Watts
Rams
Designed to bridge the gap between communities of color and law enforcement, the Watts Rams is a coed youth football program coached by LAPD officers and community members, that focuses on improving community-police relations.
Watts Rams youth football and cheer program focuses on strong moral character, positive values, personal responsibility and a commitment to academics as their principles.
7
Teams
187
Athletes
4
Officer Mentors
2012 – The Watts Bears are born.
Five LAPD CSP officers from Southeast Division start one football team with one goal: give the youth of Watts’ housing developments a safe space to grow: academically, emotionally, physically.
The community steps in.
Coach Marc Maye and Coach Robert Garcia become the first community coaches. Today, Coach Rob is our Vice President and Coach Marc is our General Manager. They never left.
“They don’t get paid to coach us. They just do it for love.” That’s how one of our student athletes describes the Watts Rams.
Three reasons, in his words: they help him be a better person in football and in school. They check on him to see how he’s doing. And they do it all for love.
Project Blue joins the family.
Janet and Steve saw what was happening in Watts and partnered up, alongside the Housing Authority of Los Angeles, making the program 100% free for every kid.
2019 – The LA Rams make it official.
Through initiatives like Inspire Change, the Rams ensure the mission never skips a beat.
Now, a light of hope, wherever it’s needed.
Today, we’re exactly where we started: in Watts, for Watts.
Our officers are head coaches, assistant coaches, cheer administrators, and program liaisons.
The fact that the same officers that are coaching the youth are the same officers patrolling the area where the youth reside creates a bridge to public safety that is unique. This partnership allows the youth to teach the officers cultural sensitivity in a way that no classroom can, and in turn, the officer are ale to teach the youth the value of integrity and that law enforcement is here to protect and serve.
Rams Spotlight
Coach Renita James “RJ” has been instrumental in assisting the program in 2025 to create our 1st certified Cheer team, Coach RJ went above and beyond to make sure that the Cheer squads were disciplined, and looked impeccable.
More than a team, become part of the Ramily.
Contact Watts Rams President or Project Blue to sign-up, donate, or get involved!
Shiquita Wesson
wattsramspresident@gmail.com
Project Blue
contact@goprojectblue.com
Program Needs
Funding
Mentors
Transportation
For too many youth in Watts, the only thing standing between them and the field is a ride. Many of our kids are raised by single parents or relatives stretched thin, reliable transportation to practices and games would remove that burden and exponentially expand our reach. Beyond the game, we’re building programming in financial literacy, career exploration, and the arts. These experiences could open doors these young people might otherwise never walk through. With your support, we can get every kid to the field and expand what happens off of it: financial literacy, career exploration, and the arts.
