a manager with the Metro
Mayors Coalition, said the tournament is "a great event to bring kids
we work with in Shannon Grant together with police in a fun
atmosphere." This environment certainly seemed to be achieved as
Saturday proved to be a day when teenagers and law enforcement
officials from the Metro Boston area were able to play some basketball
and have fun as a group.