Collinwood Brotherhood Coalition

Frederick Douglass said “ It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”. The Collinwood Brotherhood Coalition was formed earlier this year in order to engage, encourage, educate and support the young men in our community.  The Coalition was formed after the news of the murder of Stephen Halton Jr. During  a community meeting and later at the vigil, many spoke about the need for programming for our youth. A group of men from the neighborhood answered that call and began meeting and  set up a plan of action. The group is still in its infancy stages, but has already hosted two events for young men in the neighborhood. The first was a Brotherhood Breakfast, which was held in March at B&M’s Barbecue.  There were over fifty men and boys in attendance. The boys and mentors enjoyed conversation and a delicious breakfast prepared by our host. After breakfast, the participants were treated to a performance by the drill team from Garden of Prayer Baptist Church, learned about the Boys Scouts and heard several motivational speakers.

The second event was a Shooting Stars basketball  game held at the Salvation Army. A great time was had by all who attended and prizes were awarded to the first , second and third place winners. The next event is planned for Monday, May 19th and will be held at the Memorial Nottingham branch of the Cleveland Public Library. The event is titled “Soul Food” and will focus on African and African-American culture.  The Coalition is looking for men who would be interested in being a mentor. If you would like to participate or have any questions, please call Margaret Craig (216) 481-7660.

margaret craig

Margaret is the Community Organizer for Northeast Shores Development Corporation

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Volume 6, Issue 4, Posted 2:24 PM, 05.14.2014