Dear Moreno Valley Residents,
There is nothing better than a Moreno Valley native giving back to their community. This is what drives me as Mayor—to honor my roots by being a good steward to the City I have called home my entire life.
In addition to being among the best players in NBA history, Kawhi Leonard grew up in Moreno Valley. This past Saturday, he gave back to his community by dedicating a brand-new, state-of-the-art basketball court right here in town—the Kawhi Leonard Basketball Court at Weston Park.
I invite you to check out this one-of-a-kind court for yourself.
The court’s eye-catching and colorful design was created by street artist Mr. Brainwash and hand-painted by community volunteers, including City staff, City Councilmembers, the Emerging Leaders Council, and Kawhi’s family.
The creation of this basketball court was truly a community effort, and I am proud to have worked with Kawhi to bring this court to the youth of Moreno Valley.
Kawhi and his family have generously given back to this community before, most notably through Kawhi’s Kicks, where we gave out hundreds of brand-new sneakers to low-income Moreno Valley kids. Kawhi’s sister, Miesha Slayton, was recently honored as Community Member of the Year due to her tireless work facilitating Kawhi’s Kicks.
I’m reminded of a quote by actor Denzel Washington: “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”
By giving back to our hometown, Kawhi and I are hoping to lift up Moreno Valley’s young residents. My hope is that Kawhi’s success will inspire kids across the City to let their dreams soar.
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