Saleem Ali, the third of nine children was born November 22, 1952 in Brooklyn. He enjoyed the simple life growing up in the Fort Greene/Ingersoll Houses along with his siblings and many friends.  Little did anyone know, let alone him, that his simple childhood would grow into his love for community building, activism and create a legacy that will live on for many years to come.

Following elementary school, he attended Sands JHS265, where he found he had a gift of handling the basketball. Along with his childhood friends/teammates (back courtmate) Terrence Copeland and (center) Gary Jackson, they guided the team to many winning seasons. They referred to Saleem as the “floor general”. He perfected his craft at Sands’ JHS265 night center, taking great pride in his defense, oftentimes dismantling the opposition.  He later went on to the legendary Boys High School where his game went to higher levels. He set the example for others choosing education over the street life where many around him had succumbed. After high school, he continued his education at Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he received an Associate in Arts.

Now a young man, but still a baller, Saleem was sometimes found coaching/playing at the night center at JHS265, and traveling on the weekends to play against inmates at New York City Correctional facilities. Even later in life you could always catch Saleem either watching a basketball game, playing or refereeing one.  He was a student of the game, growing in the “knowledge of self”, but more importantly focused on how he could help vulnerable young people to excel, take pride in themselves and avoid the pitfalls of the streets.  

This new “awareness of self” led him to join on to the Nation of Islam. The self-improvement cornerstone of the Nation of Islam propelled him into developing a program for young people. With the assistance of a young secretarial student, Saleem hit the pavement going door to door to raise funds for a two-month summer program, aptly called Fort Greene Recreation, Inc. He was instrumental in soliciting funds from politicians and various merchants in the community. The funds he received, in addition to his own personal contributions, helped to offset program expenses. His vision was to provide activities to the underserved youth of the community that existed when he was younger. A few years later with additional funding, he was able to expand the program year-round (using space at JHS265 during the winter months and creating a youth-run snack bar providing stipends to the participants that ran it). 

Simultaneously, Saleem worked at the Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center, where he was able to refer young people from his program to the clinic where they would be afforded gynecologist and urologist care. Working with the Tenant Patrol of NYCHA, he recruited youth to assist with the safety and security in their buildings, and organized a clean-up committee. At 16 Fleet Walk, he established a study group to reintroduce the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Saleem was very, very, proud of this.

One of his biggest achievements was being a part of the Fort Greene/Farragut Old Timers Day Reunion committee (which took place in Commodore Barry Park for over 10 years).

The recipient of many awards and accolades, his demeanor kept him focused on the needs of the neighborhood and what he could do to make it better especially for the youth.  Demanding respect, hardworking, organizing and no nonsense were words that described his work ethic.  He drew up a game plan and if that didn’t work, he made adjustments, never giving up, backing down to a challenge nor being intimidated.

He was dedicated to God, loved loved loved his family, and left a lasting impression on the Fort Greene community and those generation to come after him, a legacy to be admired for many years to come.

萨利姆·阿里1952年11月22日出生在纽约布鲁克林。他和他的兄弟姐妹和朋友们一起在格林堡/英格索兰之家长大，度过了简单的生活。他不知道的是，那个简单的童年将成长为对社区建设和行动主义的热爱，并创造了一个将在未来许多年继续存在的遗产。 

在金沙JHS265中学，萨利姆发现了他对篮球的热爱。与他儿时的朋友/队友(后场队友)特伦斯·科普兰和加里·杰克逊一起，三人带领球队赢得了许多胜利。后来，他进入了传奇的男子高中，在那里他的比赛进入了更高的水平，让他可以选择教育而不是街头生活。 

萨里姆永远是一名篮球运动员，每逢周末，他都会去纽约市惩教所与囚犯们比赛。有时被发现在JHS265观看、参加比赛或担任裁判，他正在成长为“自我认识”，专注于如何帮助弱势的年轻人脱颖而出，为自己感到骄傲，避免陷入街头陷阱。 

