The community-based initiative partnered with the Kings Park Community Center staff to provide decorations, educational materials, games and programming to commemorate Black History Month.
Kings Park Community Center – Black History Month is Every Month in Kings Park DeSean Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders, All Pro Wide Receiver & Punt Return Specialist
DeSean Jackson, of the Las Vegas Raiders, and his foundation donated another shipment of culturally-diverse, age appropriate books to the Kings Park Community Center for Black History Month; and, the Kings Park Community Center staff have scheduled a field trip to the historical Tubman Museum in Macon, GA for the after school program youth on February 22nd.
Kings Park Community Center – After School Program Literacy Group Kings Park Community Development Corporation – Founders and Initial Incorporators
Another activity planned for the month is for the youth to learn about the rich cultural, historical history of the Kings Park neighborhood that includes learning about the initial founders and incorporators of the Kings Park Community Development Corporation; and, to respect their elders upon whose shoulders our history, adversity and daily struggles in Kings Park rest.
The Kings Park Community Center, in East Macon, started off the 2022 Black History Month with a new book club. Special thanks to Mr. Kelvin Melvin, CEO/Founder, of MGB INC., who is also a center coordinator at the Kings Park Community Center, for securing of a great amount of brand, new books written by African American authors and wall art.
– Marcus Bryant, Center Coordinator II, Kings Park Community Center-East Macon, Bibb County, GA
Donations were secured from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and NFL All Pro, DeSean Jackson.
MGB INC. (Men Giving Back), a community-based initiative, in Macon, GA reached out to NFL All Pro, DeSean Jackson, of the Las Vegas Raiders, to support the Kings Park Community Center after school program, that was in dire need of brand new, culturally-diverse and gender-specific books for academic and cultural enrichment. The Kings Park Community Center coordinators said that Mr. Jackson’s donation will meet a critical gap in the academic inequity of disadvantaged youth in the marginalized community that the Kings Park Community Center serves through the after school program, proposed summer academic programs; and, preparing the program participants for college and life.
DeSean Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders, Wide Receiver and DeSean Jackson Foundation, CEO/Founder
The DeSean Jackson Foundation (“DJF”) was founded by DeSean Jackson and his mother, Gayle Jackson, in memory of his father, Bill, who died from Pancreatic Cancer in 2009 during DeSean’s rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles, for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness and advocacy for inequity in access to quality healthcare and education in the predominantly Black and other marginalized communities. During Jackson’s 14-year career in the NFL, the Jacksons have been successful in expanding the reach of DJF in all of the NFL franchise markets where DeSean has played (Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders) and his home town of Los Angeles. In addition, DeSean embraces opportunities to collaborate with present and former NFL players who desire to Inspire Change in their communities.
Our Vision: One Team, One Purpose
“Building a path out of poverty through educational equity”, states DeSean Jackson, “is a pillar of our non-profit focus on Education Equity for Kids in Need. Our purpose is as bold as my career moves on the field as it is urgent: To create systematic change, To ensure equal access to quality education and To empower all the children in need who we are privileged to serve.” It is imperative that we foster an ongoing love of reading-because reading is foundational and fundamental to everything we do; and, it is unconscionable that millions of children are growing up in book deserts without access to books and the opportunity to open up a world of possibilities, enabling more children to explore places far beyond their neighborhoods.
We have lots of help developing the new Kings Park Community Center Resource Center
Kings Park Community Center, East Macon, was in dire need of Christmas gifts and candies for distribution during the holiday season to the youth in the community especially those who participate in the after school program. The Kings Park community is in a marginalized, disenfranchised blighted area and lacks the resources, revenue and facility infrastructure that other facilities under MBC. Therefore, collaborative partnerships with community and faith-based organizations are crucial to its sustainability.
MGB INC. a local community-based initiative, consisting of men who are dedicated towards fostering the relationships between fathers and their children, their families and the community, agreed to assist the Kings Park Community and neighborhood association with the annual Christmas Coloring Contest competition at the Kings Park Community Center.
Competition was extremely fierce and highly-competitive.
MGB INC. provided prizes for First, Second and Third Place winners.
MGB INC. provided the beautiful First Place prize.
MGB Inc. (Men Giving Back), a community-based, initiative founded by former USFL and NFL player, Kelvin Middleton, is the recipient of the prestigious NFL Foundation Players’ Community Service Match grant.
