Zaire's Back 2 School Sneaker Drive
Zaire Downs is a 12yr old youth activist from Rochester, NY. After watching the news coverage of racism, police brutality and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, he decided to plan a March called #CanILive? to give other youth a voice in these very scary and turbulent times. On July 10th he and a group of youth marched from Liberty Pole to City Hall where the youth paused fists raised as Common's Glory played in the background. As Zaire's next project he is organizing a sneaker drive. He feels that every child should be able to start the school year with a new pair of sneakers. Many of his classmates get bullied because their sneakers are not new or fashionable. He says some kids don't even come to school because of it. So from Aug 3rd to August 20th he is collecting all sizes of boys and girls new and VERY slightly worn sneakers to be distributed to youth in need as they start the 2016-2017 school year Thank You!!!!!!!!
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If you have a child to nominate for sneakers please email canilivesquad@yahoo.com with the child's name, age, sex, shoe size and why they are in need. Thank you,
I have an RCSD student going into 9th grade who could really use the sneakers...how do we link up to the funding? Also, THANK YOU!!! Great idea! ❤️
I have a 1St grader in a charter school and need a pair of shoes that's black or blue, uniform code that's in need of shoes this year. I just had enough money for her uniforms. She will gladly appreciate them.. Thank you Zaire.. You are a blessing.
Nice work! Visit Brav.org for more information on online conflict management to bring to your school!
This is the kind of story that should be all over the news, good luck :)
Zaire, what you are doing is so wonderful. You are a very special young man, caring for children that are unable to get their own sneakers. And the children getting bullied, they have a good friend in you. I, on behalf of the city of Rochester, would like to thank you so much for what you've done. I wish that the media would have publicized this when you first started doing the sneaker drive and even more so, the gofund me account. I'd bet you would have raised more money, as well as more sneakers.