Navigation

Common Hoops is an initiative to bring positive change to communities through the combination of design and basketball.  Through workshops with kids, we teach design skills. Kids design backboards, which we then build from local and raw material. We are bringing a positive influence to communities. In the process we teach teamwork, design principles and the value of collaboration.

HISTORY

Common Hoops evolved out of a social venture and design incubator program. We gathered as six designers, photographers and writers in rural Greensboro, Alabama as participants in Project M and Common Project 001.
 
While in Greensboro, we had the opportunity to talk to local residents and befriend several community partners. HERO was instrumental in helping our group understand the subtleties of life in rural Alabama. Bike Lab generously allowed us to use their shop to build our first three prototyped hoops. Pie Lab was our meeting space. We ate pie almost everyday.
 
What began as a simple project in Greensboro is growing into a larger effort toward community engagement in Chicago, IL. 

SUPPORTERS 

We could not have made it thus far without the generous support of these people.

FRIENDS

John Bielenberg
Alex Bogusky
Ana Bogusky
Michelle Brook
Ryan Clifford
Nilus DeMatran
Pam Dorr
Eric Heiman
Lisa Knoop
Robbin Philipps
Lilly Piel 
Lance Rake

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
HERO Housing
Pie Lab
Bike Lab

BACKERS
Jeff Oeth
Erin and Leigh Spahn
Deb Smith
Brian Bornheoft