About the NFL Foundation Players’ Community Match Grant Program
This grant is designed to provide nonprofit organizations with funding of up to $5,000 on behalf of a current or former NFL player who has donated financially to a nonprofit organization doing work to better the community . This grant allows NFL players and Legends to help support broad community efforts through the work of nonprofit organizations. Areas of support include, but are not limited to, Disease Prevention and Awareness, Mental Health, Youth Health & Fitness, Military Appreciation, Disaster Relief, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Character Education, Anti-Bullying, Animal Welfare, etc. In order to be eligible for match funding (1:1 match must be provided by the current or former NFL player applicant),
DeSean Jackson states that he chose MGB Inc. and its founder, Kelvin Middleton because of the exemplary work that they are doing in the community; and, his admiration for Middleton’s decision to return to Macon after his NFL career ended to make a difference in his community.
Furthermore, Gayle Jackson, DeSean’s mother and Co-Founder of the DeSean Jackson Foundation, states that another reason why they chose to support Kelvin’s organization is because it has always been extremely important for DeSean, throughout his 14 years in the NFL, to learn as much about the NFL’s virtually unknown Legends; and, to give them the respect that they are rightfully due. “To DeSean, Mr. Middleton is one of those Legends”, states Mrs. Jackson. In 1987, Kelvin Middleton was a Pittsburgh Steeler during the infamous NFL players’ strike that divided teams, friends, loyalties and resulted in replacements of players who refused to cross the picket lines; and, the solidarity set the precedence for free agency. Kelvin choose not to cross the picket lines which ended his NFL career; and, to my son, DeSean, Kelvin Middleton is a Legend.
We are honored to present Mr. Middleton with this grant of behalf of the NFL Foundation and the DeSean Jackson Foundation.”
Donnie Shell, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2020 National Football League Hall of FamerDonnie Shell, Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2020 NFL Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony
Congratulatory Message:
Congratulations, Donnie! It is a blessing to be your former Pittsburgh Steeler teammate; but, more important to be privileged to be considered your friend. Your hard work and dedication were an inspiration to me both on and off the field. I continue to aspire to emulate the pillars of family, service, purpose and passion that you instilled in all of the young men who looked to you for leadership, vision and wisdom during the trials and tribulations of the 1987 NFL season–the darkest in NFL history.
May the Lord continue to bless you, Paulette and your family; and, I pray that your contributions will have an everlasting impact on the lives of others as it has on mine. – Kelvin Middleton, Pittsburgh Steelers #37
[[Both Donnie Shell and Kelvin Middleton were mentored by and played under the leadership of Coach Willie E. Jeffries. Jeffries became the first Black head football coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program at a predominantly white college when he coached at Wichita State University where Middleton was an outstanding defensive back. Jeffries also served as the head football coach at South Carolina State University for 19 seasons in two stints (1973-1978, 1989-2001) were Donnie Shell was an outstanding defensive back.
Donnie, the Torpedo” Shell, Pittsburgh Steelers (1987 Photo)Donnie Shell #311987 Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defensive Coach Tony Dungy and the Defensive Backs (Kelvin Middleton is #37, 2nd in the depth chart behind #31 Donnie Shell)
Published on August, 7, 2021, by Mike Asti, Steelers Now
Re-Post by: Men Giving Back, Macon, GA, 8/9/21
CANTON, Ohio – It’s often said good things come to those who wait. That absolutely embodies Donnie Shell finally being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Shell, now 68-years-old, who played his last NFL game in 1987 had to wait until 2021 before experiencing the honor of being able to deliver a speech on stage in Canton, Ohio, a speech others who had to endure a long wait were not as fortunate to be alive to deliver when they finally got the call.
[The 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense that year was lead by defensive coach, Tony Dungy, and included Donnie Shell (#31), Kelvin Middleton (#37), from Macon, GA, second in the depth chart behind Shell, Chris Sheffield (#41), from Thomasville, GA.]
It’s possible having to wait only makes Shell’s induction that much sweeter for a man whose NFL career was all about conquering adversity. After going undrafted in 1974, the odds were certainly stacked against Shell from ever being immortalized in the halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But Shell conquered those odds and will now live forever in Canton.
Donnie Shell and his daughter unveil the 2020 HOF enshrinement bust.
Shell started his speech off by asking for the large crowd of Pittsburgh Steelers fans in attendance to wave their Terrible Towels. As fans waved their towels with furosity, Shell began thanking those who helped raise him in Whitmire, South Carolina before proceeding to tell a story of an inspirational message Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll told him when the Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Shell, who attended South Carolina State University, mentioned how proud he is to be among the distinguished Hall of Famers from a historically Black land-grant institution.
The 4-time Super Bowl champion, 5-time Pro Bowler, 3-time First-Team All-Pro who recorded 51 career interceptions as one of the best safeties in football history, Shell can now add Hall of Famer next his name.
