Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • July 11-17, 2018
Day of service From page B-1 ing Each Other community group, is participating in the event for the first time. Detroiters Helping Each Other fights blight through cleanup projects, works to provide food for children in the summer and events for youths to keep them on a positive path. On Neighborhoods Day, Ramirez plans to set up tables to share information with visitors on where to get help with caring for their pets. Information will include everything from available animal food banks to places to go for low-cost or free neutering of animals to signing up people to be on the lookout for mistreated animals. She will set up near a medical marijuana dispensary on Michigan Avenue and Chopin.
Photo credit: Paul Warner. “I look for places people would not think of going to,” she said. “You can give out a lot of information that way.”
Detroit’s David Pruden (L ), and Calvin Pruden (R) to study at Oxford University in August
Two Detroit siblings accepted to prestigious summer study program in Oxford U.K. Calvin and David Pruden, two of six siblings, carry on a family tradition of academic excellence; seek to raise funds for study abroad
While most children wait all year for a summer vacation free of books, classrooms and homework, Calvin, 17 and David Pruden, 18 of Detroit are the exception...they dream of attending summer school, and one of the best in the world, the Oxford University Summer Seminar. In April, the brothers came one step closer to their dream as their acceptance letters arrived in the mail. Calvin and David have four siblings, and currently attend Bloomfield Christian School. From an early age academics were a focal point in their family. ‘We knew we wanted to guide our children towards their individual gifts and talents,’ said their mother, Tosha Pruden. Their father Ptolemy added “It was so important to instill in them the pursuit of knowledge so that they would each become life-long learners. This will allow them to impact society with the knowledge and understanding they would acquire.” The brothers were home-schooled for 10 years. Early on, Calvin had an affinity for finance, economics and marketing, earning him the family nick name “The Billionaire” His interests in business and how it impacts local, national and global markets paved the way Calvin to be a leading candidate for the Oxford Economics Program. His instructors marvel at Calvin’s ability to draw connections between British Literature, scripture and Economics. “I am really interested in how the global economy is affected by the decisions of their leaders,” said Calvin. “Having the opportunity to attend Oxford’s Economics Academy will put me on the path to understanding how each nation’s ideals, policies, use of positive law to create a country based on such laws.” Calvin’s brother David has a bright and inquisitive mind, and already exhib-
“By joining forces (with ARISE Detroit!) it lets people know we are here,” she said. “The more resources we have access to, the more connections we have access to, the more work we can do.”
Ramirez said sharing her story with others could help them find the strength to help themselves and volunteer to help improve the city. “I have been through it all,” she said. “It made me strong and it makes me want to help others.” Detroiters Helping Each Other can be reached at http://www.detroitershelpingeachother.com or visit their Facebook page.
David Pruden
Calvin Pruden
its the qualities necessary to become a fine attorney. David’s thoughts are already on the future, and he has a profound interest in Artificial Intelligence and the challenges it will present in the legal arena.
still relevant. Attending Oxford’s Young Lawyer’s Academy will be a once-in-alifetime chance to further my education.”
“I have always been interested in Patent and Criminal Law,” said David. “The possibility of fusing these two areas of law as it relates to advancing autonomous vehicles, robotic systems, and enterprises is exhilarating. I am so intrigued by criminal justice and the process of defense and prosecution. I know that when new technological advances come out, someone must be able to come up with plans to assure safety and uphold balance. The duty of a lawyer is to maintain justice; even with technological advances, justice is
David is also a gifted speaker whose oratory skills have earned him many accolades. He recently won the Bloomfield Christian School’s Annual “Speech Meet” with his rendition of Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight Them on the Beaches” speech. In his studies, David has continuously demonstrated a great ability to understand and engage with difficult texts, including Cicero, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. For information on how to support David and Calvin Pruden’s Oxford Tuition, please visit www.gofundme.com Fundraiser by Ptolemy Pruden: Our Trip to Oxford. for metro Detroit’s youth.
ed since the inception 12 years ago. The concept struck a chord with Skills Ville founder Rohn Baker and his business partner and wife, Yvonne.
