1992—  “Governor’s Home Town Award” as one of Illinois best volunteer programs

1997—Ken Martin (president) named “Citizen of the Year”

1998—Article in Wall street Journal,

KC Martin at age 12 addressed a Congressional Committee in Washington D.C. for Youth Empowerment

Nominated as 4th overall of 300 “Best Things in Quad Cities”

“Best Neighborhood Award” for soccer and JA programs

“Iowa and Illinois Supplier Development Council Award Excellence in the Community”

1999—Prestigious “Points of Light Award” one of the nations best volunteer programs

Letters of Commendation from Presidents Bush, Clinton, Senator Durbin and Congressmen Evans

Nominated for “Better Business Integrity Award for non-profit Organizations”

“Distinguished Community Service Award”— Rock Island Rotary club

“Black Achievement Award”— blacks in government

“Community Excellence Award”— Community Caring Council

Ken Martin (president) 2 certificates of Appreciation from Nation Child Labor Committee

Charlene Lawson and Barry Tabron voted “Volunteers of the Year”

Mr. Tabron recognized as E.E.O. “Person of the Year” by Rock Island Arsenal

Landmark 70,000 contact hours logged by MYP volunteers for the year 1999

2000—Ken Martin (president) nominated for “Lewis Hine Award”

Surpass 70,000 hours logged by volunteers

2001— 3rd year surpass 70,000 contact hours with kids

Ken Martin (president) nominated for “Lewis Hine Award” 2nd year in a row

2002— Choir honored as “Best Youth Choir” at Quad City gospel fest

9 out of 10 students who graduated from area schools were accepted into college

Moses Robinson nominated “Quad Cities Best Leader Under 40”

Another year over 70,000 contact hours

class presidents for Rock Island High School are Metro children

Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Rock Island High School has 12 all state athletes 5 of them are Metro children

2003— MYP in Indianapolis Circle City Classic made front page

21 of 25 graduated and accepted in college

Over 75,000 contact hours exceeding previous 4 years

2004— Argus/Dispatch names MYP member “Quad City Youth to Watch”

MYP won Best Drum line and Champions in first ever Atlanta Regional Championship

MYP honored special guest by 17,000 strong congregation at Hopewell Baptist Church (Georgia)

Ken Martin (president) presented with “Key to the City of Rock Island” for relentless work in community during 20 year span

March 29, 2004 is proclaim “Kenneth W. Martin Day” by honorable Mark W. Schwiebert (mayor)

2005—

Jahmeir Robinson was selected as poster child on the Moline YMCA brochure.

Arthur Lobley was selected as poster child for Quad City Big Brother- Big Sister.

Moses Robinson was selected as the poster person for the Habitat for Humanity.

Porsha McCray is Home Coming Queen at Rock Island High School.

Metro collaborates with the Rock Island Rotary Club. They purchased three new computers to be used for our tutorial program and to teach basic computer skill. The Rotary club has volunteered to teach Metro youth business skills. Twenty individual are on call today.

Metro collaborates with the Illowa Council Boy Scout and starts a new Adventure Scout Troop #2234.  We are looking for great things from this group of boys and girls fourteen and older. Our goal is to be the best ever-in two years.

Metro continues it strong alliance with the Martin Luther King Center. We are participating in their Teen Reach Program, and we now sponsor their Boy Scout troops.

Metro performed at the opening ceremony for the Rock Island Little league. This will be a standard invite.

Metro helped Decatur Illinois establish a drill team in 2000 their name is Power Drillers. This year they had their first showdown and invited us to be their honored guess. Teams from New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee came to compete against Metro the reigning National Champion.

Metro had its annual showdown at Rock Island High School it was our largest crowd ever. Twelve drill teams from eight different states. This year’s event will be held in Rocky’s football stadium.

 Metro graduated 10 student in 2005 all ten went to college on academic scholarships.

Metro will have 5 graduate in 2006 four have academic scholarships.

2006—Metro was invited to do the halftime festivities for the University of Dubuque Homecoming football Game. K.C. Martin is a sophomore there. The alumni said it would be remembered for years to come!

Metro has reestablished the gospel choir with two of our older graduates Shayla Owens and Ashley Spelling, They will carry on the tradition. As Metro quietly strives to fill the churches with children seeking the power of our God.

A very special Metro child will receive the degree of Juris Doctor from the University of California Berkley. Maurice Ludell Rabb a Moline High School graduate.

Chante Buckner a Moline Jr high school student wrote an essay, her teacher turned it into a contest. It was selected and appeared in Time Magazine.

Metro performed at the Peoria Rough Riders season opening football game in the Peoria Civic Center they received a standing ovation.

Metro performed at the Roosevelt Magnet School in Peoria Illinois. Roosevelt is a performing arts school. The students saw Metro performing at a Bradley University game last year and started a drum line. The school has 643 students they all stood and cheered at the first sight of the drill team. Their drum line would not play for us but vowed to some day be as good as Metro’s drum line. The third grade class thanking Metro for their visit wrote letters. What an experience.

Brooke Greenwood served as the Junior Marshall for the Rock Island National Honor Society awards ceremony.

Metro visited three Universities this winter. A success seminar was held on each campus. The schools provide information about school requirements, tuitions, room, board, loans, tutors and preparation needs. The President, Multicultural Director and a panel of students all talked about their area of responsibility. Each trip ended with an exciting Metro performance at a basketball game.

Tiara Jackson was honored by Moline High School as one of the students making a difference at their school. Tiara was in an alternative school the first semester and in now on Moline High Schools honor roll.

Rock Island honored students that were recommended by their teachers as outstanding. 100 students received this award five were Metro kids.

Dubuque University honored K.C. Martin with the “Prestigious Benjamin E. Mays Award” for his outstanding leadership. The school President stated that K.C. was changing their school for the better. K. C. will be a junior next school year.

K.C. Martin earned two more awards at Dubuque University. The Bronze Award of Merit for being on the recruiters group. The Gold Award of Excellence recognizes K.C. as the top Ambassador of the entire university.

 The Hispanic community organized a solidarity walk approximately 3000 people participated. Josh Caraballo a Metro kid was asked to explain the purpose of the march on television. Josh was articulate, spoke with confidence, expressed himself well and left the television audience more knowledgeable than before. All Metro celebrated his courage and elegance.

Tracy Hall was featured in a newspaper article titled Top Volunteer Tracy has been involved in Metro for 21 years. She is a mentor who leads by example, sponsors fundraisers, she is a major planner and gives out many hugs.

Metro will give its first educational scholarship. Thanks to the late Roydell Williams family and friends. Roydell and his wife Clarice have been Metro’s volunteers since the beginning. Before Mr Williams past away last year he was our third- fourth grade basketball coach. Clarice has been a relentless worker and fundraiser. A $400.00 scholarship will be awarded to Porsha McCray. Porsha has been in Metro for over twelve of her eighteen years.

Metro does WEST MUSIC COMMERCIAL!!!!! It will air all over Iowa and Illinois!!!

As the school year comes to a close the Metropolitan Youth Program has donated over 80,000 contact hours to this community. Our future remains bright as we continue to follow our original purpose and provide “ Something For The Children”. The Metro slogan is “Once We Reach Them; We Can Teach Them” 1985-2006.

 

2007-

Metro performs for President Candidate BARAK OBAMA!!!

Metro gets invited to perform for a National Title June 16th in Charlotte, North Carolina

 

“ONCE WE REACH THEM, WE CAN TEACH THEM”   Ken Martin (president)

 

 

Metropolitan Youth Program