Meet Hannah Hunter | Cartoonist, Screen Printer, Court Builder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Hunter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, how does your business help the community?
100% of our profits goes toward renovating neglected public outdoor basketball courts. Through the transformation of each court we bring the community together. Local contractors, artists, and volunteers are needed to complete every project. As well as, neighbors to help celebrate once the court is ready.

We paint designs and artwork on the court surface with the goal of creating a more safe and inviting place because we believe playing basketball outside with each other in safe spaces strengthens our communities by increasing social intelligence and physical health.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After learning graphic design, I moved to Florida in 2013 for a screen printing internship. I learned how to print posters and shirts and then was able to get Swishh Dreams off the ground by selling t-shirts. Although we focus more on funding through grants and sponsorships right now. We still sell a few designs and screen print the shirts by hand out of our garage in Orlando.

Most of the t-shirt designs feature our mascot, Netman. He is a magical basketball net character I created in 2016 with the mission to, “Save The Courts!”. I’ve drawn some comics and cartoons of him in the past, but I am excited to release more animations with him in the future to help spread the word and tell our mission.
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For the artwork that we paint on the surface of the courts, so far I’ve designed each one. But, in the future I hope to collaborate with other local artists who are interested in using their art on a public space and making an impact in the community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, we would play basketball at Callahan Community Center in West Orlando Paramore neighborhood. We painted the courts in April and it is a great spot in the city, compete with a community garden. Next, we would play at Moss Park. We renovated that court in 2019 and the colors are so bright and fun it has attracted many new people. After that, we would play at Candyland Park. The renovation will be complete in a few weeks (september 2022)! It is a really great park– two basketball courts, baseball/softball fields, and a skate park with a newly built pump track unlike any other in the state.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dan Peterson from Project Backboard (www.projectbackboard.org) is one of the main inspirations for our court renovations. He has been coordinating court projects all over the world and has helped Swishh Dreams in every possible way… mentorship, donations, love, encouragement.

Website: https://swishhdreams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swishhdreams/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahswishh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swishhdreams

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgxSUf87xrf-iLL0Gqz4wA/videos

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@swishhdreams