Running Rebels Community Organization is opening an east location at 225 West Capitol Drive in the new year.

Founder Victor Barnett says it's to better serve the community.

The  1300A West Fond du lac Avenue location is well over a century old.

Barnett says since its inception in 1980, Running Rebels has created a vibrant youth and community center located in the thriving Lindsey Heights Neighborhood.

But, as the needs of the community and the organization continue to grow, it has become apparent that the Running Rebels Central location simply would not have the capacity to accommodate the optimum outlook that the organization envisioned for the future.

“We’re enthusiastic about the opportunity to do even more for youth, families and the entire Milwaukee community,” says Barnett. 

The east location is a modern facility that was designed specifically for the provision of youth education, recreation, and social services.

Since its inception in 1980, RRCO has sought to become Milwaukee’s premier community-based mentoring organization for Black youth with a focus on boys, teen boys, and young men.

Running Rebels offers a powerful and comprehensive set of prevention, empowerment and intervention programs & services.

They focus on building stable, lifelong relationships and strong character traits such as accountability, integrity and personal & academic achievement. 

Running Rebels currently has a staff of 65 full-time employees and serves approximately 1,500 youth annually through the following programs:

Mentoring & Crisis Stabilization

Juvenile Justice Services

In-school Violence-Free Zones

Athletics

 After-School/Summer Educational Enrichment

Community Organizing

Workforce Development Services

Although athletics, especially basketball, have been core program elements from the start of Running Rebels, the organization has never had its own gymnasium.

Acquisition of the new 225 West Capitol location is a dream come true.

“We are beyond excited and grateful for the new opportunity to not only continue the work we currently do in Lindsey Heights, but also to be able to expand to the beautiful Harambee Neighborhood” stated Co Executive Director Dawn Barnett.

The purchase of the new building was an opportunity made possible with the assistance and support of the Zilber Family Foundation who contributed an initial $500,000 along with an additional $500,000 matching grant to be received once the fundraising goal of 2.5M is met.

Other key supporters of the project include IFF, Alderwoman Milele Coggs, Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, Attorney Douglas French (Mallery & Zimmerman, S.C.), The Boerke Company and Lad Lake.