The Big North Takeover Brings Community Together for Free Youth Empowerment Event in Hillside

Hundreds of young people, families, professional athletes, and community leaders came together in Hillside for the latest Big North Takeover (BNT) youth empowerment event, a free community initiative designed to inspire, educate, and equip the next generation.

Hosted at the Hillside Community Center, the event welcomed youth ages 10 to 18 for a full day of mentorship, educational activities, and friendly competition. Participants enjoyed free haircuts, chess and ping pong tournaments, complimentary meals, dress shirts and dress shoes, and opportunities to engage with professional athletes and mentors.

Founded by Hillside native Donald Stewart, The Big North Takeover has become known for creating experiences that extend beyond sports by exposing young people to academic, financial, and personal development resources alongside athletic opportunities.

This year’s event featured New York Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo, who joined Stewart in encouraging youth to think beyond the playing field. Special guests also included New York Giants team captain and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee Bobby Okereke, NJ/NY Gotham FC captain and two-time NWSL champion Mandy Freeman, New York Giants offensive tackle Jon Runyan Jr., and former Olympian Priscilla Loomis.

“I hope that everyone here had a great time,” Stewart said. “Regardless of your background or upbringing, the Big North Takeover wanted to create a safe space for the kids in the community and provide access to academic, athletic, and financial resources to help the kids thrive on and off the court and field. It was especially special to host our fourth event in my hometown of Hillside, New Jersey, and we are super grateful for all of the support and everyone who showed love today.”

Adebo said exposing young people to new experiences remains one of the organization’s primary goals.

“Today was a lot of fun and went really well,” he said. “The goal of our free youth camp is to expose kids to something new. It was an opportunity to highlight other hobbies and interests outside of football. We’ve hosted a football camp and a media day in the past as well, so we look forward to continuing to expose our kids to different ideas.”

Throughout the event, attendees connected directly with athletes and community leaders while participating in activities designed to promote teamwork, leadership, and confidence. In addition to recreational programming, participants received resources intended to support their academic achievement and future career aspirations.

Since launching just two years ago, The Big North Takeover has served more than 200 student-athletes across multiple sports, including football, basketball, baseball, tennis, track and field, swimming, and flag football. Through youth camps, media days, one-on-one consulting, and educational programming, the organization continues to provide mentorship and life skills that help young athletes succeed both on and off the field.

As the organization expands its reach across New Jersey and beyond, its mission remains centered on creating meaningful opportunities that empower young people to grow as athletes, students, and future leaders. Visit the The Big North Takeover Instagram Page.

Photo Credit: The Big North Takeover