NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Twelve hours per day, six days per week, the men of Community First are on station in a 71-year-old public housing community just outside downtown Norfolk.
Their goal?
Restore the village.
Clay Marques is the leader of the group, and at 52-years-old, he knows his way around the block after spending time behind bars.
Regina Mobley: What have you learned about this community in the past three months?
Clay Marques: I learned there are a lot of brilliant young children out here. It’s a lot of people out here that love their community,” Marques said. The organization is under contract with the city of Norfolk to provide services to a community in need.
Calling Young Terrace — the last of the large public housing communities near downtown — a food desert doesn’t begin to describe the myriad deficiencies and serious problems that have harmed families for decades.
Before the arrival of the Community First, Marques said many seniors were afraid to sit outside their homes while children were afraid to play outside. Breea Caldwell has three young children.
“My kids go to the Boys and Girls Club right there and then come right back,”
The men of Community First offer safety for children and a helping hand for seniors.
“Well, actually, on Thursdays, the food bank comes in and drops off food,” Marques said. “And a lot of the residents that live out here can’t get the food back to their apartment. So a lot of the guys help them.”
Resident Jarell Jones applauds the efforts to help the young and the not-so-young in his community. Jones said the Community First team also helps to ease tensions between police and residents.
“I see y’all walking around the neighborhood keeping everything safe,” Jones said. “I’ve seen some incidents when cops had to come to some people’s doors, y’all be there.
Saturday morning, Community First and partners will host a 2K walk called Victory over Violence.
“It’s a fun walk and it’s for the youth and is for anybody,” Marques said. “They want to come out here and walk. We just want to bring youngsters back to the rightful place that it belongs. And we’re just coming together.”
The first wave departs from the MLK Memorial at East Brambleton Avenue and Church Street at 10 a.m. For more information call “Ant”: at 757-632-0580 or Clay at 757-738-8792.