For the past several months our CEO/Founder, Kelvin Middleton, has been meeting with representative from Mercer University to advocate for academic student tutors for the Kings Park Community After School Program that serves disadvantaged youth in a marginalized community in East Macon. Middleton cultivated a partnership between Macon-Bibb County Parks Department, Kings Park Community Development Corporation, Bibb County Public Schools in an effort to launch a pilot literacy program at the Kings Park Community Center where he is a Center Coordinator.
Subsequent meetings and communications between Mr. Middleton and Lauren Shinholster, Mercer University, Coordinator of Community Engagement, Carrie Ingoldsby, Mercer University, Director-Campus Life & Student Engagement, Emily Ogdobo, Mercer University, Mercer Me Serve and Robert Walker, Macon-Bibb County, Director-Parks Department culminated with the approval of the Kings Park Community Center as a site for the 2022-2023 Mercer University Pilot Program. The pilot program will begin in November 2022. Mercer University eventually hopes to replicate this model.
Furthermore, Mr. Middleton assisted Mercer University staff with the research and writing of a 2022 Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant to fund the Kings Park Community-East Macon literacy pilot program. On October 10, Mercer University advised Middleton they were awarded a $3,839 grant from Dollar General to purchase the literacy curriculum; and, Dr. Luther, of their Education Department has agreed to assist with training the Mercer volunteers once the curriculum arrives.
Our sincere thanks to Ms. Lauren Shinholster!
Kelvin Middleton and Lauren Shinholster, Mercer University, Site Visit
For More Information About Mercer University’s Center for Community Engagement and Ms. Shinholser, please read the follow article:
Lauren Shinholster connects students, faculty with service opportunities
Lauren Shinholster is the coordinator of community engagement at Mercer.
It’s no secret that service is one of the pillars of Mercer. At a University where “everyone majors in changing the world,” students are encouraged to get involved in the community early and regularly, and there are many ways that they achieve that.
Mercer’s Center for Community Engagement connects Macon students with volunteer opportunities, and Lauren Shinholster is the coordinator who works behind the scenes to make that happen. The Center served more than 2,800 students through its programs and events during the 2020-21 academic year.
“Service has always been something I’ve been passionate about. I believe deeply that we have to use our gifts and talents to serve the community. I’ve always been called to serve,” she said.
In Florida, Shinholster worked with elementary and middle school students as a community educator for the bicycle and pedestrian safety program at All Children’s Hospital. Two weeks after her husband’s job with Geico brought them to Macon, Shinholster saw the listing for the coordinator of community engagement position at Mercer. She liked the idea of taking on a community educator role in which she would be working with college students.
“When I read the job description, I was like ‘This is me.’ It really spoke to my interests in public service. It was the perfect position at the perfect time,” she said.
Having served in this role for four years now, Shinholster is in charge of a number of service initiatives. She oversees volunteer efforts hosted by MerServe, the University’s student service leadership board, including events like Service Saturdays, Be a Good NeighBear, Spring Break for Service, MLK Day of Service, Lights on Afterschool and Hunger Week. Last year, MerServe hosted 32 events that attracted 1,500 attendees and resulted in nearly 1,600 volunteer hours.
Mercer students prepared and served breakfast for families at the Ronald McDonald House as part of MerServe’s 2019 Spring Break for Service.
MerServe members set the stage for what they want to do, and Shinholster identifies partners and ensures that work sites are safe and job tasks are appropriate.
“Ms. Shinholster and the Center for Community Engagement are the driving force behind the significant service opportunities available to Macon students,” said Dr. Kathy Kloepper, vice provost of engaged learning and director of Research that Reaches Out. “Ms. Shinholster’s passion for bringing together Mercerians and community partners for productive collaboration is clear in the incredible service contributions made throughout the year through such initiatives as Be a Good NeighBear and virtual and in-person tutoring through Read2Succeed.”
Shinholster does a lot of “matchmaking” between Mercerians and local organizations. She seeks out opportunities that are going to be meaningful to students while fitting their schedules.
Many Mercer professors incorporate service-learning into their classes, and they often consult Dr. Kloepper; Hannah Vann Nabi, associate director of the Quality Enhancement Plan; or Shinholster for advice and direction.
“I’ll get the random student that comes in saying, ‘I really want to do some volunteer work, but I don’t know where to start,’” Shinholster said. “Sometimes it’s driven by a class, so they may have some research they want to do or a project and need guidance on how to set a plan in motion. But on the other side, a lot of the (service opportunities) are coming from our community partners. They may have needs but may not have the human capital to get it done.”
Mercer’s longtime community partners include the Fuller Center for Housing in Macon, Campus Clubs after-school program, Daybreak Center, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful, the United Way and the Bibb County School District.
“For any business, you have to show off all the good that you’re doing. For Mercer, it’s authentic, genuine care for the community and our students,” she said. “They really buy into changing the world. The opportunity to do it through all the service events really allows students to walk the walk. I don’t think you get that everywhere.”
