“We Got This” enters third summer of mentorship

Young men in need of mentoring and guidance are finding it once again on Saturday mornings this summer at the corner of N. 9th Street and W. Ring Street, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs said, as a part of the “We Got This” work and mentoring initiative for boys aged 12 to 16.

Founded a few summers ago by community leader and mentor Andre Lee Ellis as a way to keep neighborhood boys out of trouble, “We Got This” spread quickly through word-of-mouth and social media.

“Young men came to the community garden at 9th and Ring looking to make some money cleaning up their neighborhood,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “What they found in addition was leadership, mentorship and a community ready to rally around them to keep them from going astray. I hope more generous donors will give of their time and their means to keep ‘We Got This’ going for yet another summer.”

Additionally, with all of the disheartening news stories recently about African American males, Alderwoman Coggs said it is heartwarming to witness the work of these young men and to see the community wrap their arms around them in such a supportive and loving way.

The “We Got This” initiative takes place on Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m. until noon in the Borchert Field neighborhood. Boys and teens who show up receive $20 for landscaping and gardening work, as well as neighborhood cleaning and other small projects.

Nearly 100 young men show up each Saturday, ready and willing to work, with numbers steadily increasing each week. “We Got This” will take place every Saturday morning through August 27 this summer. Anyone is welcome to attend and sponsor the program.  For more information about the “We Got This” initiative, please visit wegotthismke.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.