Rosemary Brown McKinny brought some good news last week with word that Let’s Talk It Out will continue operation. McKinney is the sister of Billy Brown who died in September at age 46. Together they founded Let’s Talk It Out as a non-profit organization that reaches out to youth in the community, giving them reasons to feel good about themselves.

“We’ve got a lot of people that we want to know we’re keeping his work going,” McKinny said.
That work includes the annual Let’s Talk It Out summer basketball camp for boys and girls, scheduled again in 2015 for the first Friday and Saturday in June, plus counseling sessions, morals and values seminars, the Miss Krimson and Kream Pageant, the Stomp It Out Greek Stepshow and the Sardis Sunday Best, McKinny said.

Goals include reducing youth involvemnt in gang activity, teaching the consequences of gun violence, developing positive relationships with law enforcement, professional men and parents and promoting community outreach.

The Let’s Talk It Out board of directors includes McKinny as president, Andrew Farmer as vice-president, Rosie Eubanks as treasurer, Renaldo Brown as secretary and C. Jerome Battle and John Mathis.

Billy Brown’s widow, Vickie Brown, is serving as acting CEO, overseeing adjustments as the organization adjusts to the untimely loss of its charismatic leader.

“Our purpose is to give today’s youth a voice, and an oportunity to express their concerns and opinions on the issues of life that arise,” Brown wrote for the Let’s Talk It Out mission statement.
“Through the church and the community,” the statement continues, “we have created a safe, non-judgmental environment to lead our youth, and encourage them to ultimately find their answers to life’s challenges in the Word of God.”

For further information about continuing Billy Brown’s legacy, contact McKinny at 304-972-3500.