Corum & WMBK To Distribute 600 Turkeys
“I give back to the Ypsi community because I consider myself to be a part of it. ”
Giving Back 2 Give Thanks returns for its third consecutive year in Ypsilanti, Sunday, November 19th. The giveaway spearheaded by Blake Corum will take place at three locations across the county including Sycamore Meadows, Huron Heights and Perry Elementary. Each location will distribute 200 turkeys and 200 gallons of milk.
“I give back to the Ypsi community because I consider myself to be a part of it. I have formed relationships within this community that I believe will last forever. When I came to Michigan I wanted to make a difference and now I consider Ypsi my home away from home,” said Corum.
Growing from 200 turkeys the first year and 300 last year, the event will distribute a staggering 600 turkeys and gallons of milk thanks to continued partnerships with Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK), CLR Academy, Milk Means More, The Last Word, Underdawg Nation and Supreme Felons, INC.
“I believe in trying to outdo yourself every single day and that goes for everything in my life. When the community came together and we did 200 turkeys, I immediately wanted to do 300-400. After we did that I immediately wanted to do 600, which allows us to feed more people and put more smiles on faces across the community. Eventually, I want to get to 1,000 turkeys which will allow us to bless even more people,” added Corum.
Jamall Bufford, WMBK Project Specialist, has been involved with the giveaway from the beginning back in 2021.
“We’re excited to partner with Blake Corum once again. Although his time at Michigan is winding down, I wouldn’t be surprised if he continued this event and his impact in the Ypsi community for years to come,” said Bufford.
Locations & Times
Sycamore Meadows
1273 Stamford Ct
9:30AM
Huron Heights
669 Woburn Dr
10:00AM
Perry Elementary
550 Perry Ave
10:30AM
Saddiq Bey at CLR Academy
CLR Academy and Milk Means More have teamed up to bring NBA forward Saddiq Bey to Superior Township this Saturday.
CLR Academy is a weekly program that provides free coaching, snacks, equipment and transportation to and from South Pointe Scholars every Saturday. Bey is set to visit the weekly academy this Saturday for a special event. The day will include face painting, free chocolate milk, a bounce house, a chance to hear from Saddiq Bey and more!
Click here for the transportation schedule and bus routes, provided for free in partnership with Superior Township.
Giving Back 2 Give Thanks with Blake Corum Returns
Blake Corum’s turkey giveaway in Ypsilanti, Giving Back 2 Give Thanks, returns for the second year with 300 turkeys being distributed between Sycamore Meadows in Superior Township and Parkridge Park in Ypsilanti’s South Side.
Blake Corum’s turkey giveaway in Ypsilanti, Giving Back 2 Give Thanks, returns for the second year with 300 turkeys being distributed between Sycamore Meadows in Superior Township and Parkridge Park in Ypsilanti’s South Side on Sunday, November 20th. Along with sides such as applesauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and green beans, families will also receive a gallon of milk. The first location, Sycamore Meadows will be served from Noon-1PM. The second location, Parkridge Park will go from 2-3PM.
Corum first attended CLR Academy with teammate Nikhai Hill-Green in the summer of 2021 at the recommendation of RB Coach, Mike Hart. Returning to the community for Hart meant finding time to work with the youth in the community. CLR Academy presented the perfect opportunity for this foundation and for him to get involved. Once Corum was introduced to the project, he immediately began forming bonds with the kids in the program. A few months later, he had the idea of giving away turkeys to the same community. Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper, a founding supporter of CLR Academy, matched Corum’s turkey donation (100 each) and Giving Back 2 Give Thanks was born.
Thanks to additional support from community partners, each location will distribute 150 turkeys and sides (300 total), an increase of 100 turkeys from the previous year. Milk Means More provided a grant to the event allowing each family to receive milk along with their food. Support from Supreme Felons and Underdawg Nation helped provide sides for all of the families.
This year will also see 300 winter hats distributed in addition to the Thanksgiving packaged meals. University of Michigan student and AFC Ann Arbor player, Emily Eitzman (also a coaching director for CLR Academy and board member of The Mighty Oak Project) received a grant from Optimize to support the event. Eitzman’s contributions to CLR Academy have been constant and impactful since the programs inception in 2021.
