Bedford-Stuyvesant kids star in PAL’s Pennant Quest

August 2, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Members of the PAL’s Wynn Center from Bedford-Stuyvesant demonstrate their tug-of-war skills during the Pennant Quest. Photo courtesy of the Police Athletic League

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Kids from Bedford-Stuyvesant were among hundreds of youngsters from the Police Athletic League’s (PAL) Summer Day Camp program who showed off their athletic skills and their sense of teamwork at the PAL’s Pennant Quest event in a Manhattan park.

More than 200 youngsters from PAL day camps located all over the city participated in the Pennant Quest, which took place in DeWitt Clinton Park in Manhattan on July 27.

Youngsters from PAL’s Wynn Center, located at 495 Gates Ave., had a ball competing in activities such as tug-of-war and an obstacle course, as well contests such as a Banner and Chant contest and a Ladder of Knowledge.

The theme of the competition was “Music from Around the World” and featured teams of youngsters in sixth, seventh and eighth grades representing different music genres from across the globe.

Brianna (no last name), a 13-year-old from Bedford-Stuyvesant who attends PAL’s Wynn Center, said she had a great time and learned a lot.

She said she enjoyed “seeing PAL kids represent their music genres and learning about different cultures” at the Pennant Quest.

Another Bedford-Stuyvesant resident, Uche, 13, said prior to the event that he was looking forward to “having a good time at the Pennant Quest, meeting new people and winning the competition.”

PAL provides a valuable service because it “keeps kids active during the summer and off the streets with daily fun,” Brianna said.

Pennants were awarded for each competition, and the team with the most pennants won the PAL Pennant Quest Trophy. The winning team was PAL’s M.S. 118 Center in the Bronx.

PAL teams represented in “Music from Around the World” included K-Pop in South Korea; Polka in Poland; Samba in Brazil; Celtic music in Ireland; Calypso in the Caribbean; Soukous in the Congo and Central Africa, and many more.

The goal of the citywide Pennant Quest is to foster better understanding and relationships by bringing together boys and girls of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, according to PAL.

New York City’s PAL was founded in 1914. The organization provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 35,000 boys and girls each year.

PAL is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. For more information on PAL, visit www.palnyc.org.