key players project: the course
A collaborative csl course with the boston celtics and community activists
BY DR. Todd crosset 01.15.06
The following is a description of the Key Players Project, a community service learning 
collaboration between the Boston Celtics, the University of Massachusetts Sport Management Department and community leaders/activists of Springfield. We have completed our eighth year of this project and have been successful enough that other activists/community leaders/schools/teachers/students/administrators/faculty who might be interested in partnering with a professional sport franchise to build community, might learn from us.
The intent of this class is to prepare students for jobs within community relations departments within the sport industry. But this collaboration with a professional sport team (particularly with NBA basketball organizations) is applicable to a variety of disciplines (sociology, education or a college's CSL club).
In a nutshell, the course revolves around the management and marketing of a nomination and selection process to honor men of color who have a positive impact on young people in Springfield, Massachusetts. In addition, the 20 students in the class put on a reception, fundraise, and put in 30 hours of community service at a Springfield School or community center. Academic work usually revolves around two texts. One, a critical look at the non-profit world, such as Wagner's, What's Love Got To Do With It or McKnight's The Careless Society . The other is a more pragmatic/management oriented text, like Burke's Corporate Community Relations or Austin's The Collaborative Challenge.