Sunday, August 28, 2011
YOUNGSTOWN
Members of the Reign Supreme Motorcycle Club hope the small backyard behind 1467 Stewart Ave. will be the starting point for a change in the community, the city and, most importantly, the lives of young people.
There is nothing out of the ordinary about the East Side home. There is a patio at the rear of house with about 30 yards of open grass and a garage. It is not the setup of the property that makes it special to the motorcycle group, but instead what takes place at the house.
Every Sunday, and sometimes throughout the week, children from the surrounding area converge on the house with blankets, pillows and maybe a light snack. They lay the blankets out in the backyard and prepare to watch movies and joke with members of the club and other young people.
Members of the club use a projector to show movies on the broadside of a garage with specially placed white boards to serve as a makeshift screen. In recent weeks, the group has played movies such as “Hoodwinked” and “Rio.”
Anna “Fast Lightn” Jones, Reign Supreme secretary, said adults come and enjoy the movies and community fellowship with the children, but the focus always is on making sure the kids have a good time, and stay off the streets and out of trouble.
“That is our whole objective, our whole outlook, to look out for the kids and give them something to do,” she said. “You just have to try and focus on getting younger kids and keep them out of the streets.”
Charlene “Ladyskull” Jones, Reign Supreme business manager, said the movies routinely draw more than 50 children ranging in age from as young as 4 up through their late teens. The outdoor movie nights started earlier this year when she opted for the projector instead of a television for a birthday gift.
“I sacrificed my birthday gift to buy this projector for the kids. I have enough television sets, and this was for the kids. We want to give them something fun to do,” she said.
Club members spread the word about planned movie nights by passing out fliers in the neighborhood and the nearby Victory Housing Development. Sometimes, however, the movie nights happen impromptu and still draw a decent number of kids.
The club recently gave away 100 bookbags filled with school supplies to area youngsters. After receiving school supplies, most of the kids came to the house and spent the evening watching three movies and eating pizza in the yard.
The Reign Supreme Motorcycle Club has been established for little more than a year, but Charlene Jones said it is a nonprofit organization and looking to make a difference in the community beyond the world of motorcycles. She said the group would like to acquire a building and start a community center, eventually expanding to place a community center on each side of town.