First Step

Welcome to First Step, a video series featuring athletes engaging the communities most affected by today’s social issues, from education and unemployment, to child hunger and homelessness among LGBTQ youth. Next up, Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat takes a first step to help young boys in New Orleans. 

When I was a kid, my parents got divorced. During that time my mom had to be a mother and father to me and my siblings. As a young man, I think it’s important to have a male figure in your life. Whether it’s blood related, a coach or a teacher – a positive influence like that can go a long way.

The Son of a Saint program gives boys without a father figure in their lives the opportunity to succeed in a supportive environment. I was forced to grow up quickly, so to visit the group in New Orleans and feel like a kid again – it means the world to me.