Eagle sightings are a norm for this unique Detroit troop with a rich tradition of service
During the 1950s, one Detroit church provided a space for Paul Robeson to sing and heard lectures from W.E.B. DuBois during a time when the two, multitalented activists were labeled 'un-American' by some for the uncompromising stances they took against inequalities in America.
The same Detroit church, through its ministries, led civil and equal rights efforts to organize Ford Motor Co.'s United Automobile Workers.
This place of worship, which has addressed community needs and humanitarian concerns on a local, national and global level for more than 100 years, is Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
Throughout much of its history, Hartford, too, has had a relationship with an organization that also has a long track record for service and good deeds — the Boy Scouts of America. The partnership comes to life through Boy Scout Troop 647, based at Hartford since 1939. But true to Hartford's history, this troop has been about more than just camping and merit badges. In its quest to develop scouts that exemplify "exceptional leadership, character and service," historically, members of Troop 647 have been heavily involved in community service projects that directly benefit Detroit neighborhoods.
And, like the church it calls home, Troop 647 has been involved in fellowship that has been global in nature, such as the cultural knowledge and life skills that have been acquired with the help of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church African Ministry Rites of Passage Program, which has provided troop members with transformative experiences in Senegal and Penyem Village in The Gambia.
Troop 647 also knows a thing or two about the highest rank attainable in scouting — Eagle Scout. In fact, the troop has produced 65 Eagle Scouts during its rich history and the eight most recent Eagle Scouts from Troop 647 were scheduled to be honored during a Court of Honor Ceremony on Saturday, May 17, at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. In doing so, the honorees will join a distinguished group that only a very small percentage of Boy Scouts will ever reach.
Despite the enormity of their accomplishments, on the evening of May 13, as the eight most recent Eagle Scouts from Troop 647 had an opportunity to reflect on their journeys, they offered up stories that often showed that their pride in their troop and city was one and the same.
'I just wanted to flat out quit," Jackson Chukwuemeka Azu confessed as he described some of the more difficult points of his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout, which included navigating the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Azu did not quit. And one of the beneficiaries of Azu's perseverance was the Southfield Kappa Foundation, which received a much needed supply shelf constructed by Azu as a service project while the foundation was in the midst of renovating its house. 'The whole (scouting) process showed me I could do something I didn't think I could do. I can get through everything," added Azu, who is now a student at Morehouse College studying sports journalism.
Like Azu, Cameron Wade Cornelious constructed a service project that had a lasting impact when he led an effort to build and spray paint planter boxes made out of old shipping pallets for the science department at his former Detroit high school — The School at Marygrove. And in the process, Cornelious took a giant step forward in becoming the leader he desires to be.
"My goal is to be that leader for the next generation," stated Cameron, who now attends the University of Michigan. "So, I think the most important part of my scouting journey is that I went from the mentee to mentor."
As a scout, Jordan Allen Dunn has enjoyed many adventures, including summer camps at D-Bar-A and Cole Canoe Base. The Eagle Scout admits that the first time he went door-to-door collecting canned goods to help feed people in need the experience did not produce the same excitement as camp. But then something changed.
"As I matured, I realized how helpful and how important it was to collect food and give it back to the community," said the Western Michigan University student, who was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, scouting's national honor society.
Jalen Allen Dunn, Jordan's twin and also a student at Western Michigan, says he, too, got the service bug through scouting.
'It's a long journey and I'm happy I stuck with it,' Jalen Allen Dunn said. 'Volunteering is something I embrace now. I'm not afraid of the call of service.'
Joseph Williams is currently pursuing a degree in biomedical sciences at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, but he never forgets important people that helped him in Detroit.
'Scouting has taught me how important a community is in helping a young man develop,' said Williams, who led the design and construction of bat houses for D-Town Farm during his Eagle Scout project. 'The adults that work with our troop, and our entire community, hold us accountable. And that accountability helped me to stick with scouting.'
