Game Changer

In the spirit of “sports bring people together,” Lakers Gaming will serve as the catalyst to virtually bring together members of California law enforcement and California residents through Game Changer, an Inglewood-based, California POST-accredited law enforcement/community relations program.

COVID-19 stay-at-home measures have prevented the program from normal in-person operations, which feature training members of law enforcement and community members through moderated focus groups, three hours before the start of collegiate and professional sporting events.

Through video conferencing, the Game Changer model can now continue training law enforcement and community members by hosting virtual focus groups two hours before the start of Lakers Gaming matches, which air live on ESPN’s platforms, YouTube and Twitch. The first Virtual Game Changer training events will occur at 3:45pm on May 14, May 19 and May 28.

During select training events, members of the Lakers Gaming team will briefly join Game Changer participants in their virtual meeting room for a meet-and-greet before playing their game. At the end of the focus group, participants will continue communicating in a more causal setting by tuning in to watch the Lakers Gaming team play against NBA 2K League opponents.

The Game Changer model aligns with the Los Angeles Lakers’ Building Bridges Through Basketball program that brings together LAPD officers and at-risk Los Angeles youth to dialogue and play basketball.

This Lakers Gaming/Game Changer partnership will allow participating members of California law enforcement that possess a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) ID# to receive three hours of Community Policing education units and one hour of Interpersonal Communication education units from POST.

For more information on Game Changer please visit: GameChanger1.org