Like Quinsigamond Community College, former student Anthony Barbosa lives and breathes community. Barbosa, a QCC alum, is the creator of the Summer Jam Classic, an event that showcases local basketball talent and promotes small businesses and community organizations. What started with a few hundred attendees in 2016 has grown to a crowd of thousands with multiple spinoff events.
“If it wasn’t for my community, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s the flame that keeps me going,” Barbosa stated.
Barbosa grew up in Worcester and attended Worcester Technical High School. While he credits organizations like the Boys & Girls Club for providing vital support during his younger years, by the time he got to high school, he was struggling academically and more focused on sports and friends.
Things took a turn his senior year when Hadley Camilus, former coach of the men’s basketball team at QCC, asked him to enroll as a student and play for the team.
“It was lifechanging,” Barbosa recalled. “After high school, I had no plans of going to college but Quinsig changed that for me. My GPA jumped from a 1.7 to a 3.4, which motivated me to continue.”
QCC opened Barbosa’s eyes to what a supportive academic environment could do for a student.
“It was more flexible and the teachers really cared and gave one-on-one attention, which I needed badly,” he shared.
Being a student-athlete also helped keep Barbosa engaged in his studies.
“The experience of playing in college was amazing. Every night was a packed gym,” he said, adding, “Coach Hadley was a great mentor for me. He would come to my classes to make sure I was there.”
Barbosa also participated in QCC’s TRIO Student Support Services, a federally-funded wraparound support program for first-generation or low-income students. There, he received resources that helped him learn the processes of higher education and feel a sense of belonging.
After two years at QCC, Barbosa transferred to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, with a newfound sense of confidence and skills.
“At QCC I learned how to be independent and participate in college. This geared me up for MCLA,” he explained.
At MCLA, Barbosa continued to shine both on and off the court; however, an injury during his senior year forced him to think of other ways to channel his energy and ambition. Eager to give back to the community, he created the Assist Program, which provided mentoring to low-income area youth. Running the program required Barbosa to collaborate with administrators, students and community partners, which he described as great practice for what would come next.
After receiving his bachelor’s in sociology and community development from MCLA in 2015, he returned to Worcester with big plans. Inspired by visits to long-running streetball tournaments in places like Dyckman Park in New York City, Barbosa wanted to start something similar back home. He thought it might also be a fun way to promote his clothing line, American Pyramids, along with other Worcester businesses.
By 2016, Barbosa had gathered enough basketball players and community support to host the first Summer Jam basketball tournament. It wasn’t easy- his mother was up until 4:00 a.m. the night before preparing chicken for a crowd of 200 people. But the energy was electric and Barbosa knew he was on to something important.
“I always wanted to come back home and make a change and I fell in love with the atmosphere,” Barbosa said.
With Barbosa’s grassroots ambition and community connections, the event grew larger each year. Sponsorships increased, more food vendors participated, and a lot of businesses wanted to sell merchandise and promote their brands.
Summer Jam originally took place in Barbosa’s neighborhood of Grant Square, but has since moved to Crompton Park to accommodate a crowd ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 visitors. Basketball players in the showcase games also started receiving college scholarships as Barbosa grew relationships with local coaches and scouts. Eventually, Barbosa added a Fall Jam and a Winter Jam to keep the momentum going throughout the year.
With the popularity of his event, Barbosa made the choice to turn Summer Jam into a full-time job. While he’s still getting used to being a leader and fundraising in spaces he never thought he’d be, he expressed immense gratitude for the team he’s built over the years and support from local businesses and colleges like QCC and Worcester State University.
“QCC taught me how to do things step-by-step and take my time to do it right. Now I’m mentoring the younger generation to do the same thing and follow their dreams the right way.”
What he’s most proud of, though, is that Summer Jam has become more than just an entertaining event, it’s what he calls a day of peace.
“It’s the coolest thing, seeing people from all walks of life together and the love at the park. It’s not just a tournament anymore. We’ve created a culture and we are impacting and changing people’s lives.”
Barbosa utilizes the Fall Jam as an opportunity to highlight important causes. The 2023 theme was mental health and included a mental wellness workshop for all of the athletes. The participants got involved as well, with over 60 attendees signing up for therapy services. This year’s Fall Jam will take place on November 23, 2024, at Clark University.
Never one to slow down, Barbosa says he wants to expand his events throughout New England and his next big dream is to build a community center in Worcester that could offer basketball, indoor football and a restaurant.
Barbosa’s journey from uninterested student to community MVP is a testament to the power of education, mentorship and community spirit. As he continues to grow the Summer Jam Classic brand, it’s clear that with perseverance and support, anyone can transform their hometown court into a launching pad for dreams.