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There is something special about the sport of pickleball, and our guest on this episode put it to the test in some of the most difficult circumstances.
Roger BelAir had a vision to take pickleball into the prison system. He has taken it into not just any prison system, but some of the toughest in the world.
The reaction that he is getting from those that he is serving is astounding!
He formed a non-profit to help support his program and it is taken off. A true “movement” has been started and it will be fun to see how far it goes.
About The Guest
Roger BelAir
In 2017, while watching a CBS 60 Minutes segment on Sheriff Tom Dart and Chicago’s Cook County Jail, Roger was struck by the sight of inmates idly passing time playing cards or watching TV. As an avid pickleball player, he remarked to his wife that introducing the sport could not only provide exercise but also teach valuable life skills like teamwork and resilience. Motivated by this idea, Roger contacted Sheriff Dart and offered to bring pickleball to the jail, a proposal that was enthusiastically accepted.
The program was a resounding success, reducing disciplinary problems and fostering unlikely camaraderie among inmates, including rival gang members. Roger’s groundbreaking efforts gained national attention, including a front-page feature in USA TODAY, and led him to introduce pickleball in prisons across the country, from Rikers Island to San Quentin. His work has been lauded by outlets such as The Washington Post and NPR, and even caught the interest of international media. Now, with pickleball as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., others are following Roger’s lead, bringing the game to correctional facilities nationwide to help inmates reintegrate into society and create safer communities for all. A documentary on his efforts is currently in production.
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