Shinholster is also involved in campus voter engagement initiatives. She has advised Mobilize Mercer for the past four years, helping members as they competed in voter participation contests, registered students to vote, and hosted debate watch parties and election night parties. Last year, the group hosted 13 voter engagement events and co-sponsored an early voting pep rally.
In 2020, Mercer was recognized for its high student voter participation during the SoCon Votes competition and ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The University was also named an Ask Every Student Commitment Campus.
Political science students set up on Cruz Plaza for National Voter Registration Day in 2020.
Tutoring initiatives are a big chunk of Shinholster’s responsibilities, as she coordinates the paperwork involved, gets students hired and trained, and helps arrange transportation to tutoring sites. Each year, at least 200 Mercer students tutor Bibb County children in math and/or reading for the United Way’s Read2Succeed program and the America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) federal work-study program.
Tutors worked with students in 12 elementary schools and Campus Clubs this past year, and three additional schools will participate during the upcoming school year.
Some Mercer professors — including those teaching integrated curriculum (INT) 101, INT 201, life skills for first-year student-athletes, psychology, and law and public policy — have their students become Read2Succeed tutors as a service-learning aspect of their courses.
“It’s so easy to take for granted things that are part of your job, but when I hear from students how transformative an experience was for them, it makes me so grateful to play a small part in that,” Shinholster said.
Due to the pandemic, participation in Read2Succeed last year was restricted to the ARAC work-study tutors, who piloted virtual tutoring through the Microsoft Teams platform, and service-learning classes and other student volunteers, who created read-aloud videos instead.
Rebuilding and expanding tutoring services will be a major priority for the upcoming year, Shinhoster said. Service-learning tutoring will resume through virtual methods. The Center for Community Engagement hopes to hire 150 ARAC work-study tutors, and the United Way will hire a limited number of non-work-study tutors.
Another of Shinholster’s goals for the 2021-22 year is to work on changing the way the community and its needs are framed. Students often hear about the negative aspects of Macon, which doesn’t paint a fair picture.
“I’m hoping to grow our non-service community engagement and have our students go out to all the amazing events that are going on in our community. I want our students to see themselves and the community as tremendous assets,” she said.
MGB INC. (Men Giving Back) played an integral role in helping the historical Kings Park Community neighborhood association plan and execute its annual Easter Hunt for the youth in the Kings Park Community. The event was held at the Kings Park Community Center in East Macon and was hosted by the Kings Park Community neighborhood association and well attended by approximately 40 children, their parents/guardians, Kings Park residents and a Macon-Bibb Co. recreation staff member.
Kelvin Middleton, CEO, of MGB INC., was instrumental in securing in-kind donations and sponsorships from NFL All Pro, DeSean Jackson, MGB INC., and local community stakeholders for decorations, plastic and gold eggs, baskets, candy and door prizes. Macon-Bibb Co. Parks & Recreation provided a small monetary donations that were placed in the gold eggs hidden in the grass and some food. The neighborhood association provided additional food and oversaw the event.
MGB INC Partners with Men About Change to Target Youth Obesity in Macon, GA
MGB INC(Men Giving Back) and Men About Change, two African American male, community-based organizations have developed a partnership to target escalating youth obesity in Macon, GA. The program launched, on Monday, at the Men About Change after school program
According to The Telegraph (2018), a report by the New York University School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health ranked Macon as one of the highest in rates of obesity among larger Georgia cities. The City of Health Dashboard tracks 36 measures affecting health for the 500 largest cities (those with populations of about 66,000 or more). Diabetes rates in the cities assessed in Georgia ranged from a low of 7.2% of adults in Sandy Springs (a more affluent community) to a high of 16.7% in Macon, Georgia where children and families are physically inactive.
Many adverse health effects are associated with overweight and are observed in children and adolescents: increased morbidity & mortality in later life, Asthma, Diabetes (Type 2), Hypertension, Orthopedic complications, Sleep Apnea, Psycho-social Effects & Stigma, taunting & bullying by peers, depression & suicidal tendencies.
MGB INC will provide free health and fitness programs [NFL Play 60, My Plate nutrition program, Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) program and a prominent national program recreational running program that targets sedentary lifestyles.
Men About Change is housed on the campus of Glorious Hope Baptist Church, Macon, GA, under the leadership of senior pastor, Dr. John Herring. Pastor Herring and Glorious Hope Baptist Church have partnered with Men About Change and provides meeting space, financial support and mentors to sustain and grow the initiative. Men About Change provides academic support, cultural enrichment, behavior modification and emotional support to well over 100 boys and girls per session from Pre-K to 8th grade.
MGB INC. - Men Giving Back 