CLR Academy
CLR was created out of an expressed community need for the young people of Superior Township. We continue to do this work as the need is still prevalent, in hopes that a community center will soon be built in this community.
CLR Academy was created in partnership by Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper & The Mighty Oak Project, the Rob Murphy Foundation and the Hart & Tay Train Foundation. These organizations came together to build a community focused wellness project, aimed at developing leadership skills and revolutionary thinking for young residents of Sycamore Meadows in Ypsilanti, MI.
The free weekly programming launched in June 2021 and added an additional five locations in 2022. Sports sampling include soccer, basketball, football, yoga and other sports along with a focus on reading, writing and wellness. The programming, created for K-8 youth, uses sport to create engagement to introduce new wellness concepts such as mindfulness and nutrition. All snacks, sports equipment and books are completely free for participants.
Blake Corum’s Giving Back 2 Give Thanks Set for November 21st in Ypsilanti
University of Michigan Running Back Blake Corum announced today his “Giving Back 2 Give Thanks” event set for November 21st in Ypsilanti.
“I wanted to do this event because Thanksgiving is a time to give back and to give thanks. I’m a firm believer of God and He loves a cheerful giver. Things weren’t always easy growing up but God never stopped blessing me which is why I want to bless others,” said Corum.
After attending CLR Academy this summer as a volunteer, Corum wanted to continue giving back to the Ypsilanti community and reached out to Coach Mike Hart who’s foundation sponsors CLR Academy, about doing a turkey giveaway.
Coach Hart connected Corum with CLR Academy leadership and the plans came together to distribute 200 turkeys along with milk, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes thanks to Milk Means More and The Love Stand. Other key community partners are joining forces for this event including Washtenaw MBK and Parkridge Community Center.
“After Blake spent time with the kids at CLR Academy this summer, he realized the impact he was making and wanted to do more. To prioritize giving back to these families at his age is impressive and inspiring and we wanted to do everything we could to support him and our community,” added Bilal Saeed, AFC Ann Arbor Chair/co-owner, and Washtenaw MBK steering member.
100 turkeys will be distributed at Sycamore Meadows starting at Noon until supplies last with the other 100 turkeys being distributed at Parkridge Park at 2PM.
“This is a community I’ve become a part of thanks to the University of Michigan and I’d like to inspire and help people in other ways than playing football. This community is full of great people and if I can help in any way I will do so,” added Corum.
About Blake Corum
The 2019 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year is currently in his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. The standout running back continues to impress both on and off the field. Earlier this season, Corum recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game to start the season, becoming the first Michigan player to accomplish this feat since Denard Robinson in 2011, and the first player to record 100-plus yards rushing in three consecutive games to start the season since Mike Hart in 2007.
About CLR Academy
CLR Academy was created in partnership by AFC Ann Arbor and Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper in the summer of 2021 with support from The Mighty Oak Project, Hart & TayTrain Foundation and the Rob Murphy Foundation. The sports sampling program provides free sports equipment, snacks, books, mentorship, and more by offering free, consistent, weekly programming in the neighborhoods throughout the summer. Created by Black and Brown men for young Black and Brown children, the program embodies community, leadership and revolution (CLR) to encourage healthy living, literacy, and mindfulness.
First Year Program Makes Massive Impact
During the pandemic, a resident of Sycamore Meadows noticed how much time Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) was spending trying to uplift that community by distributing masks, cleaning products and food. She approached WMBK Project Specialist, Jamall Bufford about doing something for the kids to get them active and having some fun. Bufford and fellow WMBK steering committee member Justin Harper started visiting the property regularly, hosting activities and spending time with the kids. After the winter had passed, WMBK reached out to AFC Ann Arbor about partnering up on the program moving forward and the work began.
With the addition of the Rob Murphy Foundation, the Hart & TayTrain (Mike Hart and Latavius Murray) Foundation and The Mighty Oak Project, multiple organizations led by men of color invested their time and resources to create CLR Academy (Community, Leadership, Revolution).
