“It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the
equivalent of what he takes out.“ Albert Einstein
My service and leadership has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I wanted to give back to my community the same way others did for me, but leave a bigger footprint for others to follow and improve upon.
Sometimes you have to ask yourself some questions. How can I turn a blind eye to those in need? Will I be that person to go back and make a difference? Can I improve my community and empower our youth?
There are several routes one can take to accomplish these tasks. The first step is the most important, truthfully it’s the easiest one.
It’s as simple as being honest about what you are witnessing.
I’ve always understood and believed when someone cares about taking time and helping our youth it makes a huge impact with kids. I started mentoring kids when I was in college back in the 1980’s through a community youth program called “Midnight basketball” (games started at 9pm to 12 midnight) the program was on the Southside of Madison, WI. I knew I could make a difference while giving my time as a college athlete and sharing my story, because I came from the same background as the kids I would spend time mentoring on weekends in the summer to help keep them off the streets. When you show you care, it opens them up to share their experiences and then you can help them make better choices. It may take a while to build trust, but showing up consistently and spending the time needed will help them stay encouraged.
Over the last 25 years I helped with the Jason Terry Foundation LLC, as well as helping numerous Track and Field athletes improve their performances which lead to many of them receiving college scholarships. I truly believe if we help kids and provide opportunities they will find their purpose and become future leaders in our communities.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. President Barack Obama
I also understand no one can do everything alone. I was honored when I was approached by our team at Milotso and the impact we have made thus far. But one of the best things is our relationships that have been built over the years with other leaders in the community.
One of my strongest supporters is Dr. Kewku Ramil Smith (President at BLAQUESMITH Psychology Consultative Services) who has been in the Milwaukee community for the past 15-20 years. A big part of what we believe in is the importance of mental health and when we do any events we make sure that mental health is a component in our program. We like to bring experts in to help us, someone who has experience in the community, and is one of the best in the field. Kweku happens to be a good friend that I’ve known for over 35 years. We took different paths in our careers, but we both have similar missions of helping our youth, even since our time working together in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Through Milotso I have taken great pride in being a part of something that gives back and makes a huge impact in giving our youth opportunities to follow their dreams and learn from experts in different fields.
It takes a community of people to provide a safe and healthy environment for children to grow and develop.
I challenge you to take a moment and ask yourself how can I be of service? Whether it is investing your time or donating gifts.
Join Milotso in making a difference!
Let’s talk about how we can help you make a meaningful impact where it matters most. Use the form below to let us know you’d like to connect with our program director and start the conversation.
