Hero Story

Karl is a positive role model for not only his own children, but also for many others. He mentors, coaches basketball (at times with his youngest child in a carrier on his chest!), organizes food distributions and youth programs, and more – and works hard at it all.

He describes himself as Coach/Mentor, for everything from Life to Basketball, for the youth of the community. He has run after-school programming to give local kids a place to gather, complete their homework, get a healthy meal, and have fun. Karl’s life experience is very wide ranging from location to career – he’s a business owner, musician, author – and it gives him a valuable perspective that he readily shares with those around him.

During COVID-19 he has helped to keep community youth active by pivoting a pilot program for recreation to become an on-demand lending library for families to borrow recreation equipment for home use, delivered directly to their door.

Additional community project involvement:
• SportPort Mount Clemens – free youth sports and recreation equipment lending library in Mount Clemens
• Project Play Kits – organizing and distributing play kits so that children could get out and play during COVID-19 pandemic
• Census efforts – helped to engage residents in Mount Clemens to get counted in the Census
• Restarting/engaging the Mount Clemens Recreation Board
• Active in his church, Greater Morningstar Baptist Church – helping to organization food distribution and other programming to help people in need.
• Volunteer at a variety of Mount Clemens and Clinton Township events

Karl is an incredibly involved individual in the Mount Clemens community. He seemingly jumps at every opportunity to be involved and support youth and families. Because of Karl, lives are fuller and futures are brighter. He is a true Hero!