During the ceremony, boys and young men stand while repeating the phrase, "I will not die young."
For the past three years, Andre Lee Ellis has employed black youth in the garden at N. 9th and W. Ring streets every Saturday morning for a stipend of $20. We Got This provides a meeting place to teach the value of hard work and relationships. Saturday, Aug. 27, marked the end of another season in the garden.
The celebration consisted of a cook out, live music by the band Cigarette Break and inspiring speeches by Andre Lee Ellis, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, State Rep. David Bowen, community member June Perry and countless others.
Keathon Cannon, a young man involved in the program, delivered an emotional speech about his past at the closing ceremony. He said the program changed his life and made him realize “you can do anything if you believe in yourself.”
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
