"That sense of belonging exists largely thanks to Leonardo Cruz and his wife, María Rodríguez, a Napa couple who've spent the past decade transforming casual pickup games into a thriving community league that now draws hundreds of players and spectators from across the North Bay. What began as a handful of friends shooting hoops has become a cultural touchstone for Oaxacan farmworkers and their families - a way to preserve traditions, celebrate roots and find joy in a new home."
"Around 2014, missing the street tournaments and patron saint festivals he grew up watching in Oaxaca, he began organizing games with a few friends. "In Oaxaca, at every patron saint festival, they hold basketball tournaments - everyone plays," he said in Spanish. "I couldn't play much when I was younger because I had to help my parents, but I always loved watching. When I came here, I finally had the chance to make it happen."
Homesickness among immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico in Northern California eases on weekends at basketball courts in Santa Rosa and Napa, where play is marked by laughter, friendly rivalries and the thump of a ball. Leonardo Cruz and his wife, María Rodríguez, transformed casual pickup games into a community league that now attracts hundreds across the North Bay. Cruz began organizing games around 2014 to recreate the street tournaments and patron saint festivals of Oaxaca, and early matches spread by phone and social media. Cruz and Rodríguez work full-time and fund many league expenses, covering park rentals, insurance and restrooms. The league grew from a handful of friends to larger matches that draw players, spectators and a stronger sense of belonging.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]