WHAT’S NEW: INDIANA BLACK EXPO RECAP

The Indiana Black Expo is the largest and longest-running black expo in the country. The annual event celebrates Black culture and businesses and this year FISLL was invited to participate! 

FISLL kicked off its Black Expo experience on July 17 Houston coaching at a girls basketball clinic at a local YMCA in Indianapolis. Former WNBA player Rushia Brown hosted the camp.

Allan Houston speaks to participants of the Rushia Brown Girl Skills Basketball Clinic at a local YMCA in Indianapolis on July 17, 2025. (FISLL)

The following morning, Houston attended the Indiana Black Expo corporate luncheon, where Expo president and CEO Alice Watson recognized him. Later that evening, the two-time NBA All-Star spoke to roughly 200 local high school students about leadership.  

The former Olympic gold medalist taught the students that to lead effectively, one must:

 Serve – recognize that life is about helping others

Example – in service, be a role model for others 

Execute – be consistent in your service

Houston speaks with local seniors Almaz Kebede and Giovani Abel after the Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit at the Westin Indianapolis on July 18, 2025. Kebede hopes to attend either New York University or Howard while Abel will attend the University of Chester in Chester, England. Both intend to study business. (FISLL)

 After speaking to the students, Houston and the FISLL family traveled to the IU Michael A. Carroll Stadium for the Black Expo Summer Celebration Music Heritage Festival. A fun Friday night listening to R&B legends Keith Sweat and SWV preceded an active Saturday morning. 

 The Allan Houston Foundation hosted its “Dads and Daughters Basketball Clinic” on July 19. A successful camp concluded with a panel discussing the clinic theme, “Train Harder. Get Closer.

Houston speaks during the “Dads and Daughters Basketball Clinic” panel at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on July 19, 2025. (FISLL)

Panelists included Houston, Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels, former Indiana Pacers guard Eddie Gil,  Los Angeles Sparks SVP Natalie White and Kathy Jordan, who created the first player development program in the NBA. Roscoe Wilson, father of two-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson, also participated.

FEATURED STORY:

Barry Woods, A Man of Sacrifice

By Semir Bryan

Barry Woods was a kid who used to get into a lot of trouble and didn’t always care about what was happening. 

Now, he’s in a position where he’s eager to help guide kids in their purpose. 

“I need you to help me,” was the email Woods received from Stamford mayor Caroline Simmons 

The email detailed the perpetual gun violence in the city starting in 2010. In turn, Woods created the 5th Quarter program to help kids in the community. 

Through conversations centered on valuable life lessons, the 5th Quarter program caused significantly lower gun-related incidents over the past two decades. 

Woods has expanded the program to multiple locations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. 

One day, I asked Woods, “Out of the five FISLL words, which means the most to you?”

“Sacrifice,” he responded. 

Woods’s sister, Adrienne, confirmed her brother’s choice. 

“The types of things he sacrificed throughout his life made me feel proud of how much Woods cared about the kids he worked with and helped,” Adrienne said. “Woods is a very caring person and would always sacrifice his time for the community.”

That sacrifice sometimes came at the expense of family time or his early career ambitions. But to Woods, it was worth it if it meant kids from Stamford would become good people.

Semir Bryan is a freshman at Westhill Highschool in Stamford, Connecticut. Bryan attended the FISLL writing workshop this past winter and was a standout student. For his final workshop project, Bryan wrote a feature story on Barry Woods. Woods serves as the director of youth and adult programming at the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford.