Yacouba Sangaré, President

Yacouba was born and raised in Niamey, Niger. Yacouba graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Education where he earned his Masters in International Education. Yacouba earned his BA in Education and Black Studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Yacouba also got a Reading Recovery certificate from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Yacouba played for the national basketball team of Niger.

In the summer of 1993, Yacouba participated in the Dickinson College Basketball Camp in Pennsylvania as an assistant coach. A trip that was arranged by the American Cultural Center and Sue Rosenfeld, the former director of the English Language Program at the American Cultural Center in Niamey and advisor to Hoops4Kids, Inc. Yacouba coached at the Dickinson College Camp June 1993, July 1994, and June 1996. Yacouba also worked as coach at the Boston College basketball camp in 1998. In July 1999, he taught basketball skills at the National Youth Sport Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Yacouba successfully completed the coaching principles course by the American Sport Education Program. Yacouba is also the Africa Ambassador to Youth Basketball Of America. In May 2002, Yacouba participated in the Youth Basketball Of America basketball and educational programs as a consultant in Tampico, Mexico.

Tracy Sangaré, Treasurer

The program‚s Cofounder, Tracy Sangaré, received her Masters in Urban Education from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts. Tracy Sangaré received her Bachelors in Science in Special Education from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. While a student at Boston University, Tracy was trained as an instructor through the AIDS Action Committee. Tracy taught first and second grade for the past five years in Cambridge and she is currently teaching third grade in upstate New York.

Kevin Krosky, Secretary

Kevin Krosky is a K-9 police officer and volunteer firefighter in Upstate New York. He is also a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Team.

ADVISORY BOARD:

Abdoulrachid Abdoulbaki

Technical Director, Basketball Federation of Niger

Randy Hayward

Ed.M Human Development and Psychology, Risk and Prevention
Harvard Extension School, Harvard University, MA
Principal, Marvin L Academy of Performing Arts, Michigan, Detroit

John Hutchison

BA Pomona College 1966: Economics and French
Ph.D. Indiana University 1976: Linguistics and African Studies
Current position: Associate Professor of African Languages and Linguistics at Boston University, and African Language Coordinator. He speaks 10 languages.

Sue Rosenfield

• 1976, Ed.M Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, NY
  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
• 1966, BA, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, majors: Latin and History
• 1987-present Resident Director, Boston University in Niger
• 1984-1994 Director, English Language Program, American Cultural Center, Niamey Niger
• 1981-1984 Fulbright Lecturer, University of Bujumbura Bujumbura, Burundi
• 1977-1981 Peace Corps Volunteer, Joal and Dakar, Senegal

Ali Moussa Seyni

Basketball Federation, Niamey, Niger

Abdoulaye Sounaye

Professor of Philosophy, University of Niamey, Niger
Acting Resident Director, Boston University Study
Abroad Program in Niamey, Niger