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Fort Greene

Romulus 'Coach Ron' Britt

Romulus Britt, known as “Coach Ron,” has lived in the Fort Greene area for over 60 years and continues to serve as a community activist. For 25 years, Coach Ron worked as a development coach to teach young athletes how to play basketball. He coached NBA players and WNBA players. He also coached players for the Special Olympics. He coached students at Susan S. Mckinney High School and is still involved in the school community today by being part of the athletic program. By helping sports reach many people’s lives, Coach Ron made a difference for the youth. He saw young people go to college, achieve their dreams, and even play professionally. “Being a basketball coach, working in a community, helping kids do the right thing—that’s activism.”

Growing up in Fort Greene, Coach Ron was inspired by his parents, who were also community activists and encouraged him to do the right thing. He recalls Fort Greene as a special place where everyone was one community. “We all stuck together. We were all family. We respected each other.” The older guys in the community were also role models for Coach Ron. They instilled in him the love of sports and importance of education by taking him to games, looking out for him, and preaching going to school. Coach Ron recognizes that sports kept him off the streets and out of trouble. 

He speaks to young people about the value of education, respect, and the importance of doing the right thing. He is a firm believer that being a student comes first before being an athlete. He tells young people all the time, “Listen to your teachers. Listen to your parents. Listen to your coaches.” Coach Ron’s commitment as an advocate for education and his dedication as an activist has made him a cherished member of the Fort Greene community. 

罗穆卢斯·布里特,被称为“罗恩教练”,在格林堡地区生活了60多年,并继续担任社区活动家。25年来,罗恩教练一直是一名发展教练,教年轻运动员如何打篮球。他是NBAWNBA球员的教练。他还为特奥会教练。他在苏珊·s·麦金尼高中当过学生教练,今天仍然作为体育项目的一员参与学校社区。通过帮助体育运动触及许多人的生活,罗恩教练为年轻人带来了改变。他看到年轻人上大学,实现自己的梦想,甚至成为职业球员。“作为一名篮球教练,在社区工作,帮助孩子们做正确的事情——这就是行动主义。”

罗恩教练在格林堡长大,他的父母也是社区活动人士,他们鼓励他做正确的事情。他回忆起格林堡是一个特殊的地方,每个人都是一个社区。“我们都团结在一起。我们都是一家人。我们互相尊重。”社区里年纪较大的人也是罗恩教练的榜样。他们通过带他去看比赛、照顾他、教导他去上学,向他灌输了对体育的热爱和教育的重要性。罗恩教练认识到,运动使他远离街头,远离麻烦。 

他向年轻人讲述教育的价值、尊重和做正确事情的重要性。他坚信先做学生后做运动员。他总是对年轻人说:“听老师的话。听你父母的话。听教练的话。”罗恩教练作为教育倡导者的承诺和他作为活动家的奉献精神使他成为格林堡社区的宝贵成员。

Romulus Britt, conocido como “Coach Ron”, ha vivido en el área de Fort Greene por más de 60 años y continúa su servicio como activista comunitario. Durante 25 años, Coach Ron trabajó como entrenador de desarrollo, enseñando a jóvenes atletas a jugar al baloncesto. Entrenó a jugadores de la NBA y de la WNBA. También entrenó a jugadores para las Olimpiadas Especiales. Entrenó a estudiantes en Susan S. McKinney High School y todavía está involucrado en la comunidad escolar hoy en día como parte del programa atlético. Al ayudar a que el deporte llegue a la vida de muchas personas, Coach Ron marcó una diferencia para los jóvenes. Vio a jóvenes ir a la universidad, alcanzar sus sueños e incluso jugar a nivel profesional. “Ser entrenador de baloncesto, trabajar en una comunidad, ayudar a los jóvenes a hacer lo correcto, eso es activismo”.

Criado en Fort Greene, los padres de Coach Ron fueron su inspiración, también eran activistas de la comunidad y lo alentaron a hacer lo correcto. Recuerda que Fort Greene era un lugar especial donde todos eran una comunidad. “Todos estábamos unidos. Todos éramos familia. Nos respetábamos mutuamente”. Los hombres adultos de la comunidad también fueron modelos a seguir para Coach Ron. Le inculcaron el amor por los deportes y la importancia de la educación llevándolo a partidos, cuidándolo y predicando ir a la escuela. Coach Ron reconoce que los deportes lo mantuvieron alejado de las calles y fuera de problemas.

Habla a los jóvenes sobre el valor de la educación, el respeto y la importancia de hacer lo correcto. Cree firmemente que ser estudiante es lo primero antes de ser atleta. Siempre les dice a los jóvenes, “Escucha a tus maestros. Escucha a tus padres. Escucha a tus entrenadores”. El compromiso de Coach Ron por promover la educación y su dedicación como activista lo ha convertido en un miembro querido de la comunidad de Fort Greene.

Portrait by

Anthony Geathers

Born in Bedford Stuyvesant, on April 15, 1990; my 7th grade history teacher was the person to put a camera in my hand. I studied photography in high school, served in the Marine Corps and found my way back to photography afterwards. In 2019, I started the REPRESENT NYC project in Fort Greene alongside my homie to pay homage to 90s NYC culture and the Fort Greene Projects.

Text by

Sonia Fung

I am a rising sophomore attending Brooklyn Tech. Fort Greene Park was one of the first places I explored when I came to the school and now I often enjoy spending time here.

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