Today we’d like to introduce you to Russell Bunn.
Hi Russell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised within Baltimore, MD. I attended school within Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. Through all of my experiences, values were always imperative to my everyday life. I am a black man who was born and originally raised in an East Baltimore Public housing complex. For several years the section that I played, frequented, and learned about life and culture was called Death Valley. The nickname was given because the actual Street was Valley Street, but the amount of death and crime that occurred in the area made the name a natural fit. I was exposed to drugs and crime at a young age. I witnessed my first murder at 2 years old (too young to remember, but it certainly wouldn’t be my last time witnessing murder), where a gentleman asked my father to pick me up for safety, while he shot and killed one of my neighbors. These kinds of altercations occurred consistently. Drugs and crime engulfed my family so much to the point where it seeped into my own household. Police raids, visuals of drug paraphernalia, and weapons are stained memories from my childhood.
Regardless of the amount of drugs, crime, and poverty that occurred, my neighborhood(s) growing up always embodied a sense of pride, and belonging. I can remember my grandmother sending me and my friends to the store to pick up their cigarettes, lotto numbers, and small groceries, where along the way drug dealers would speak to us and would encourage us to stay in school. We didn’t have many tangible riches, but our imaginations allowed us to travel and to combine different worlds. One day we were world wrestlers, the next day we were architects building play forts, and the next we may have been sports stars. This freedom of expression is what allowed us to mold our own confidence, self-awareness, and individuality. Those community memories left a long-lasting effect on me even as I moved from my neighborhood as a teenager. My experiences of attending Baltimore City Schools, Baltimore County Schools, Private Schools, and college have all contributed to allowing me to have a well-rounded educational experience. Living in Baltimore city as well as Baltimore County have exposed me to diverse cultures, opinions, and adversity, that have all impacted my personal passion and principles. Even though I was exposed and sometimes influenced by negativity, God, my parents, my family and community of supporters have always encouraged and motivated me to stay grounded through humility, dedication, education, and always giving back to the communities that had given so many lessons, whether good or bad.
Fast forward to almost 15 years, with me being one of the first to graduate college from a third-generation family of public housing residents, and the co-founder of a non-profit organization, I was able to begin my process of helping my former neighborhood known as Latrobe Projects, Death Valley.
The Aiding Community Excellence Club, Inc. (ACE Club) is a non-profit organization that is centered in Baltimore, MD. The organization was founded by myself (Russell Bunn) and Carl Hamiel, who are natives of Baltimore. The organization focuses on ways to give back to the community through youth mentoring, outreach, and philanthropy. The founder’s objective is to use experiences and observations in life to mentor, inspire troubled youth, and also to inspire the community to thrive throughout Baltimore, and the surrounding areas as well. The organization’s founders are two men who are college graduates from two different fraternities (Russell Bunn- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Carl Hamiel- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), and are both enriched with memories of life in Baltimore. In 2016, ACE Club was able to co-host our 1st annual Latrobe Day which consisted of a back-to-school drive book bag giveaway, with games and refreshments for the youth. In 2018, A.C.E. Club held its 3rd annual Latrobe Day in collaboration with two other local businesses (Neighborhood Towing and Jungle Baby Clothing) and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, where approximately 75 children of public housing received book bags pre-filled with school supplies. There was a youth basketball tournament, and a cookout to honor the youth of the neighborhood. I credit these opportunities to God, my family, and other impactful figures who instilled these values within me. Feeling a responsibility and a commitment to improve the well-being of others is an important attribute of human service professionals, and that is one of the main ideals that I attribute to my continued passion of outreach. I feel that these values are prominent in leaving behind a legacy, which is why my family accompanies me to the majority of ACE Club’s community events so that they can gain their own individual understanding of the importance of helping others.
I have lost several family members, friends, and associates to violence, drugs, incarceration, and mental health issues, so I feel that I will always have work to do as it applies to the Human Service field. I am currently a candidate for my Master’s Degree of Public Affairs/Human Services Administration/Nonprofit Management from the University of Baltimore/Coppin State University’s Dual Degree Program. I will continue to serve as a Human Service Professional, whether it be in the capacity of a cultural broker, planner, mentor, etc. One of my life’s proverbs is to Feed My Family, Feed my Soul, and to Fulfill my Legacy, which reinforce my service to God, my wife, my children, and my community!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been several obstacles along the way of continuing to serve. I have been relieved from positions previously due to budget cuts, I have experienced neighborhood disparities, and other challenges such as lack of volunteers or assistance during some events. The major aspects to alleviate these barriers has been consistency and productivity. I often struggled with cultural belonging in different school and social settings based upon my past experiences and stereotypes, and I have often been tasked with overcoming those disparities within school, the workplace, and in the community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a Co-Founder for the Aiding Community Excellence Club, which is a nonprofit agency that focuses on ways to give back to the community through youth mentoring, outreach, and philanthropy. I am currently a candidate for my Master’s Degree of Public Affairs/Human Services Administration/Nonprofit Management from the University of Baltimore/Coppin State University’s Dual Degree Program, while I am also employed within the Baltimore School System. I plan to combine my passions for community outreach and environmental science with youth and family initiatives throughout Maryland’s schools and communities that will raise environmental awareness within low-income communities. I am also the Owner of Images by Bunn, and Visual Primacy Alliance, which are photography businesses, and I am a partner of Legacy Pressure Washing Services, along with Brandon Jones. I use my experiences from all of these businesses and partnerships in order to continue to push the needle for professional and personal progression.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the pride, tradition, and uniqueness of Baltimore City. There is no other place where you can talk with the elders of the neighborhood about past experiences, local heroes, and cultural impact. Being in certain areas alone can often stimulate the senses. Unfortunately, the violence and drug trafficking within Baltimore City and the surrounding areas is the thorn in our side that I would love to see decrease significantly. I would love to be able to assist in barrier mitigation with socio-emotional impacts among youth, education, employment, and entrepreneurship within the community. We all have a love -(sometimes) hate relationship for Baltimore, but we all can evoke change through leading by example!
Contact Info:
- Email: aceclubinc@gmail.com
- Website: https://imagesbybunn.wixsite.com/aceclubinc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ace_club_inc/
- Instagram: @ImagesByBunn @Legacy_Pressure_Washing_Services
Image Credits
Bunn Photography
