Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus X Russell.
Hi Marcus, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I became a community activist in 2019 while being a campaign manager for Davante P. Peters. We really wanted to change the narrative in our community and after we loss the election for Dallas City council District 3 we decided to still fulfill what campaign promises that we could as ordinary citizens. Out of that, we formed the Community Engagement Specialist (CES) a community safety program… Myself, Davante, and Yafeuh spearheaded this movement to provides food programs, community cleans ups and health fairs in underserved communities in the DFW area and our Nonprofit Commissary Is Very Necessary Inc was birthed out of this movement of which I am the CO-President & Co-founder. We are what I like to call a covid organization meaning we were created in a pandemic.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has never been smooth from the beginning it wasn’t many of us, no support from the city, and our resources were limited. A constant uphill battle but we were resilient, we feed the community, providing leadership for the youth and safety. Even after attempts on our life, we continued to move mountains and save lives. I remember a resident told us we turned the community from Death Row to I Have a Dream Lane. Then covid hit and it made the work harder but it also made us smarter. We able to bring new solutions to pandemic problems. It really show us the need in these hard-to-reach communities we had been working in. Over the past few years, we have evolved and work in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Baltimore.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Commissary Is Very Necessary Inc being a charity organization that provides communal services to underserved communities. We bring health fairs directly into the community. We bring nutritionists, nurses, and doctors to combat the underlying health problems in our neighborhoods. We provide free financial literacy workshops that deals with structuring a family business all the way to grant writing. With our feeding program bring food directly into homes where there is a need as well as giving high school students an opportunity to serve and get needed community service hours for college scholarships. We are most proud of our Nature Smart Learning Academy at Advanced Preparatory International High school which teaches students Agricultural, environmentalism, and Aquaponics preparing for the future of green jobs, farming, and sustainability. We also have events such as environmental justice tours, documentaries, and holiday events. If your apartment or elderly living center needs a health fair, food drive, or want financial literacy contract us. We also recently moved to a for-profit/nonprofit hybrid that will bring growth to grassroots business focused on philanthropy.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Eliezer Vasquez & North Texas Legal Aid helped me with my legal filings, The Highland Hills community for embracing us. Guerilla Mainframe showed us the way, Dallas Sierra Cub backed us financially on projects. Lone Star Human Services encouraged us to become who we are. American Black Cross supported us with resources. Black Empowerment Movement volunteered manpower. Black Panther Party gave us wisdom. Nation Of Islam for showing solidarity. North Texas Food Bank provided the food for our events. Suits for Judah volunteered for documenting our stories. Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk and The Memnosyne Foundation for providing advisory support. Olinka Green and the Poor Peoples Campaign provided opportunities. Hopeful Solutions provided space to do events. College Park’s baptist church showed us compassion. Alkaline Hour for providing us healthier options. Earth X and Socialwyze for the grant opportunities. The Skip Shockley foundation for helping us grow. Volunteering While Black helping in our vision. The Ellis County African American Hall of fame museum. for making us part of history. I also want to thank Oakcliff Veggie Project for educating us in gardening. Rev Peter Johnson for believing in us. Life Bound Wellness for teaching us wholistic health. I Speak Foxey for having the courage to be our voice of healing and compassion to those hurting. Advanced Preparatory International for allowing us to educate their kids. Tamia & Lakia of Lashimi Bass for their innovative ideas. Civn FW, Civn Houston, Civn Baltimore. Thank you to our Executive Director D’Ashleigh Brooks and Oshun health director Jacqueline Green for leading by example. And Brady Harper for holding the torch for CES.
Pricing:
- $150-600 business filings/workshop free
- $500-1000 grant writing/workshop free
- Free & contract Health Fairs
- Free & contract Summer Programs
- Free & contract building green spaces
Contact Info:
- Email: marcusx@civn.org
- Website: https://www.commissaryisverynecessary.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commissaryisverynecessary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CIVNINC/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CIVNINC/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8lF3iYokzmzvgZO3iQPn8g
Image Credits
Lejoseph Johnson
Derric Taylor
D’ Ashley Brooks
Edward Sebesta