Kaiden Troy Ellis returned to scouting in the sixth grade when he joined Troop 647 because he said he felt right at home. Ellis has shown his gratitude by giving back to the Detroit community. This includes his Eagle Scout project, when he collaborated with volunteers at the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association in Detroit to provide horsemanship education to youths, while preserving the legacy of African Americans in the military.
More: For 2 sisters, bringing their story to historic site has been winning Detroit B&B recipe
'Scouting helped me with volunteer work — it changed my mindset,' Ellis stated. 'It has made me more motivated to give back to my community.'
'Being a part of such an historic church opened a lot of doors,' explained Maissa Slaughter, a proud former member of the Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School swimming team and current University of Michigan student, who used his church connections to get more involved in community service. Slaughter's service included an Eagle Scout project where he led the creation and donation of 100 handmade face masks for the Phoenix Center in Detroit.
Torrence Griffin also selected an arduous but rewarding Eagle Scout Project when he rebuilt a dilapidated stage at D-Town Farm in Detroit — with help from other Troop 647 members — which allowed for continued seasonal activity and a greater connection with the surrounding community.
'Nothing comes easy,' said Griffin, who recently completed Drone Pilot Certification Training with CODE 313 in Detroit. 'The Eagle Scout journey requires a lot of energy and a lot of hard work. But when you get it all done, it's a great feeling."
A commitment to develop scouts that exemplify 'exceptional leadership, character and service'
Who: Boy Scout Troop 647 established in 1939
Troop Home: Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, 18700 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit 48235
Troop Leader: Omari Sankofa
Recent Event: Court of Honor Ceremony (Saturday, May 16, 2 p.m. at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church) honoring Troop 647's most recent Eagle Scouts — Jackson Chukwuemeka Azu, Cameron Wade Cornelious, Jalen Allen Dunn, Jordan Allen Dunn, Kaiden Troy Ellis, Torrence Griffin, Maissa Slaughter, Joseph Williams. The ceremony will also honor nine dedicated volunteers that have supported Boy Scout Troop 647 and Cub Scout Troop 647 — Corlis Brown-Lloyd, Eileene Gordon-King, LaMont Hampton, Harold Holmes, Kent Jackson, Isaiah Joe Lapsley, Omari Sankofa, Richard Stringer, Vickie Walls Slaughter.
More: After a 'magical' journey, mother and son walked across a graduation stage with MBAs
Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city's neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: This unique Boy Scout troop reflects the city of Detroit and much more
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Opinion: Bringing students back — chronic absenteeism is a crisis Utah can't ignore
In Utah's classrooms — from St. George to Cache Valley — an invisible crisis has taken root: students aren't showing up to school. In the wake of the pandemic, chronic absenteeism has spiked to unprecedented levels across the state and the nation. The result isn't just missed instruction — it's missed opportunities, missed futures and missed connections to our communities. Before COVID-19, Utah had one of the lowest chronic absenteeism rates in the country. But since 2020, those numbers have nearly doubled in many districts, including in Cache County, where teachers and administrators are raising alarms about students slipping through the cracks. Statewide, roughly 1 in 5 students now meets the threshold for chronic absenteeism — defined as missing 10% or more of the school year. That's about 18 full days of instruction. This isn't a temporary dip in engagement. It's a structural issue that threatens long-term educational success, workforce readiness and, perhaps most importantly, civic health. The causes are complex but painfully familiar. Mental health struggles have increased significantly among Utah's youth. Anxiety, depression and burnout, exacerbated by academic disruption and social isolation, are keeping students home. Economic pressures weigh heavily on many families. In parts of Cache County and rural Utah, limited access to transportation or reliable childcare can turn everyday logistics into barriers to attendance. Academic disengagement, especially after the shift to remote learning, has made it harder for some students to reconnect with school. Once behind, many simply stop showing up. A cultural shift in how some families view the importance of in-person schooling has emerged. The rhythm and routine of school have been disrupted, and many communities haven't fully restored them. These are not problems schools can fix on their own. This is a community problem, and it requires a community solution. We often talk about education in terms of curriculum, testing and funding, but none of it matters if students aren't in class. Chronic absenteeism is one of the clearest