We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Verne Brooks Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Verne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
My mom raised me and my sisters on her own. She had a significant impact on who I am today. She sacrificed so much so that I could have every opportunity to make my dreams come true. She made sure I understood the importance of a good education. At the same time, she supported my love of sports because she knew the important lessons I would learn being on a team. Sports kept me busy and out of trouble but more importantly, it showed me how to be a team player, a leader, a communicator, and a problem solver. My mom taught me the importance of having a strong work ethic and putting in the time needed to become the best at what you do.
Verne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the Founder of Rising Stars Development League – a non-profit associated with the Children and Family Comprehensive Health Outreach. We started in Chicago and then expanded to San Diego. One of the reasons I started Rising Stars is because I experienced some of the other kids sports programs and realized they were missing some important elements when working with kids. I also noticed many programs have volunteers teaching and I believe the best way to learn a sport is from a real athlete that has training in how to work with kids. The wrong program could discourage the child or have them drop out before they reach their full potential. I partner with schools and community centers and provide classes in basketball, soccer, tennis, and flag football. We teach kids how to become a great player but we also focus on other skillsets like communication, healthy competition and how to be a part of the team.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When it comes to social media, you need to carve out the time needed to grow your following. You want to create posts that motivate and teach. Share who your heroes are and what has helped you in your journey. It is also a way you can show your gratitude. It takes time and patience. You don’t have to do it alone – it’s ok to get help when you need it.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we were hit hard. Our programs were mostly indoors. Once things started to open up, I know that kids needed sports to help them get through the stressful times so I moved my entire operation outside and the response was unbelievable. It would have been easy to give up if I didn’t love what I do but for me, failure is not an option. This is my dream and calling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://risingstarsdl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingstarsdevelopmentleague/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risingstarsdevelopmentleague
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verne-brooks-jr-95a22b93/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnBoY4jCBxOxCouLIuaOSZw?view_as=subscriber
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/risingstars-development-league-san-diego