In recognition of Black History Month, the second annual Compton Community Day will be celebrated Saturday, February 1 at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, featuring dignitaries representing Major League Baseball and the City of Compton. The community day, which is a one-of-a-kind event within the city, celebrates the history of Compton and surrounding communities Carson, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount and South Los Angeles.

Activities include:

• A College, Health and Resource Fair featuring El Camino College, Compton Center and local businesses, including food vendors, as well as representatives from Compton College and other colleges showcasing programs at their schools, Compton College’s Student Support Services and Vocational departments, work source centers and health professionals.
• Battle of the Bands competition featuring Compton Unified School District high school bands.
• Home season opener of the Compton College baseball team against Fullerton College.
• All-Star Softball Game featuring women representing the following high schools: Compton, Hamilton, King Drew, Long Beach Jordan, Marshall, Patton and West Adams.

During the baseball and softball games, drawings will be held for prizes donated by the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Lakers, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Cal State Long Beach.

The Urban Youth Academy Dodgers
(Photo courtesy of comptonclubhouse.blogspot.com)

Dignitaries scheduled to attend include: MLB Executive Vice President of Baseball Development and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson; MLB Urban Youth Academy Manager and former MLB All-Star Don Buford; former MLB All-Star and two-time batting champion Tommy Davis; former MLB All-Stars Dave Stewart and Ken Landreaux; MLB Vice President Youth and Facility Development and former Angels’ catcher Darrell Miller, former Japan professional baseball player and Major Leaguer Shigetoshi Hasegawa, All American Girls Professional Baseball Player Maybelle Blair, author and former Major Leaguer Brian Barton, legendary coach Art Mazmanian; Compton Mayor Aja Brown; El Camino College, Compton Center President Dr. Keith Curry; California State Assembly member Isadore Hall, III. Performing the national anthem at the noon ceremony will be Jessica Childress of the NBC TV series “The Voice.”

WHERE:    Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy – El Camino College, Compton Center 901 East Artesia Blvd. Compton, California 90221 / 310-763-3479

WHEN:        Saturday, Feb. 1

• 8-10 a.m. – Umpire Clinic (auxiliary field)
• 10 a.m.-noon – College, Health, Resource Fair (1st half on track)
• 10-11:45 a.m. – Battle of the Bands (show field)
• Noon-1 p.m. – Pre-game ceremony (show field)
• 1-2 p.m. – College, Health, Resource Fair (2nd half on track)
• 1-4 p.m. – Fullerton College vs. Compton College baseball game (show field)
• 1-4 p.m. – Girls’ Softball All-Star Game (softball field)

About MLB Urban Youth Academy

The MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton is part of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Initiative. Encompassing more than 20 acres on the campus of El Camino College, Compton Center, the Academy is a state-of- the-art facility featuring four fields, including a show field complete with scoreboard, grandstand seating, dugouts and lights; an auxiliary field; softball field; youth field; and a 12,000 square-foot clubhouse consisting of a weight room, locker room, and other training facilities, as well as batting cages and pitching mounds.

The Academy operates on a  year-round basis, offering free baseball and softball instruction, as well as clinics to youth throughout Southern California. MLB is committed to providing opportunities to play baseball and softball to young people in urban America through the establishment of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academies.

In addition to the first Academy in Compton, MLB has established and is operating the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy, the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy at Wesley Barrow Stadium, and the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. MLB has also announced plans to build academies in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hialeah, Florida, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For additional information regarding the MLB Urban Youth Academy, or any other upcoming clinics and seminars, please call the hotline at (310) 763-3479, or visit the website at:  www.MLB.com/UrbanYouthAcademy