Every Possession Matters. Every Stop Counts.True Competitors Get Revealed.™

Saturday May 16, 2026

Bradford Prep HS

Salome Church Road

Charlotte, NC 28262

12 Noon – 4 PM

Event Overview:

NoWu®’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is our signature fundraiser — a community-powered competition designed to showcase skill, teamwork, and heart in a fast-paced half-court format. Built for maximum touches, maximum intensity, and maximum development, this event gives young athletes the chance to compete, be evaluated, and elevate their game in a structured, positive environment.

More than just games — this is where preparation meets pressure and competitors separate themselves.

At the heart of the event is 3v3 basketball for youth ages 9–14 (grades 4–8) — a format that is quicker, more open, and forces every player to be involved on every possession. More touches. More involvement. More growth.

With only three players per team, players handle the ball more often, take more shots, and defend more possessions— accelerating real skill development.

3v3’s shorter half-court game demands faster decision-making and a higher basketball IQ. With increased spacing, more possessions become true one‑on‑one situations, requiring every player to dribble, pass, shoot, rebound, and defend. In this format, everyone is accountable.

There’s no hiding in 3v3!

Most importantly, this event raises vital funds and opens doors for youth across Charlotte. Every dollar raised directly supports NoWu®’s mission to equip underserved youth with the tools, exposure, and opportunities they need to succeed — on the court and beyond.

Event Goals:

• Generate Critical Support for NoWu® Programs Raise vital funds for NoWu®’s Basketball And….™ programs and advance NoWu®’s mission of equipping underserved youth with the tools, exposure, and support needed to succeed academically, athletically, and personally.
• Engage Families and Strengthen Community
  Bring together players, parents, coaches, and community partners in a positive, high-energy environment that celebrates youth development and community connection.
• Elevate Player Development Provide youth (grades 4–8) with a fast-paced, high-touch competitive environment that accelerates skill growth, basketball IQ, and game confidence through the 3v3 format.
• Measure and Motivate Performance
  Deliver meaningful game exposure and evaluation opportunities that help players understand where they stand competitively— reinforcing the NoWu® mindset that when you know the gap, you know the grind.™
• Build Competitive Character Use structured competition to strengthen discipline, accountability, teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship — developing complete student-athletes on and off the court.
• Expand Access to Quality Basketball Opportunities
  Create an affordable, professionally organized event that provides high-quality play opportunities for youth across the Charlotte community, including those who may lack access to elite platforms.
• Reinforce the NoWu® Mindset
  Instill the core belief that preparation, effort, and accountability drive success — because at NoWu®, NobodyOutWorksUs®.

What to Expect:

🏀 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

✅ Fast-paced 3-on-3 tournament play

✅ Guaranteed 3-game minimum for each team

✅ Certified officials & structured brackets

✅ Championship awards for winning teams

✅ High-energy music and community atmosphere

What to Bring:

🏀 Basketball Gear — Basketball shoes and towel
💧 Water bottle
🔥 Competitive will & team mindset — Bring a positive attitude, and an open mind – you’re here to grow, grind, and get better!

Why It Matters:

At NoWu®, competition is a classroom. The 3-on-3 format forces players to think faster, move smarter, and compete harder. Every possession matters. Every decision shows.

Because when you know the gap, you know the grind.™ And — NobodyOutWorksUs®.

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.

Buckets & Blueprints for the Future™

Event Overview:

Threes & Trades™ is 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.

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

• Coed age group brackets
• 1st Place Trophies & Prizes
• Game announcer, Court DJ, Food Vendors, and Giveaways

🏢 Career & Trade Expo

• Onsite booths from local businesses, trade schools, tech companies, healthcare, banking/finance, mental/physical health, 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.