predictors of academic decline, high school dropout and long-term economic struggle. It also puts strain on teachers, complicates classroom management and disrupts learning for students who do attend. In rural counties like Cache, where every student counts and community cohesion is strong, absenteeism doesn't just affect schools — it weakens our shared future. And the stakes are especially high in Utah, where we pride ourselves on strong families, tight-knit communities and a forward-looking vision for our children. This is not a challenge that can be solved by state policy alone. We need local, community-based responses, starting now. Faith groups, nonprofits and local employers can partner with schools to offer transportation help, mentorship and family support. Parents and neighbors can play a more active role in encouraging daily attendance and reinforcing the value of education. Local officials can prioritize funding for after-school programs, student wellness and attendance outreach teams. Community leaders and media outlets can help reframe the conversation: this is not about punishment — it's about connection, belonging and showing students and parents they matter. Let's make school a place where students want to be — not just for grades, but for growth, purpose and community. Hope begins at home. Here in Utah, we don't wait for Washington to solve our problems. We come together, roll up our sleeves and take care of our own. Tackling absenteeism will require that same spirit, especially in close-knit places like Cache County, where community strength is one of our greatest assets. We can't afford to let this become the new normal. It's time to bring our students back — one day, one connection and one conversation at a time.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Arkansas stuck among bottom five states for child well-being, report shows
(for Carter's Kids) Arkansas remains among the worst states for child well-being, ranking 45th nationwide for the second year in a row, according to the annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report released Monday. The group's 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book measures 16 indicators of child well-being in four categories: education, health, economic well-being and family and community. The report ranked Arkansas: 36th in education 45th in economic well-being 46th in family and community 47th in child health Arkansas has consistently ranked in the bottom 10 states overall and in the specific categories. The state's statistics worsened for the majority of indicators in 2023, the year the data in Monday's report was collected. The report drew comparisons between 2023 and 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread socioeconomic impacts on families. In that time, Arkansas saw a decrease of children who live in poverty or whose parents lack secure employment, but the state's rates of children in those situations outpaces the national rates, according to the report. In 2023, 144,000, or 21%, of Arkansas children lived in poverty, only a 1% decrease since 2019. The state also had fewer children in high-poverty areas with 68,000 in 2023, a 2% decrease since 2019. Aecf-2025kidscountdatabook-embargoed Other indicators remained stagnant, such as 37% of children in single-parent households and 12% of high school students not graduating on time, according to the report. The state 'cannot become complacent as the result of modest improvements,' said Keesa Smith-Brantley, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in a press release. AACF is a member of the Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT network. 'We should be particularly alarmed by the outcomes for our teens,' Smith-Brantley said. 'We're trending in the wrong direction for teens not attending school and not working and teens who are overweight or obese. And while Arkansas's teen birth rate improves each year, we're stuck at or near the bottom because of the policy choices and investments we're not making.' In 2023, 17,000 Arkansas teens were neither working nor attending school, a 3% increase from 2019. Children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17 saw a 4% increase in obesity rates from 2019 to 2023 while the national rate remained stagnant, according to the report. Additionally, Arkansas had almost double the national rate of teen pregnancy in 2022, even after a 17% decrease since 2019. By 2023, the state's rate had dropped from 25 to 24 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, according to the Casey Foundation report. The national rate is 13 births per 1,000 females. 