“Malnutrition is not just not getting enough to eat; it’s eating the wrong things,” Rohn Baker said.
They wanted to clean up a vacant lot behind the Skills Ville that attracted illicit activity and dumping. Coincidentally, the annual Skills Ville Open House was planned for the same day.
The benefits go beyond physical skill training.
From page B-1
Photo credit: Paul Warner. body together, coordinating all the different organizations around the city at one specific time, it was just a match for us,” he said referring to Neighborhood’s Day founder Luther Keith.
Eventually, the church bought the lot.
Baker came up with the idea for Skills Ville while coaching football at St. Martin De Porres High School.
Skills Ville has been participating ever since, coordinating its Open House with ARISE Detroit!’s Neighborhood’s Day. The church also continues to be involved.
He watched as neighborhood kids at football games did flips and somersaulted off the bleachers. He wondered, “If they had the proper environment to train in, how far could they take it.”
A major benefit of partnering with ARISE Detroit! is connecting with other organizations and staying informed on what’s going on throughout the city, Rohn Baker said.
He and his wife, Yvonne, who both eventually left their jobs at Ameritech, opened Skills Ville in July of 1995—a place where children could learn athletic and gymnastics skills early that could expand long-term opportunities
“Luther’s efforts of bringing every-
She hopes the ARISE Detroit! event will allow her to spread her message of positivity beyond southwest Detroit.
‘I have seen the passion and energy of Detroiters and others who care about the city and I’m looking forward to working with them to help create the kind of community we all want,” Keith said.
They make it a point to include nutrition education in their programming, believing that good nutrition helps build strong bodies and minds.
They joined forces with the church nearby, New Bright Star Baptist, to clean the lot and make the space safer and more attractive.
“Sometimes all it takes is a kind word to help someone out,” Ramirez said. “I do not have time for negativity.”
Luther Keith, native Detroiter and longtime journalist, founded ARISE Detroit! and serves as the nonprofit’s executive director.
Skills Ville
“It was a natural marriage for us,” Rohn Baker said.
Ramirez is relentlessly upbeat when she speaks with people. Although she has experienced mental and physical abuse in her life and was homeless at 14 years old, she never gave up believing that things would get better. She tries to share that belief with others who may be going through tough times.
Yvonne Baker says that parents tell her their children are better able to follow directions and act more appropriately in social situations. There’s another benefit for the community. Employment. All of the program’s trainers and coaches are former Skills Ville students.
Food Warriors From page B-1 Madonna Freedom School. “I have the youth participate because it is important that they understand their responsibility to community,” she said. “Our work with the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Food Warrior youth development program is grounded in the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Kwanza Principles), having the children engage in all aspects of community allows them to see how the principles apply in our everyday lives. It’s about connecting food to the totality of our living experiences so that they see that it’s all connected”. The Shrine’s Neighborhood’s Day plans this year include a food give-a-way, free clothing, and community clean up, along with aspects of the Food Warriors project. “Our children need to see themselves as valued community members taking responsibility for the health and well-being of our community,” Mama Hanifa said. “It teaches them that we are the solution to the challenges we face and that is empowering.” Twelve-year-old food warrior Na’Kyah Adjuman fondly recalls her experience from last year. “We made green smoothies using kale and spinach from our garden,” she said. “We wanted to provide a healthy treat to the community and introduce them to the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network and the Food Warriors program. We wanted to be involved with not just making the neighborhood and our church look nice. We also love interacting with our community.”
This month marks Skills Ville’s 24th year in business and they’re proud to be active participants in the community.
Bishop Mbiyu Chui, Pastor of the Shrine of the Black Madonna, was introduced to the Freedom Movement by Mama Hanifa and enthusiastically supports the program.
“Our commitment is here in Detroit. We knew that there was an audience here that would benefit,” Rohn Baker said. “Our children and families would benefit from this kind of multi-purpose environment, and we take pride in the type of programs we have and the instructors we have.”
The school began at the Shrine in 2016 and continues a long-standing mission to teach community service and self-determination to young people.
“All of them have grown up in our program,” Yvonne Baker said.
“It was an excellent idea to bring the school because we have many teachers and resources in the church to support our children.”