Photo by Andrew Brewer LANSING, MI– The McKissic family started Mikey 23 Foundation to keep the memory of their son, Michael “Mikey” McKissic II, alive. He was murdered on August 1, 2015. The mission of the foundation is to improve the lives of young people through innovative education and training. Despite losing their son, brother, friend, and cousin, they are dedicated to making sure that other youths have an opportunity to learn a trade or to volunteer for a positive outcome.
His father, Michael McKissic, stated that Mikey came downstairs as he was sitting at the kitchen table. He recounted a dream from the night before that his father retired and sold all of his construction equipment. Mikey told his father that he wanted to take over the business.
McKissic said, “My last conversation with him was on the day of his murder. We talked in regards to what he needed to do as he was working for the family construction company. However, that did not happen because Mikey’s life was taken. We decided to do this in his honor.”
Since then, Mikey 23 Foundation has been rehabbing homes and rebuilding their foundations that have been burned to the ground. By being involved McKissic said that he wants to build young people up, especially young men, by teaching them skilled trades including roofing, plumbing and electric work. It also gives them a sense of pride to work on a project that will provide housing for someone. So far the foundation has rehabbed two houses.
Sherry McKissic also had the idea to create the almost a dozen billboard strategically place around town, she said she was tired of sitting and feeling like the police and no one was doing anything. So she felt this was her way of getting and keeping Mikey’s case in the public eye. She wants justice. The family pooled their resources and purchased billboards.
A march for peace is scheduled for Monday, June 18, 2018 from Elm and Grand, where Mikey’s life was taken to the Mikey 23 House at 1802 Stirling Avenue.
They will also be hosting a basketball tournament later on this year on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the Boys and Girls Club.
Mr. McKissic said, “Mikey 23 Foundation is just not for youths and others, it’s for our family and those that he touched.” His murder is still unsolved.
According to WLNS, police say on that day in 2015, a party was just let out and people were walking by. If you have any information, you can call Crime Stoppers; there is a $5,000 cash reward for a tip to police. They say every little bit of information counts.
April 29, 2018 – May 12, 2018