'Those babies are more likely to be born in families with limited educational and economic resources, and if you have a baby as a teen, there are simply going to be more challenges with finishing high school, going on to college and working [up and] out of poverty,' AACF policy director Christin Harper told reporters in a Wednesday news conference about the report. President Donald Trump's administration has attempted to withhold Title X family planning grant funds, which include teen pregnancy prevention efforts. This is one of several recent federal actions that Harper and other AACF leaders said would put child well-being in Arkansas at risk. Nearly 3,400 Arkansas babies were born with low birth weights in 2023, a 0.4% increase since 2019. Being born at less than 5.5 pounds, often caused by premature birth, creates health risks for children not only in infancy but throughout childhood and even into adulthood, according to a 2024 Casey Foundation report that highlighted the racial disparities among children's health, particularly affecting Black Arkansans. 2025-KCDB-profile-embargoed-AR Arkansas also consistently has among the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality nationwide, but it remains the only state that has taken no action to adopt the federal option of extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months after birth, according to KFF. More than half of births in Arkansas are covered by Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance system for low-income Americans. Additionally, Arkansas' rate of child and teen deaths worsened from 2019 to 2023, totaling 300 per 100,000. About half of the more than 800,000 Arkansans on Medicaid are children. An additional 50,000 children in Arkansas, or 7%, were uninsured in 2023, a 1% increase from 2019, according to the KIDS COUNT report. A federal budget bill moving through Congress would make deep cuts to Medicaid spending, reducing the program by $625 billion over 10 years, and shift some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, to state governments. As of March, 235,927 people in Arkansas received SNAP benefits, the Advocate previously reported — approximately 7.6% of the state population. AACF leaders said last week that they are concerned the budget bill will worsen child well-being in Arkansas if it receives approval from Congress and Trump. Arkansas' SNAP program contains a work requirement, and the state has taken steps to impose a work requirement for recipients of the Medicaid expansion program. The federal budget bill would also add new Medicaid work requirements for some able-bodied adults. AACF has repeatedly denounced such requirements. U.S. House GOP mandates Medicaid work requirements in giant bill slashing spending Children who live in households at risk of poverty 'are especially likely to fall off of health care [coverage] because their parents can't meet the work requirements,' said Maricella Garcia, AACF's race equity director. The organization is also concerned about the 43,000 Arkansas children aged 3 and 4 who were not in early childhood education programs between 2019 and 2023, AACF education policy director Nicole Carey said. This number increased 6% between 2015 and 2018, according to the report. Fourth-graders in Arkansas were 3% less proficient in reading in 2024 than in 2019, according to the report, and state officials have made improving childhood literacy a priority in the past few years. The wide-ranging LEARNS Act of 2023 implemented literacy coaches in public schools graded 'D' and 'F' by the Department of Education. Under the new education law, students who don't meet the third-grade reading standard by the 2025-26 school year will not be promoted to 4th grade, but $500 tutoring grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with priority to those to be held back in third grade. Carey pointed out that the fourth-graders of the most recent school year were in kindergarten at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 'When they did their testing in the school year of 2023-24, that was when a couple of those literacy pieces [of LEARNS] were still being implemented, so we really can't say yet if the literacy coaches in the 'D' and 'F' schools or those literacy tutoring grants are going to impact this indicator,' Carey said. 'There's definitely hope that they will.' Nationwide in 2024, '70% of fourth graders were not reading proficiently, worsening from 66% in 2019 — essentially undoing a decade of progress,' the report states. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Hamden high schooler completes Eagle Scout project, helps local animal shelter
HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A Hamden High School senior helped a local shelter by building a bridge for animals to safely walk over a stream on the shelter's property. Zayed Elahee, 17, completed the bridge for his Eagle Scout project. Laundry room fire at animal hospital in North Haven under investigation On Sunday, he was joined by community members and staff from Where The Love Is Animal Rescue to test out the bridge and attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dogs crossed the bridge on Sunday which showcased the improvements to hiking paths on the shelter's property. Elahee is set to begin at the University of Connecticut next fall. He facilitated the design and construction of the bridge with help from other Scouts from Troop #610. 'The most important aspect of an Eagle Scout project is that it benefits the community,' Elahee said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.