Celebrating Black History Month: Running Rebels Celebrate MKE 44th Anniversary
Each year, Running Rebels supports 1,500 youth in the Milwaukee area.
Updated: February 29, 2024 11:42 PM CST
From the 1980s to today, Victor Barnett's vision has been a wonder for Milwaukee. “It started when he was 19 years old, dreaming of what he wanted to do to help Milwaukee, and here we are 43 years later,” Barnett said. “So many lives we have touched so far. We have come full circle pointing to one young person and their goal is to in turn pour into other young people.” The mission he explains is the daily mantra of Running Rebels. Barnett runs a community organization with his wife, Dawn. “This mentoring group has a faith foundation for young Black people to shape their lives with purpose. “Sometimes young people come to us because they've made a mistake. How am I supposed to live in this world?’ These things are all around me and I still make different choices,” Dawn Burnett said. The Running Rebels' influence spanned four decades in Milwaukee. The secret to success is dedication, trust and transparency. “Sometimes I paint this image of young people like us adults, but we had everything figured out and were perfect. Sometimes I just want to be open and honest with them and tell them I think we can leave it to them.’ They know life has its challenges, but we have to get through it,” Victor Barnett said. Leaders say Running Rebels impacts the lives of 1,500 young people each year. The walls are decorated with photos of successful teens who have benefited from the organization. Reminders give sensation. Even when they're gone, they don't actually leave. “It's about planting a seed that when they come back at age 25, sometimes 30, they say, “Wow, I do.'' I really didn't understand it at the time, but now I understand what you were trying to say. It finally grew on me. “These seeds harvest history. BLACK. HISTORY When asked what she thinks the legacy of the Running Rebels will be, Dawn Burnett replied: “It's work every day. , this is what we want to do and we do it because we care about the people and we care about this city.”
From the 1980s to today, Victor Barnett's vision has been a wonder for Milwaukee.
“Since I was 19 years old, I dreamed of being able to help Milwaukee, and 43 years later, here we are,” Barnett said.
“So far we have touched so many lives. We have come full circle pointing to one young person and their goal is now to be focused on other young people.”
The mission he describes is what Barnett believes in every day at Running Rebels, the community organization he runs with his wife, Dawn. This mentoring group has a faith foundation to purposefully shape the lives of young Black people.
“Sometimes young people come to us because they've made a mistake. I mean, it's like, how could I be in this situation in this world and still make different choices? ” said Dawn Barnett.
The influence of “The Running Rebels'' spans 40 years in Milwaukee. The secret to success is dedication, trust and transparency.
“Sometimes we paint a picture like this for young people, like adults, but we understood everything and it was perfect. I sometimes try to be open and honest with them, I think sometimes it lets them know that life can be hard, but we have to fight through it,'' Victor Barnett said.
Leaders say Running Rebels impacts the lives of 1,500 young people a year.
The walls are decorated with photos of successful teens who have benefited from the organization. Reminders give sensation. Even if they leave, they will never leave.
“What's really important is when they come back at age 25, sometimes 30, and say, 'Wow, I really didn't understand it then, but now I understand what you guys were trying to do.' It's about planting a seed.'' Or rather, it has finally grown within me. ”
Those seeds harvest history. black. history.
As for what she thinks the Running Rebels' legacy will be, Dawn Burnett says: “I hope it will be remembered by people who didn't do it because it was a job. Because I don't think so.'' But we're doing it because this is what we want to do and we care about the people and we care about this city. ”
