"SEI prepared us for life..."

Word was out on the streets. The basketball players Joe McFerrin II worshipped were organizing a basketball camp for athletes from around the city. All of his rivals would be on equal ground and 11-year- old Joe could show them what he was made of. If his team won he’d have bragging rights for the rest of the summer.

“Once we showed up we learned SEI was more than just basketball. The camp hooked us, but the discussions prepared us for life. I think that was really the mission of the program. With those discussions, we got to know each other as more than just rivals, there was this higher level of respect, a sense of ‘I’ve got your back’.”

Twelve years ago Joe realized he could take the communication skills he learned at SEI and apply them to work as a counselor at the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC). He quickly developed the same camaraderie with the students at POIC that he had experienced as an athlete in SEI’s camps.

As current President and CEO of POIC, Joe likes to pass on the credit, “I cannot overemphasize how (SEI CEO) Tony Hopson has influenced me. His drive has served as a model of leadership. I’ve never seen him sweat as he’s led this effort to benefit the community. That’s what I want to do.”

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