Members of Little Rock Baptist Church held a meeting to brainstorm ways to curb violence in the city and bring people together. The answer was right in front of their feet.

Kenya Davis is helping to lead the charge to create the A.C.T.I.O.N Youth Kickball League, which just opened registration this week.

The acronym stands for accepting, connecting, training, in our neighborhood.

Davis said there is division amongst the children in Selma based on what side of town they live in or what school they attend, and she wants to make an effort to change that through kickball.

“This is an opportunity for all the schools, all the churches, all the different neighborhoods to just come together on a constructive note on something positive and do something together and have fun and hopefully get to know each other a little better so we can put all this hostility to rest,” Davis said.

The registration takes place from April 18 – 30 and the season is set to kick off May 21. Davis said she is still unsure of where the games will be played.

The league is open to players ages 8 to 18 and there is a $10 registration fee. The age divisions will be divided up as follows: 5 -7, 8 -11, 12 and 13, 14 and 15, 15 -18.

Davis said kickball is the perfect sport to bring young people in the community together because it is a sport that everyone can play and enjoy. The competitive aspect of the sport won’t be emphasized as much as the values the children learn while participating.

“We’re teaching them how to get along with each other, and they’re learning how to respect each other as an individual and as a human being,” Davis said.

Davis said roughly 30 kids have registered for the league. She said she is looking for players as well as volunteer coaches to sign up. Each team will have around eight to 10 players and no more than 15. In addition, the teams will consist of boys and girls playing together.

For more information or to register, contact Davis at (334) 544-3963 or Saprina Simmons at (334) 553-4758 and (334) 655-2567.