AU Pro Basketball Players Give Back to Nashville Community

Isabelle Harrison Returns to Her Roots

Harrison spent time at Glower Elementary reading to students, signing autographs, and answering questions, marking a full-circle moment at the school she attended as a child.

“It means everything,” Harrison said. “This is what we talk about when we say community. Building up the youth, listening to them, and feeling their energy.”

She emphasized the importance of literacy and early reading habits, particularly in today’s climate.

“Literacy is very important,” Harrison said. “Reading and being able to think on your own matters. The younger you start, the more it becomes a habit they can carry into adulthood. It’s important to be active and healthy, but reading really is the most important thing you can constantly push to the kids.”

Harrison hopes students left the visit feeling encouraged and confident in sharing their ideas.

“I hope they felt heard and seen,” she said. “We read a book about ideas, and I hope they’re not scared to talk about theirs when someone asks them.”

Returning to Glower also reinforced Harrison’s desire to give back to the community that supported her growing up.

“It took a village,” she said. “I want to create opportunities for kids and give them the resources they deserve, just like I had growing up.”

Players Support Community Resource Center

Later in the week, a group of AU Pro Basketball players volunteered at the Community Resource Center, packing hygiene kits that were distributed across Nashville to warming shelters where people were temporarily housed during storm recovery efforts.

During their time at the center, players packed 1,644 pounds of hygiene products, including soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo.

“We learned a lot,” Sydney Colson said. “A lot of us were surprised. They told us that two in five people in Nashville are hygiene insecure. They don’t have the products to keep up with their personal hygiene.”

Colson noted that many hygiene essentials are not covered by SNAP benefits, making organizations like the Community Resource Center critical.

“That makes such a big difference when you can go out in the world and feel like you’re taking care of yourself and showing up for yourself,” Colson said. “So it was nice for us to have such a big showing.”

With Season Five underway, the league’s Community Days events highlight AU Pro Basketball’s investment in Nashville through direct service and support beyond the game.