This past June, volunteer coaches and community members showed up every Saturday for three months to spend 90 minutes of structured programming with the youth at Sycamore Meadows. The concept was to use sports sampling to engage and entertain the kids while introducing new wellness concepts to them such as yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and more. In addition to the sporting component, the program emphasizes reading by distributing free books every week including those written by local Black and Brown authors. This summer three authors visited the kids on the day we distributed their book to share their story as a published author.
Activities included football with EMU and U of M football players, breakdancing, video game trucks, yoga, basketball, soccer, bouncy houses, nutrition education, journaling and more. Snacks, sports equipment and books were provided free of charge every week to participants.
In addition to the basic formula of a free youth sports academy, CLR had a few additional layers aimed at uplifting members of the Black community from all ages and backgrounds. This included the redistribution of over $12,000 back into the hands of Black organizers and organizations. CLR Academy also utilized teens from the community to serve as staff and mentors. These teens were eligible to earn a stipend for the work completed.
After a very successful three months, CLR Academy is preparing to expand programming immediately. They’ll be adding an educational opportunity for 9-12th grade students as well as holiday events planned at two Ypsi locations. In the summer of 2022, the academy will expand with two new additional locations including a second in Ypsilanti and a new location in Syracuse, NY.
To view the comprehensive recap of CLR Academy’s first summer, click here.
CLR Academy Launches in Ypsilanti
Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) and Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor), in partnership with the Rob Murphy Foundation, The Mighty Oak Project, and the Hart & TayTrain Foundation, have created a new community youth program, CLR Academy.
The free academy is a weekly program supporting young kids’ right to dream, believe, create, and explore through sport, nutrition, reading, and writing. It is set to launch this June in Ypsilanti at Sycamore Meadows for its residents and surrounding neighbors.
CLR Academy will have an official kickoff event on Saturday, June 5th, at Sycamore Meadows from Noon to 1:30PM with music, food, and giveaways. Residents and community members can register their kids for the free program that will continue every Saturday through August at the same time and location.
Through the partnerships, kids in grades K-8 will have a chance to learn basic soccer, basketball, and football skills, as well as receive free books, balls, snacks, and more. High school students who want to be involved can join as volunteer coaches, earning a stipend for completing the summer program.
WMBK Project Specialist, Jamall Bufford has spearheaded the efforts to bring free, quality youth programming to Ypsilanti. The academy is the evolution of ongoing efforts by WMBK as Bufford stated, “This past fall, WMBK was approached by Sycamore Meadows neighborhood community member Kelly Goolsby to consider bringing some sort of programming there for the kids. She had started Mindfulness Mondays and Walking Wednesdays primarily for adults in the community, so WMBK stepped up with Sycamore Sports on Wednesdays as well. It was something we created on the fly for the month of October, but we knew we wanted to bring something similar back once the weather warmed up. So CLR is an extension of the work we were doing back in October.”
CLR, standing for community, leadership, and revolution, utilizes sport for its strongest benefits of positive friendships, social confidence, sense of belonging, and development of team skills while also incorporating mindfulness through conversation, breathing techniques, and journaling. All supplies, books, and equipment will be provided, with books and balls being given to all kids.
The program will be led by WMBK Steering Committee Member Justin Harper, a longtime Ann Arbor Public Schools paraprofessional and educator, supervisor, coach and official. Coach Harper’s extensive experience working with kids across Washtenaw County makes him the ideal candidate to direct CLR Academy.
Harper plans to include sportsmanship, respect, discipline, problem solving and resilience into his programming and said, “The power of change starts from within and the experts are the ones living in their community, we're just here to give the opportunity to bridge the gap and build a strong bond amongst each other.”
AFC Ann Arbor Chair Bilal Saeed, also a WMBK Steering Committee member, has worked closely with Bufford and Harper, focusing on bringing together like-minded individuals and organizations led by men of color that would serve as strategic partners to anchor the program. Saeed looped in longtime partners and friends Nikki Borgess, Rob Murphy, Mike Hart, and Latavius Murray, in addition to AFC Ann Arbor’s non-profit, The Mighty Oak Project, to help increase sports sampling for the participants.
