Houston Republic

TeamUP for Houston is heading into its fourth year of using sports as a way of helping youth from underserved communities, but now with a virtual format.

The program, which is operated under the auspices of the Mayor’s Office of Education and My Brother’s Keeper Houston, seeks to help young people gain professional skills and experiences in the sports industry, according to a press release from the city. Along with the move to a virtual format, TeamUP for Houston has also expanded its programming to a dozen school campuses across the city.

This year, program partners will host Discovery Days, one-hour workshops held once a month. The workshops bring front office executives and sports figures into the classroom virtually to help them better understand what educational and career opportunities exist in the sports industry.

"TeamUP is a game-changer,” Brandon Denton, TeamUP for Houston program manager, said. “While there are a lot of great high school athletes in Houston, there are just as many future executives and business leaders of sports organizations currently in the stands.”