The sixth annual “Community Coming Together Basketball Weekend” hosted basketball teams from the Suffolk area and out of state this weekend to help build community unity.

“The Community Coming Together Basketball Weekend” was an event to help children and teenagers find an avenue to express themselves through healthy competition. The event had two divisions for younger and older kids.

Michael Britt, the founder of the event, explained why he made the event and how it betters the community.

“I remember when I grew up, I played with Parks and Rec’s Peter Mitchell, and he took a group of guys like myself to Waterbury, Conn., and we played against Waterbury and I just had a dream and I prayed about it and this is what God is doing,” said Britt. “It’s about the youth, keeping them busy and giving them something to do.”

The message that Britt and others want to get across is that different communities can come together for a common purpose of unity.

“This isn’t a tournament,” Britt said. “I call it an event. It showcases talent, and the reason the community can stand together is because of building bridges with kids from other areas, cultures and backgrounds.”

Britt also wants to make sure that his players are succeeding academically. He doesn’t allow anyone to play on his team unless they have a 3.0 or above grade point average.

The teams that are showing up this weekend come from various areas like Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

The coach for the Enon Baptist Church Knights of Washington, D.C., Anthony Hopkins, comes down every year to fellowship with people who are trying to strengthen their communities.

“Sometimes being from the District of Columbia, we get stuck in the District of Columbia and Mike Britt having this tournament every year is a wonderful asset to us and we come down every year,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins believes that basketball is the starting point to get kids in, but the true message lies with just being there for them.

“I look at my kids and I tell them that no matter what your household is like, you do not have to suffer. My job of being a kid that went through that is to let them know that you can still succeed no matter the odds,” Hopkins said. “You don’t have to be a product of your environment. You can step outside of it, and it’s my job to let them know that.”

A young player from team “Bounce Back,” Rodney Johnson, explained what coach Britt means to him as well as how the basketball weekend has helped his outlook.

“I love to just come out, play hard and have fun,” said Johnson. “Coach Britt has helped me with my jump shot and how to drive to the basket harder and teaches me to keep school and my family first.”

The event was held Friday and Saturday at the Salvation Army gym.