Bradford Prep

2502 Salome Church Road

Charlotte, NC 28262

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Expo: 10 AM-12 Noon

Coed 3-on-3 Tournament: 12 Noon-6 PM

Buckets & Blueprints for the Future™

Event Overview:

Threes & Trades™ is NoWu®’s signature fundraiser — a high-energy, community-powered event that fuses the excitement of a coed 3-on-3 basketball tournament with the real-world impact of a Career & Trade Expo.

Designed to inspire and empower, this full-day experience brings together basketball, workforce readiness, and community engagement on one powerful platform. It’s where competition meets community, and where young people begin building the blueprints for their futures beyond the game.

At the heart of the event is a coed basketball tournament for youth ages 9–14 (grades 4–8). Before the games tip off, participants and families engage in a dynamic Pre-Tournament Career & Trade Expo, featuring local employers, skilled trades programs, colleges, and hands-on career exploration activities.

It’s more than a game — it’s a gateway to opportunity, connecting student-athletes and families with local businesses, workforce partners, financial literacy resources, and high-demand career pathways. The event raises vital funds and opens doors for youth across Charlotte.

Every dollar raised supports NoWu®’s mission to equip underserved youth with the tools to succeed — on the court and beyond.

Event Goals:

• Raise funds for NoWu®’s Basketball And….™ programs
• Showcase real career pathways for youth and families
• Connect local businesses with future talent
• Promote community unity through healthy competition
• Celebrate youth leadership, character, and purpose

What to Expect:

🏀 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

• (4) Coed age group brackets
• 1st Place Trophies & Prizes
• Game announcer, Court DJ, food vendors, and giveaways

🏢 Career & Trade Expo

• Onsite booths from employers, trade unions, tech companies, healthcare, and more
• Interactive demos and hands-on career exploration stations
• Free resume reviews and info on certifications, apprenticeships, and training

🎤 Success Talks + Community Recognition

• Spotlight on local champions, youth leaders, and community builders
• Real stories from professionals who look like the youth we serve

🎁 Raffles, Giveaways & Swag

• NoWu® merch, scholarships, gear, and sponsor prizes

Why It Matters:

Youth can’t be what they can’t see. Threes & Trades™ puts real opportunity in front of them — from trades to tech, from fitness to finance – showing that the same hustle it takes to win on the court is the hustle it takes to win in life.

Building Pathways from Passion to Profession

Event Overview:

NoWu®’s Workforce & Career Development program prepares youth to confidently enter today’s evolving workforce by combining hands-on career exposure, job readiness training, and strategic partnerships with local employers, trade schools, and colleges.

This program empowers participants — especially student-athletes and youth from underserved communities — to explore career options, gain employable skills, and create realistic, purpose-driven plans for life after high school, whether that includes higher education, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, or direct entry into the workforce.

Program Goals:

💼 Career Awareness & Exposure — Introduce youth to a variety of industries, roles, and professionals through events, tours, and guest speakers
🔧 Hands-On Skill Development — Provide training in technical skills, certifications, digital literacy, and vocational pathways
📄 Job Readiness — Prepare participants with resumes, mock interviews, professional etiquette, and soft skills
💡 Career Planning & Navigation — Help youth identify their interests, set goals, and map out a clear path to career success
🤝 Connect to Real Opportunities —Facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job placement opportunities with vetted partners

Core Components:

• Basketball And….™ Career Expos — Live events that connect youth with trade schools, community colleges, unions, and employers
• Workforce Bootcamps — Intensive training sessions focused on job readiness and career preparation
• Pathway Partnerships — Collaborations with companies in banking, tech, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and more
• Mentorship & Coaching — Career mentoring from professionals who look like them and believe in them
• Certifications & Access — Support for acquiring industry credentials (e.g., OSHA 10, CPR, digital tools, trades)
• Real-World Simulations — Mock interviews, workplace scenarios, and budgeting exercises

Target Audience:

• High school juniors & seniors
• Recent graduates
• Young adults ages 16–24
• Youth seeking alternatives to traditional college paths

Why It Matters:

Too many talented young people are unaware of the real career options available to them — or lack the support to pursue them. NoWu®’s Workforce & Career Development program ensures that youth don’t just dream about success — they’re equipped to achieve it. From the gym to the job site to the boardroom, we build the confidence, competence, and connections they need to win in the real world.

