WORCESTER, Mass. - Keeping kids on the court and off the streets - it’s part of Woodrow Adams, Jr.’s life mission.

"The earlier I catch these kids, the ground work we do now, build them up, we teach them the skills the need to be successful and be able to express themselves," said Adams, Jr.

Basketball is just the tip of the iceberg for 508 Forever Young, the nonprofit Adams, Jr. created to teach the city's youth the importance of volunteering, giving back and being the best version of themselves.

Adams Jr. works full time as a court officer and said he sees first-hand many local kids getting into trouble. 

"Too often I see kids graduate from juvenile court, go on to district court and then on to superior court, and my goal is to break that cycle," he said.

His work goes beyond teaching the city's youth. Every summer, Adams, Jr. collects backpacks to make sure all students start the year with the proper school supplies. Every winter, he hosts a holiday toy drive for families who need help.

"I love the city of Worcester," Adams, Jr. said enthusiastically. "This city is mine. I feel responsible to take care of these youth and build them up, same way people did for me back when I was growing up."

Adams, Jr. said the city is still taking care of him. Two years ago, he lost three family members, including his dad and his grandmother, in a horrific five-alarm fire on Jacques Ave. Just like he feels a responsibility to be a leader in the city, he want to represent his family well.

"My mission now is to carry out the Adams legacy, right," he said. "I am Adams strong. I will always be Adams strong, and I feel like again, it's my job, it's my duty to carry on the legacies that are already left behind."

A big part of that mission is setting an example for the youth and the people he surrounds himself with every day.

"We are not here to specifically target one group," said Adams, Jr. "We love people as a whole."