Hillside Connection was founded in March of 2017 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public charity in March of 2019 with a mission to “leverage the game of basketball to create pathways to opportunity for kids in Southern Colorado Springs”. The organization is led by volunteers, including founder Terrell Brown and a group of community residents, who serve as coaches and mentors. Since 2017, more than 350 youth have participated in Hillside Connection’s programming. All programming is provided free of charge! Our organization serves youth girls (grades 1st - 5th) and youth boys (grades 1 - 8th) with a strategic focus on developing “pathways programming” for youth transitioning into high school in 2021. Throughout the year, youth participants are exposed to a variety of fun experiences designed to refine psychosocial skills, motor skills, develop civic engagement and to learn more about Colorado Springs - Olympic City USA. Past experiences that have broadened the horizons of our youth include field trips to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, National Cyber Security Center, Olympic Training Center, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, as well as community engagement projects like re-striping and installing hoops at the Memorial Park Basketball Courts.