Community Theater Rehab Wanted: Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, Painting #53206 #DNC2020

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Marcus Duke, executive director of Club Kids 414, an organization geared toward keeping youth off the streets and out of jail, is working frantically to rehabilitate a North Side building he hopes will finally give the group a permanent home.

Without a safe and positive place in the neighborhood to visit each day, he said, more and more kids from the neighborhood will turn to the streets and eventually lose their lives or end up in prison.

"These kids in Milwaukee aren’t scared to die, they’re actually scared to live," Duke said.

During his teens, Duke started a gang and sold drugs before a life change more than 20 years ago helped him find his true calling. "I’ve dedicated my life to helping kids," he said.

For two decades now he’s been hosting events such as talent shows, gift giveaways and other celebrations at public spaces including McGovern Park and local churches.

Valencia Halloway (right) and her daughter Lamiya Tuggles fold clothes for a rummage sale during a recent Club Kids 414 cleanup event and fundraiser.

"If we can get this community center and theatre up and running I’m thinking we can serve more than 100 kids a day here," he said.

Duke is seeking donations and looking for volunteers to help rehabilitate the building he’s leased. The brick building, which previously housed a club, is in need of electical, HVAC, roofing, plumbing, floor work and paint.

"These kids need somewhere positive to go before they turn to the streets," he said.

Just days ago Club Kids hosted a cleanup event and fundraiser to help remove some of the clutter from the building and raise awareness in the community about the effort to open the club.

"When I [saw] how many kids he was keeping safe and out of danger, I decided to follow him," Currin said.

Currin envisions the building on North Avenue as a space where teens can show off their talents while also receiving tutoring and mentoring.

"It can be something really positive for the kids in Milwaukee, especially the kids in the hood who really don’t have a positive place to show their talent and do other things outside of selling drugs, stealing cars and gangbanging," Currin said.

It takes a village to improve the lives of youth in Milwaukee, said Terrance Davis, visitor services specialist at the UEC Washington Park branch. Davis has worked for years with Duke, helping him plan several Club Kids events at UEC, the most recent being "Christmas in the Hood," a gift giveaway and holiday celebration.

Davis said having a permanent center for Club Kids would provide an awesome alternative for the kids who also frequent the center.

In its current state, the building is still a ways from being ready to open as a community center and theatre, Duke admitted. Until then, he said, he’ll keep reaching out and praying.

"I can’t give up; there’s gotta be a way to make this happen for the kids in this neighborhood," Duke said.

Project

We would like to open a safe place theater for kids of all ages, sex, and race. This center would include a youth club, computer lab, arcade, study center, studio, play center, after school care, and more. This would be a place where they could hang out after school and on the weekends as an alternative to the dangerous streets. The center would offer the kids an environment that would keep them occupied, out of trouble, secured, supervised, and safe - with a focus on keeping the kids entertained, and active.

Mission

Club Kids mission is to empower the kids with the knowledge, strength, and determination to become a better person and citizens of the community. By educating them with the skills they need to succeed. Our goal is to keep them out of trouble off the streets out of gangs, and out of jail. by giving them an alternative to the dangerous streets, By offering them creative activities in a controlled environment and introducing them to a new and different world through Arts, Sports, Recreation and Entertainment.



Please Donate - Sponsor - Volunteer

Thanks:

www.clubkids414.org

https://www.facebook.com/clubkids414/

Links to News Sites:

http://fox6now.com/2016/01/30/stop-the-violence-milwaukee-man-efforts-youth-center-to-keep-children-off-the-street/

http://www.cbs58.com/story/31043850/club-kids-hopes-to-rehab-northside-rec-center-for-children

gofundme.com/83v8vk4k


MyCityChannels.com
Websites:
http://www.help4half.com
Club Kid Inc.
http://www.clubkids414.org
VolunteerMatch: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org634803.jsp
BET Video: http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2016/acceptance-speeches/shine-a-light-award-honoree-2.html
Half Off For Helping https://www.facebook.com/halfofforhelping/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Helping-For-Half-Off-948863891884769/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/help4half
PIN: https://www.pinterest.com/clubkids414/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/Clubkids414Org
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clubkids414/
LINKIN: www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-duke-966b4a7a
GUIDESTAR: http://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1991555
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/clubkids414
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/clubkids414/