Isiah Thomas and Robert Townsend partnered up to direct and produce Playin’ for Love. Playin’ For Love revolves around a high school basketball coach and a single mother, as the plot plays out to the backdrop of the Overtown community. The community-based film project taught by Townsend gave 20 students from the Overtown community and 25 students from the University of Miami School of Communication’s Cinema and Interactive Media program an opportunity to participate in a six-week training program with South Florida Workforce. The students served on all aspects of the production, from assistant directors to camera assistants. They utilized the skills learned in the classroom and applied them with real-world experience. The overall mission of the project was to promote non-violence to youth through providing alternatives to crime. Participating organizations and sponsors include Jamba Juice Company, the Miami Heat, University of Miami School of Communication Department of Cinema and Interactive Media, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Citi-Trends, South Florida Workforce, Connor Sport Court, Aveda, Doubletree Hotels and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.