Bufford stressed the role of these specific partners adding, “This is extremely important because we need to let our local Black entrepreneurs know that success is possible with support from people right in your backyard, from people that look like you. We also want our young Black and Brown boys and girls to see the wide array of career possibilities for them, not only as athletes but also coaches, trainers, sports executives, mentors, authors, business owners and more.”
Murphy, who recently left his role as Eastern Michigan University Men’s Basketball Head Coach after ten years to join the Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, as President & GM, is committed to continuing his work impacting the Ypsilanti community.
“Our intention when creating the [Rob Murphy Foundation] has always been to invest in the Ypsilanti community. This unique partnership/program is an opportunity to join forces with community partners we admire, and our hope is that the unified approach to serving youth can be a blueprint for increased positive impact on the young people in Ypsilanti,” said Murphy.
Murphy, who also spent time at Syracuse University as an assistant basketball coach, knows the two Syracuse natives Mike Hart and Latavius Murray, who together add the support of a football component to the academy. Hart currently serves as the running backs coach for the University of Michigan while Murray returns to the New Orleans Saints for his ninth NFL season. After working alongside one another in the community for years, the two merged their foundations in 2020 in hopes to strengthen their impact.
“Latavius and I are so excited to partner with the CLR Academy. Youth sports and educational programs played a pivotal role in our lives growing up. The programs being implemented by our partners in this academy will give marginalized youth access to sports and resources that they may not otherwise have. This access could change the trajectory of their entire lives. We believe in these programs and the benefits they will bring to our community,” said Hart.
AFC Ann Arbor and The Mighty Oak Project are pleased to bring these amazing, like-minded partners together to make CLR Academy a reality. The club will take the lead on soccer programming by implementing their Community Kicks program at this site, in addition to leading the project operations and staffing.
CLR Academy’s holistic approach includes mindfulness, nutrition, overall wellness, and also emphasizes reading. CLR will provide free books to all participants from local Black authors. This part of the program is what excited The Mighty Oak Project Chair Nick Lacy the most.
“Many of the lessons learned by playing sports include emotional resilience, mental toughness and positive exposure to new people and perspectives. By adding literacy, these benefits are reinforced. We also feel strongly about supporting local authors and having relatable characters for our young readers. That’s why we’re grateful for the folks at Black Stone Bookstore for providing some wonderful suggestions. Our goal is to have participants of CLR come away with a new book, and an improved sense of belonging, self-worth, and confidence,” said Lacy.
To learn more about CLR Academy, visit CLRAcademy.org or contact Bilal Saeed at bilal@pakmode.com.
About Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper
Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) exists to impact boys and men of color by changing narratives, practices, and policies, resulting in transformation of self and community. We aim to transform communities of color by growing and transforming ourselves as men of color, positively change the community’s perception of the contribution made by boys and men of color, and ensure that boys and men of color have spaces that are financially sustained, and responsive to historical and present barriers to success and self-determination.
About The Mighty Oak Project
TMOP was founded to address the opportunity gap in youth soccer. Our goal is to encourage participation and to increase opportunities to play for everyone in our community. We achieve this by partnering with local elementary schools, providing coaching scholarships to women and BIPOC, and collaborating with other organizations that strive to provide opportunities for sport. As the organization evolved, we came to understand that the inequities in youth soccer are really a microcosm of the inequities in our society. By using soccer as a vehicle, we seek to address issues of equity in our community.
About Rob Murphy Foundation
The mission of the Rob Murphy Foundation is to uniquely identify what will best support groups of underprivileged youth and provide them with resources, opportunity and encouragement that will prepare them to reach for a brighter future. The foundation will take on the challenge in an innovative way through education, wellness, and community involvement. The youth we interact with will have life-changing experiences.
About Hart & TayTrain Foundation
Mike Hart and Latavius Murray merged foundations in 2020 to strengthen their community impact as their missions aligned perfectly. Together, the two are able to better impact the lives of Black youth in Syracuse and the communities they live and work in. The two have long served the CNY community with free programming, necessities, and food.