这种自我意识使他加入了伊斯兰民族组织。这个国家自我完善的基石促使他为年轻人制定了一个计划。在一位年轻的秘书专业学生的帮助下，萨利姆挨家挨户地敲门，为一个为期两个月的暑期项目筹集资金，这个项目被恰如其分地称为格林堡休闲公司。通过向政界人士、社区商人募集资金以及他自己的个人捐款，使他能够为社区中得不到服务的年轻人提供活动。 

他最自豪的时刻之一是在布鲁克林舰队街16号参加一个学习小组，重新介绍伊斯兰民族运动的教义。还有一些人在格林堡/法拉格特旧日聚会委员会(在巴里准将公园举行了10多年)担任先锋，并成为巴里准将公园之友的成员。 

 他的行为举止让他专注于社区的需求。他的职业道德是要求尊重、努力工作和有条理。他制定了一个比赛计划，如果失败了，他就会做出调整。失败和恐吓从来都不是我的选择。父亲、家庭和格林堡是他一生的三大挚爱，为后代留下了值得钦佩和追随的巨大遗产。 

“我们会记住萨利姆，因为他与格林堡社区的丰富世代关系，以及他对社区参与的贡献。我们很荣幸能成为他遗产的一部分。-海军上将巴里公园的朋友 

Saleem Ali nació el 22 de noviembre de 1952 en Brooklyn, Nueva York. Disfrutó de la vida sencilla de crecer en Fort Greene/Ingersoll Houses junto con sus hermanos y amigos. Sin que él lo supiera, esa simple infancia se convertiría en un amor por la construcción comunitaria, el activismo y crearía un legado que perdurará durante muchos años.

En la escuela secundaria Sands JHS265, Saleem descubrió su amor por el baloncesto. Junto con sus amigos de la infancia/compañeros de equipo (compañero de cancha trasera) Terrence Copeland y (centro) Gary Jackson, el trío llevó al equipo a muchas temporadas ganadoras. Más tarde asistió a la legendaria Boys High School, donde su juego llegó a niveles más altos, lo que le dio la opción de elegir la educación en lugar de la vida en la calle.

Siempre un jugador de pelota, Saleem viajaba los fines de semana para jugar contra reclusos en las instalaciones correccionales de la ciudad de Nueva York. A veces lo sorprendían viendo, jugando o arbitrando un juego en JHS265, estaba creciendo en el “conocimiento de sí mismo”, enfocándose en cómo podía ayudar a los jóvenes vulnerables a sobresalir, enorgullecerse de sí mismos y evitar las trampas de las calles.

Esta autoconciencia lo llevó a unirse a la Nación del Islam. La piedra angular de superación personal de la Nación lo impulsó a desarrollar un programa para jóvenes. Con la ayuda de un joven estudiante de secretariado, Saleem comenzó a tocar puertas para recaudar fondos para un programa de verano de dos meses, acertadamente llamado Fort Greene Recreation, Inc. Solicitar fondos de políticos, comerciantes comunitarios y sus propias contribuciones personales le permitió él para proporcionar actividades a los jóvenes desatendidos de su comunidad.

Uno de sus momentos de mayor orgullo llegó a través de un grupo de estudio para reintroducir las enseñanzas de la Nación del Islam en 16 Fleet Walk en Brooklyn. Otros encabezaban el comité de la reunión del día de veteranos de Fort Greene/Farragut (que tuvo lugar en Commodore Barry Park durante más de 10 años) y eran miembros de Friends of Commodore Barry Park.

Su comportamiento lo mantuvo enfocado en las necesidades del vecindario. Respeto exigente, trabajo duro y organización describieron su ética de trabajo. Hizo un plan de juego y si fallaba, se hacían ajustes. El fracaso y la intimidación nunca fueron una opción. El padre, la familia y Fort Greene fueron los tres amores de su vida y dejaron un gran legado para que las generaciones futuras lo admiren y lo sigan.

“Recordaremos a Saleem por la riqueza de sus lazos generacionales con la comunidad de Fort Greene y su dedicación al compromiso con la comunidad. Nos sentimos honrados de ser parte de su legado. – Friends of Commodore Barry Park