While many people across the country have taken to the streets earlier this month in a dramatic showing against protest police brutality -- one 9-yr-old took a different approach to getting their voice heard.
In Minneapolis, Kamryn Johnson, daughter of NFL’s Ron Johnson and this month’s #BeBetterHero, is tackling both the urgent need to care for people during the coronavirus pandemic along with supporting those businesses that have been negatively impacted by the looting related to the protests - one bracelet at a time.
"We make bracelets and we give the money to the people in Minneapolis," said Kamryn Johnson, who started uses a litany of colorful threads to handmake the bracelets for people in her community and raise money for those in need. "Every time a customer comes, we always tell them why we're doing this."
“One man pulled up out of nowhere and dropped off a $100 bill for one bracelet. A few people have done that.”
Kamryn and five of her friends, who live in the same neighborhood and have been isolating during the novel coronavirus pandemic in a four-family bubble, sprang into action when they realized how much their community needed them.
Not only has it been a way to raise money -- more than $90,000 and counting through Venmo and GoFundMe -- but it's also given her and her family the opportunity to create a space for conversation.
Calling the initiative Kamryn & Friends: Bracelets for Unity and Justice. and from the moment the large and colorful, handmade sign advertising their entrepreneurial spirit was displayed, neighbors started stopping by.
Priced between $1 and $5, depending on the complexity of the pattern and the type of string used, the bracelets have become an instant hit. With options including simple shades and color combinations, as well as neon and glow-in-the-dark varieties, lines were forming around the block with everyone wanting their own in a show of solidarity.
The Johnson family is allocating the proceeds to various causes in the community and have delivered the money, as well as food and supplies, to several local food drives. But the main goal is to use the funds to bolster black businesses affected by the pandemic and the protests.
“We really want to focus on black-owned businesses, particularly those that have been denied insurance claims for riot damage,” Johnson said.
Given Mr. Johnson’s professional athletic background and vast network of national athletes he can call upon, multiple members of the sports community have contributed to the cause.
“It was just a spider web of people hearing about the story and sharing it on social media,” Johnson said. “We’ve had a lot of athletes and coaches donate.”
“Business is boomin”
“She has a huge heart and simply wanted to be of help in whatever way she could”, Mr. Johnson said during an interview with CNN. "She and her friends are finding ways to feed the families of Minneapolis and give back to their community in the way they know how.”
Do you know someone like Kamryn Johnson that is not letting the pandemic stop them from making the world a better place? We’d love to hear from you so write to us and describe why they should be featured in one of our next #BeBetterHero posts!
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- Adam
Content courtesy of Washington Post and GoodMorningAmerica.