In the inner cities across America, young African-American boys look to sports as a way out of their unfortunate situations of poverty, violence and drugs.  These kids didn’t ask to be born or placed into bad environments, but they have to play the hand they’re  dealt and in reference to the card game “spades”, some children make their ‘books’, while most of them get ‘set’. 

  Baltimore native Keion Carpenter ran a ‘Boston’ ( a term in spades in which a player maxes out his playing hand)  and had a successful seven year career in the NFL.  Carpenter, a graduate of Woodlawn High School, played college football at Virginia Tech and signed as an undrafted free agent safety by the Buffalo Bills in 1999.  Carpenter played three seasons there until he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 where his popularity grew.  Unfortunately in 2003, Carpenter tore his ACL and the ‘promising NFL career’ came to an end.

Now the NFL veteran, through the Lord’s help, is dealing his what he has been dealt and hopefully others like Carpenter will use what made him known, football.

   On June 28^th thru July 2^nd, Carpenter is hosting his first football camp, C4C (Commitment 4 Change), at Towson University and some of his NFL buddies will be on hand to attend, including  former wide receiver of world champion Green Bay Packers and Baltimore native, Antonio Freeman.  “I was thinking about this (starting a camp) for the past two or three years,” said Carpenter.  On Saturday June 27^th in Baltimore at Poly High School, current NFL players like LB Bart Scott of the New York Jets and CB D’Angelo Hall of the Washington Redskins along with former players and a few surprise guests will take on each other and some “wannabe’s” in flag football. 

  On Sunday at Towson University, Carpenter and his NFL family will speak to the campers and parents, using the disciplines of football and apply them into away of life.  “I know that the kids will learn something along as the parents,” said Carpenter.  “It’s more to life than being an athlete in football, basketball, baseball, or an entertainer…it’s more to life than that.  Sports teaches us a lot of different disciplines that we can add to our daily life and I believe if you follow those, you could be successful in life no matter what you do.  It doesn’t mean that if you’re not a football player or a basketball player that you won’t be successful.”  After that for the next couple of days, the skills of football will be taught by some of the world’s greatest athletes.

  C4C is a tool created to fulfill his purpose in life and Carpenter’s football camp is the coming out party for his destiny.  Carpenter is a product of a single parent household in west Baltimore and because of his mother’s struggles to provide for him, he was inspired to start his own foundation.  The Carpenter House, Inc. was founded by Carpenter in 2005 in which to help provide affordable housing, healthcare, nutritional needs, education, and other needs in the ‘hood’.  “You will definitely see communities around Baltimore, Carpenter House communities,” said Carpenter.  We will have new neighborhoods around with affordable housing for our people and commercial space for our businesses.  We want to bring the ‘hood’ back to our neighborhoods because once upon a time when we were growing up, the hood was good.  Now as of late, people are afraid of the hood, but the hood is what embraced and made us who we are and I want to get back to that type of living and educate for our people so we can sustain our homes, our families and provide the best environment for our kids.”

  Carpenter is committed to deal out ‘better hands’ in Baltimore and it doesn’t end with the Carpenter House.  “I partnered up with my best friend, Gerrell Wilson, and Mike Thompson to have a mentoring program called F.M.K. (For My Kids),” said Carpenter.  We mentor, tutor, have a workforce development program, gang rehabilitation, and a S.A.T program.  We deal with at risk evils, the ones that want to get on the straight and narrow.  We have the infrastructure to help them get in college or whatever field they want to get into whether if it be entrepreneurship training.  We want to go above and beyond to help kids and their families.”

  Carpenter is focus on his purpose to give back to his community and is thankful for the NFL and his success in the league.  The true ‘promising career’ is about to begin for Carpenter.  “I’m in my work,” said Carpenter when asked if he will work in the media or coach.  “I’m helping families and giving back.  This is my work, my purpose in life.  I believe God had put me into the NFL for ‘His’ purpose. He’s knows my heart, He knows my desires.  He wanted to use the platform of the NFL so I can do what’s really important out here and that’s giving back and helping others.”

    Note: People can still register their children by going to thecarpenterhouseinc.org to sign up or download the brochure from the site and mail it to:

   The Carpenter House, Inc.

          Commitment4Change

          10821 Red Run Blvd.

          P.O.Box 1554

          Owings Mills, MD 21117

Written By: Barry Barnes

To read more from Barry Barnes, click on the dcms blog