Youth organization MIA makes return visit to Milton

MILTON — Men In Action Outreach, the youth mentorship nonprofit, held a workshop on legacy at the Milton Community Center. The last time MIA held an event in Milton was a back-to-school event in 2016.

For those who don’t remember MIA, President Morris "Moe" Smith with volunteers held workshops for area youth to foster character growth, got school supplies to students who needed them, played basketball and other games with the kids and more.

At the time, MIA President Morris Smith said he and his family made the decision to move to Atlanta for the greater economic opportunities.

"As far as being happy and financially stable, everything pointed in the Atlanta direction, he said in 2016. "Of course, growth and opportunity goes along with happiness."

Smith said MIA MIA shut its doors at the time since he could not find someone to take his place running day-to-day operations.

So is MIA back? Not exactly.

Smith said he took a broader position with MIA as the coordinator over chapters in not only Milton but also Atlanta and Tallahassee.

"With that I need folks to step up," he said, Saturday. "I’m going to the Chamber, first."

The Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce will be his first stop in looking for a local leader to take his place in Milton.

Smith held Saturday’s workshop in conjunction with Guy Thompson Community Center’s Coach Bubba and Pensacola nonprofit 2Wins.

When not working as a railcar technician out of Pace at Eastman Chemical, Bubba uses basketball as a vehicle to mentor youth at the community center.

A self-described sports and life coach, he said, "I want to be an impact. I’ve built a lot of relationships with kids and families officially since 2011…I want to motivate kids to believe in themselves, to be accountable and socially competent, to know what’s going on in the world…Kids need people to believe in them so they can believe in themselves."

2Wins not only uses basketball to reach kids, but also chess.

Jerimey and Jermaine Tart are the president and VP of the roughly two-year-old organization.

Speakers like a Walmart general manager, a personal trainer and a makeup artist spoke to youth at 2Wins events, "someone they can touch," Jermaine said. These speakers represented achievable success, according to Jermaine, unlike NFL or NBA stars.

Incorporating chess into the 2Wins curriculum builds up youth in a number of areas, according to Jermaine, including self esteem, memory, problem solving.

"I can feel myself getting smarter," Jermaine said, quoting a 2Wins youth participant.

2Wins also cares about the community as much as the individual. 2Wins takes part in MAD activities, making a difference. These could be a community cleanup, a shoe drive or helping other organizations like the epilepsy foundation, Jermaine said.

The workshop Saturday involved teaching the youth about legacy. Smith and the other leaders discussed with the youth famous people who left a legacy like President John Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.

"What do you want to leave behind?" Smith asked the kids.

He talked about the superior importance of good character over money.

"If I had all the money in the world, but I treated everyone bad, would you want to be around me?" he asked them.

Regarding raising his own children, Smith said, "What I teach them is more important than money. If I leave my kids $500,000, I better teach them how to keep that $500,000."

Smith also addressed family versus individual legacy.

"Your legacy lives through others…It can start with you. It can stop with you. Are you living a life worth somebody talking about?"

Follow the Press Gazette to see when the next MIA event will take place.