Teyana Taylor dominates Dyckman Basketball with her latest launch. The TEY Foundation’s Full Circle Harlem Moment
The Harlem native organized the legendary streetball tournament she admired during her childhood, simultaneously launching her new foundation with a back-to-school giveaway.
Teyana Taylor recently delivered a truly moving experience to New York City, orchestrating the Teyana Takeover at the iconic Dyckman Basketball tournament while also unveiling her new TEY Foundation through a back-to-school giveaway. For those who grew up in Washington Heights or Inwood, or who have closely observed New York City streetball culture over the years, Teyana’s takeover of Dyckman Park is a significant event, and she ensured that fans grasped the importance of that moment to her.
To grasp the reasons, it is beneficial to explore the history of Dyckman itself. The tournament was established in the summer of 1990 by Kenneth Stevens, Omar Booth, and Michael Jenkins, three friends who were raised in the neighborhood during a time when the crack epidemic was ravaging their community. At that time, Monsignor Kett Playground, now referred to as Dyckman Park, was in a state of disrepair, lacking the vibrant basketball culture it once boasted as a Holcombe Rucker site during the 1970s. Stevens, Booth, and Jenkins took it upon themselves to repaint the court and restore the park, convinced that a basketball tournament could ignite a positive change in a neighborhood that truly needed it. What began as a league with six teams, where players donned their own T-shirts and had numbers taped to their backs, has evolved into one of the most esteemed streetball tournaments in the nation. It now boasts six divisions and over one hundred teams, ranging from children as young as five to a college and pro division that consistently attracts NBA and NCAA talent during the summer months. Dyckman has garnered the title the Red Carpet of Streetball, recognized not only for its high-caliber basketball but also for its vibrant atmosphere, featuring DJs, food vendors, and a sense of community that transforms a neighborhood park into a sought-after summer destination.
That history is precisely why Teyana Taylor curating a full night at Dyckman holds such significance. She has shared that she has been attending the tournament since her childhood in Harlem, long before she emerged as the artist, actress, and creative force that fans recognize today. Being entrusted to take over the same park she once observed from the sidelines is a moment that truly resonates when you recognize her profound connection to New York City culture and the significant role that community played in shaping her identity.
The event also signified something greater than just one night of basketball. It marked the official launch of the TEY Foundation, a new organization that Teyana created, inspired by the significance of her own name, which represents Time Evolves You. The foundation is based on the belief that personal growth should never cease and that any wisdom, resources, or success acquired by an individual should be shared with the community that initially contributed to their development. As part of the launch, the TEY Foundation organized a back-to-school giveaway in conjunction with the Dyckman takeover, providing local children and families with meaningful support as they prepare for the new school year, all while celebrating the neighborhood that nurtured her.
Teyana addressed that mission head-on in her caption announcing the event, contemplating the significance of supporting the community that nurtured her. She expressed gratitude to her Jordan Brand family for their support long before the foundation had an official name and thanked the Dyckman organizers, including Kenny and Sharon, for their trust in her to curate a tournament with such rich history and cultural significance. She expressed gratitude to her team, friends, and family who contributed to making the entire day a success, characterizing it as a genuine collective effort.
In her caption, Teyana stated, “TEY means Time Evolves You.” As time evolves, instructs, and fosters our development, we come to realize that our growth was never intended to conclude with us. It is intended to be returned to the individuals, locations, and communities that contributed to our identity. She continued, “I’m a Harlem girl, and I understand the importance of our children being able to SEE us, FEEL us, and know that we haven’t forgotten them…” New York City shaped who I am. It provided me with a foundation, a voice, and a space to dream. It will always be a privilege to reciprocate that love and nurture the soil that contributed to my growth.
Between the history of Dyckman as a tournament literally built out of community resilience and Teyana’s own journey from a young fan in the crowd to the woman entrusted with curating the entire event, this moment signifies more than merely a celebrity appearance. It serves as a direct extension of the core values that Dyckman was established to embody: community, opportunity, and commitment to the next generation, now upheld by someone who once stood in the same place as those children.