A Boys & Men’s Mental Health Awareness Experience

Event Overview:

Strong Minds, Strong Futures™ is a transformative event focused on breaking the silence and stigma surrounding mental health for boys and young men. Through authentic conversation, lived experience, and community support, we’re creating a space where young men feel seen, heard, and equipped to navigate the emotional challenges they face. Because mental strength is real strength — and leadership starts with self-awareness, healing, and growth.

This event is a safe, empowering space designed to normalize conversations about mental health among boys and young men —especially those from underserved communities and athletic backgrounds.

Hosted by NoWu®, this event breaks down harmful stigmas and opens the door to honest dialogue, healing, and support. Through workshops, testimonials, and expert-led discussions, we help young men understand that real strength includes emotional well-being.

This isn’t just a panel or lecture — it’s an experience that builds trust, community, and long-term tools for coping, growing, and thriving.

What to Expect:

🧠 Real Conversations — Youth and adult-led talks on anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, identity, and resilience
💬 Healing Circles — Guided small-group discussions facilitated by licensed counselors, coaches, and mentors
🏀 Athlete Perspectives — Local and professional athletes share personal journeys through adversity and healing
🛠️ Toolbox Workshops — Coping strategies, journaling, breathing techniques, mindfulness, and how to ask for help
🤝 Resource Connections — Access to mental health professionals, therapy resources, and ongoing support networks
🎁 Giveaways & Good Vibes — T-shirts, journals, mental wellness kits, and peer mentoring sign-ups

Who It’s For:

• Boys & young men (ages 12–Adult)
• Student-athletes and their teammates
• Fathers, father figures, coaches, and mentors
• Educators, counselors, and youth leaders

Why It Matters:

Many young men are taught to “tough it out” or suffer in silence. But without safe outlets and support, emotional challenges can lead to isolation, aggression, academic failure, or worse.

Too many boys and young men suffer in silence. At NoWu®, we’re changing that. This event is not about being perfect — it’s about being real, showing up, and knowing that you’re not alone.

At NoWu®, we believe that nurturing mental health is as important as physical training — because NobodyOutWorksUs® — and that includes doing the inner work.

Financial Literacy for the Next Generation of Earners

Event Overview:

A real-talk financial literacy event, How To Get Your Bag & Keep It™, is built for youth and young adults who want to secure their future, not just chase fast money.

From paychecks to side hustles, scholarships to credit scores — this workshop-style event breaks down what you need to know to earn, grow, and protect your money. Whether you’re an athlete with big dreams, a student with bills coming, or a teen learning the ropes, this session is about building wealth with wisdom.

Who It’s For:

💼 Youth & Young Adults (Ages 13–24)
🏀 Student-Athletes & Creatives
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Teens & Families
📈 First-time earners and future entrepreneurs

What You’ll Learn:

💸 Money 101 — Understanding income, budgeting, spending, and saving
💳 Credit Game — What a credit score is, how to build it, and how to avoid the traps
🏦 Banking Basics — Debit vs credit, how to open an account, and keeping your money safe
🎯 Smart Goals & Hustle Strategy — How to turn skills and passions into income
🔐 Protecting the Bag — Scams, social media money traps, impulse spending, and peer pressure
📚 Next Level Moves — Investing basics, scholarships, side hustles, and long-term financial growth

Features:

✅ Interactive presentations with youth-friendly financial coaches
✅ Real-life scenarios: budgeting challenges, roleplay, and spending simulations
✅ Access to local banks, credit unions, and financial aid resources
✅ Giveaways: budget planners, money journals, apps, and more
✅ Youth-led discussions on “money mindset” and generational wealth

Why It Matters:

Too many young people are thrown into the world without the tools to manage money, avoid debt, or build real wealth. At NoWu®, we believe financial literacy is freedom. We’re giving our youth the game they’ll actually use — because being broke isn’t a rite of passage, and smart is always in style.