Former NFL player Will James honored for service in Fayette County

A former NFL player whose nonprofit has helped underserved youth in Fayette County for several years is being recognized by the community for his years of service.

Will James, a 1997 Laurel Highlands graduate who went on to play for several NFL teams, was given the February “Face” title in the Fayette County Public Relations Initiative’s Faces and Places series. He earned the title for making an impact on underserved youth in Fayette County, particularly within the Black community.

James runs the clothing company TeamHumanity, which teaches kids workforce and life skills. He recently opened Verticals Community Learning Center, which provides children in underserved areas with various opportunities. It is split into two sides — one offering classes centered around the sciences and the other centered around arts.

James became interested in serving the community after attending the University of Michigan, where he was struck by the differences in lifestyles between college and Brownsville.

“When I got there, the world looked like a whole different place from growing up here in Brownsville, Uniontown, Fayette County,” James said in the release. “I remember thinking I wanted to go back one day to let other kids know there’s more to life than what we see here in Fayette County. I always had the desire to bring something back that would impact a young me.”

He went on to play as a cornerback for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. He retired in 2010 and returned to Brownsville.

In 2013, he founded TeamHumanity, which at the time was a for-profit business aimed at teaching underserved youth about economics. The organization has since evolved into a nonprofit focused on education and enrichment by involving local high school students in clothing production.

“I wanted them to see that we could be producers and not just consumers, and make changes that way,” James said.

The nonprofit arm quickly grew to include TeamHumanity games, an annual event where local kids and their families play flag football and connect with the community.

In addition, the Verticals Community Learning Center and a community garden recently opened in Brownsville. Courses at the center can focus on robotics, computer coding, photography and videography, graphic design, screen printing, embroidery and sewing, vinyl citing and more. The community garden will be used for horticulture classes.

“If you give them knowledge, they’ll run with it,” James said.

James is also working to help the community as a whole. In October, he attended a Blue Zones Project community assessment seminar at Penn State Fayette. The Blue Zones Project is working with the Fayette Living Well Coalition to maximize the longevity and good health of Fayette County residents.

“I know a lot of the issues here firsthand,” he said. “With Blue Zones, I was excited about being invited because I felt like I could give some voice to those in different communities. I’m familiar with the problems on the ground in Black communities.”