rooted. | issue 1
RETURN ON COMMUNITY BASKETBALL AND BELONGING
RECONNECTING HAUGHVILLE LEADING TO DUST BOWL
Tedd Hardy approached the return of the Haughville Dust Bowl with intention, humility, and deep respect for the neighborhood that built it. Before bringing back a tournament that once defined summers in Haughville started with listening. Conversations with residents, elders, former players, and organizers made one thing clear. The community would not benefit from a rushed revival. They needed trust rebuilt, connections restored, and a process that reflected their voices. That listening led to a deliberate decision to begin with Haughville mini-expos. Smaller, hyper local gatherings held at the basketball courts already woven throughout the neighborhood. These mini expos created space for neighbors to reconnect around the game without the pressure of scale. Each court became a familiar meeting point where stories were shared, youth were introduced to the legacy, and community needs could surface naturally. By centering these smaller moments, Hardy honored the rhythm of the neighborhood and allowed momentum to grow organically rather than imposing a large event from the outside. A critical part of the process was the involvement of original founders and players from the classic Haughville Dust Bowl. Their presence was foundational. Inviting them back affirmed that the Dust Bowl belongs to the people who built it and carried its legacy for decades. Their guidance helped shape how the tournament would return, grounding it in history while opening space for new traditions. For a new generation that had never experienced the Dust Bowl, the mini expos served as an introduction rooted in pride and context. Young players learned that these courts held stories. That the tournament was more than competition, but community memory, neighborhood identity, and shared joy. The return of the Haughville Dust Bowl after decades of absence will be more than a comeback...a reconnection. Through patience, listening, and honoring the past, Tedd Hardy is helping reshape a tradition that belongs to Haughville as a whole, bridging generations and restoring a community cornerstone one court at a time.
SCAN TO WATCH TEDD HARDY TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF STRATEGICALLY CHOOSING SPACES FOR CONVENING.
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