By Dylan Deprey
General King Rick hands out $20 to the youth during last year’s Community Clean Up. (Photo courtesy Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee)
The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee will be getting some help from nearly 50 youth to clean up along Fond Du Lac Ave. for the 4th Annual Black Panthers Community Clean Up, which is today.
From empty chip bags to cigarette butts and soda bottles, the youth will be picking up pounds of trash to beautify the streets and their neighborhoods.
“It gives the children a sense of community and a sense of pride in their community,” said King Rick, OBP General. “After picking up trash, and they see someone littering, they’ll tell people to pick it up because they just picked it up. It never fails.”
Youth ranging from 6 to17-years old will be given a Panther Cubs t-shirt and $20 to help pick up trash along the on Fond Du Lac Ave., starting from Johnsons Park to Fryerz restaurant.
After cleaning along both sides of the mile-long stretch, the youth will get to refuel with some barbecue and an after-clean-up celebration outside of Fryerz on 27th and Fond du Lac.
“This is something the kids will never forget, getting out and doing something positive in their community,” King Rick said. “My mantra is, ‘the complete village is our family.’ We have to live like it and act like it, especially in Milwaukee now with the violence, mayhem and carnage. We have to give them another outlet.”
It’s all smiles and Black Power during last year’s Community Clean Up. (Photo courtesy Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee)
He said that many of the youth that come out are from broken homes and can lose their path over the Summer because they do not have any positive role models to look up to. He added that the event is something for them to look back on for inspiration.
“We are here to give them a sense of love, respect and honor,” King Rick said.
The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee will also be hosting several events over the course of the Summer. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/The-Black-Panthers-of-Milwaukee-943024862478135/