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Organizers raise stakes for Evansville Dust Bowl: youth camp, prize money, music rules and safety plan
Summary
Cortland Martin, a local player and this year’s Dust Bowl host, told the commission he plans expanded youth outreach, a free kids camp, a women's game, prize money and will limit music played during games to instrumental tracks to avoid copyright issues; he said he is meeting with Sergeant Brewer on safety.
Cortland Martin, who identified himself as the organizer of the 2025 Evansville Dust Bowl, updated the Evansville Social Status of Black Males Commission on plans to expand the event’s youth programming, introduce prize money and tighten music and safety arrangements.
"We want a lot of kids there," Martin said, describing a free kids camp and additional events including a dunk contest, three-point contest and a women's game the Saturday before the championship. He said prize money for winning teams is intended to encourage players to remain for the full week of competition.
Martin said the Dust Bowl has long been a community event and that this year’s program will emphasize youth outreach, community pride and reducing summer violence by providing constructive activities. He said he is collaborating with local AAU teams and community volunteers and that he has raised the event’s production level compared with recent years.
On logistics Martin said the event will remain outdoors — "it's just how it's always been" — and that recorded games will be posted to YouTube. To avoid copyright problems when posting footage, he said organizers will play instrumental versions of songs rather than tracks containing lyrics.
Martin said he has scheduled a meeting with Sergeant Brewer to review safety plans and contingencies, and that he has discussed rules and expectations with referees and volunteers. "We're meeting with sergeant Brewer, this Saturday ... he's gonna tell me all the information on that," Martin said.
Commission members said they had previously voted to support the Dust Bowl at an earlier meeting and encouraged broader partner support. Director Virgil Giles and other commissioners in the meeting suggested the state commission could provide resource tables or attend the event if given brief notice and vehicle availability.
Martin requested public and organizational help to promote the event and solicited volunteers and vendors. He also said the event will include programming that honors the memory of Breyonye Copeland, an Evansville native.
The commission did not take a new vote at this meeting; Martin’s presentation was informational and logistical.
