This morning as children across the nation began their
journeys back into developing their minds
Roosevelt Elementary School
to welcome the children to their first day. Principal Sharonda Alleyne and many
of her stuff where elated at the idea and pleased beyond recognition on the
smiles that came across the children’s face.
they were treated to something
unexpected but undoubtedly sufficient. Several black men ranging from various
ages and walks of life had gather into the halls.
What took place next was part of a movement brought on by
Commissioner Cory Neering.
The call of action
inspire a group of diverse males to come together cheering and giving the youth
“Hi-Five” as they begin the school year. A project community activist/leader
Ricky Aiken would later go on to explain.
Ricky Aiken, founder
Inner City Innovators was one of the
many men who accepted the call. Being a product of this very environment,
growing up with a troublesome past in Dunbar Village. Aiken stands as a testimony
to Tupac’s ‘
A Rose that Grew from the Concrete’. Aiken has a very strong
sense of investment in his community. So it was only fitting that he spearhead
the project taking place in Roosevelt Elementary School where he once upon a
time attended.
We spoke to Ricky about what took place, the future goal and
more.
Exhibit Treal: How do you feel today went?
Ricky Aiken:
“I feel like today
was a very powerful event. For our youth to come back to school, meeting a group
of black males greeting them… introducing them and are EXCITED about them
being
here… I think that’s a powerful message. Because when you take all the
stereotypes in the media about us… It’s on us to get back out there and do some
PR among ourselves. That means showing up at schools, speaking to kids…
whatever we got to do to change the narrative about Black Men in America I
think we to be about doing.”
Exhibit Treal: What inspired this today?
Ricky Aiken:
“Commissioner Cory Neering has a project called “Ties That Bind” where he builds relationships with older gentlemen and the younger
generation to give them skills needed to grow into adulthood. So this is just
an extension of that. We wanted to get into the schools and really impact the
young people on their way in.”
Exhibit Treal: How do you think this impacted the youth? If you were a
child; how do you think this would have impacted you?
Ricky Aiken:
“If I was a kid growing up and I look up and I see all these
successful men waiting for me at my school to great me, it would’ve sent me a
very powerful message about myself. I’ll see that I don’t have to settle to be
a drug dealer or a gang-banger, but that I could be an artist like my man JaFleu
or I can be a community activist like myself… there are so many other things I
could be. There was a quote that I saw that I liked and it said that ‘Our
children will be what they see”. So I’m proud that they saw us".
Exhibit Treal: What are you hoping for next year?
Ricky Aiken: “This group, I call ‘The Faithful Few’. You’d of thought we
had 100 men in that hallway but there was just 12 of us. Next year man, I want
to see this halls decked with 50 to 100 guys waiting to introduce and greet our
students because there’s power in numbers man. If those kids felt good about us
greeting them, imagine if we had a whole army of guys with us. So I want this to
grow and become revolutionary. I want it to a new school year tradition that we
start in the black community.”
Exhibit Treal: What message would you like to leave with the people?
Ricky Aiken: "My number one slogan is this ‘Be the change we want to see
in our community. And if
you see something that’s not right, you have to
standup and do something about it. Be
the solution to the problems we face as a people. I want to challenge you. Find
your lane and get going. That’s all it takes to be a change in our community.”
Exhibit Treal has been on a roll... one that seems to have no end. Starting with Aug 26th, where we kicked off what we dubbed "Thee Certified Treal" Art Tour. Starting with "Rising Black Greatness" held at The Bombshell Boutique. 
After a brief week of a break, things were launch back into motion with back to back to back events. On Sept 9th.... Exhibit Treal held a pop-up art show during Palm Beaches longest running open mic The Stage's "The Art of Poetry".
And finally on Sunday, Sept 11th. Marking the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, this exhibition of your artists address many devastating issues minorities face in America. It was held at The Historic Jenkins House and presented by Artists Showcase of the Palm Beaches. This exhibition originally was to run until Sept 17th but has been extended to the rest of the month. More details soon!
they were treated to something
unexpected but undoubtedly sufficient. Several black men ranging from various
ages and walks of life had gather into the halls. 
Ricky Aiken, founder Inner City Innovators was one of the
many men who accepted the call. Being a product of this very environment,
growing up with a troublesome past in Dunbar Village. Aiken stands as a testimony
to Tupac’s ‘A Rose that Grew from the Concrete’. Aiken has a very strong
sense of investment in his community. So it was only fitting that he spearhead
the project taking place in Roosevelt Elementary School where he once upon a
time attended. 
Ricky Aiken: “Commissioner Cory Neering has a project called “Ties That Bind” where he builds relationships with older gentlemen and the younger
generation to give them skills needed to grow into adulthood. So this is just
an extension of that. We wanted to get into the schools and really impact the
young people on their way in.”
Exhibit Treal: What are you hoping for next year? 
"A people may become great through many means, but there is only one
measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final
measure of the greatness of all peoples is the amount and standard of
the literature and art they have produced.... No people that has
produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world
as distinctly inferior." - James Weldon Johnson
In a day and age where we bare witness countless
times to the struggle of being black in America. It is of extreme
importance that the arts celebrate who we are So Exhibit Treal returns
with "Rising Black Greatness". An exhibition of all that is Black
Excellence.
"Why is it important for us to see art that is representative of
ourselves? Because it’s more important on how I view myself other than
what the world says about me. And through this will inspire others to
view themselves that way. God and I know me best…. So each stroke gives
off a certain energy to my piece that no one else can generate. I’ll die
if I eat all the lies that they say." - Tracy Guiteau 
"Growing up in Today's society. Black excellence is an oxy moron. Our
culture has influenced the world with little to no recognition. However,
our people have not let society determine how great we will be. We have
taken a world that removed the welcome mat and we decided to avoid
doors because we aim for the skies. doors in my eyes are obstacles.
Black excellence is the standard for beauty, music, fashion, food and of
course art! As an black artist I am influenced immensely by my culture.
Our body is nothing short of the glory of God and I enjoy showing
others how beautiful we are as a people with my perspective of light,
color and line. So, I am black excellence and my art is a reflection of
such." - Orealjinal Desijns
"They say what it do/ But never do what it do/ Words, promises and
relationships, sometimes I fell through/ RIP to the stew/ I'm writing
lines for the juice/ I'm a do what I do, when I don't know what to do"- Maverick
Maverick
is an artist and performer based out of Palm Beach, Florida.The
inspiration for his unique blend of sound comes from many different
shades of hip-hop and R&B, from the warmth of the old school to the
punch of the current era. His music echoes the work of influential
talents such as Lil Wayne, T Pain or Eminem, just to mention a few. The
strength of Maverick's vision is the way the energy of the sound
combines with the thought-provoking lyrical flow, bridging the gaps
between great melodies and thought-provoking songwriting. Find out more
and let the music do the rest of the talking. 
Visit his site: http://www.94maverick.com/ 
The movement to continue pushing the importance of literacy in our community is still going strong Exhibit Treal: "Rising Black Greatness" Art Exhibit we would love for you to donate novels, comics etc all forms of literature for our #WeLIT community book fair. We'll have books on hand from pass ones as well