The kid team plays flag football at the field, on Aug. 17th, 2019. Photo by Anqi Zhang.By Anqi Zhang
The banners and pictures of a young man hung on the fence. An outdoor grill, a reception desk with T-shirts, round badges, raffle buckets, and two bouncy beds were bustling at Dorchester’s Roberts Park on the warm afternoon of August 17th, 2019.
The 2nd annual AJ’s Community Games were going on. An open-to-all event in memory of 21-year-old Dorchester resident Alberto “AJ” Monteiro, organized by his mother, Arminda Baptista with her family and friends.
AJ’s life stopped on September 5th, 2017, when he was shot to death while getting a haircut one mile away from home. The case is still unsolved.
Khyron Camillo signs up for the game, on Aug. 17th, 2019. Photo by Anqi Zhang.Whoever interested could sign up for AJ’s favorite flag football game at the reception desk, and play in a kid team or an adult team. White or blue T-shirts with AJ’s name and his born-age on them were running on the field during the whole afternoon. AJ’s two uncles and his former coach were also on the ground.
The adult team plays flag football at the field, on Aug. 17th, 2019. Photo by Anqi Zhang.At the further side of the activity area, AJ’s aunt, Leonilde Lopes Tavares, who is a chief and in charge of the food section, were cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for attendants.
Kids who were too young to play football were in the bouncy beds. AJ’s little brother was having fun there, said AJ’s aunt Kelly Baptista. She was there helping those kids take off their shoes before going in.
“I hope this activity will be held every year,” Kelly said. “We are trying to turn our pain into something positive.”
Different from other people’s clothes, the blue T-shirt she wore was from last year’s design. The word “ANTEEE” was on the back of the shirt, and that is how AJ used to address her.
Arminda Baptista is with the kids, on Aug. 17th, 2019. Photo by Anqi Zhang.The other person who was wearing the same series was AJ’s mother, whose back had “MOM” on it. She was busy working between different sections and greeting newcomers all the time.
On a heartfelt address to the audience, Arminda expressed her appreciation to every attendant, but could not support herself to speak more, only to kiss her two children.
“Thank you, everyone,” Arminda said between tears “on making this another successful year, we’ll do it again next year, long live AJ!”
The event was a community party for all ages. People who knew and who did not know AJ went there to share, play some flag football, chat, and eat food. Only occasional sobbing faces reminded one about a tragedy that happened to a Dorchester family just two years ago.
Arminda Baptista hugs attendees, on Aug. 17th, 2019. Photo by Anqi Zhang.Related
Meet Arminda Baptista: Dorchester mother and founder of the AJ’s Flag Football Games
The Dorchester Post partners with SJPII Academy to promote the AJ Monteiro Scholarship Fund
