Mr. Ronzell Buckner
Faith, Family and Community
Mr. Ronzell Buckner is first and foremost a family man of faith who has created and developed several successful businesses and has been a dedicated community leader giving back to Columbus and its neighborhoods. He has a well earned reputation as a straight shooter, a forthright man of courage and integrity, a man of his word. His commitment to raising up Columbus’ neighborhoods is seen vividly in his efforts advocating for children and youth.
Taking Back Our Neighborhoods
This community commitment was exhibited when Charlie Mae Banks and Zelma Hennessey came to him and asked if he could help them address the out-of-control street-level drugs and crime in their neighborhood he readily responded. He contacted CBS 60 minutes in order to get in touch with Dr. Herman Wrice, a Philadelphia activist who had appeared on the show. He had success in taking back his own neighborhood and others across the USA.
Drug Fighting Training
This led to Dr. Wrice and Andy Garr coming to Columbus to train them on the Wrice Process for eliminating drug trafficking. The training spread to almost 20 neighborhoods with names such as CHAD (Caver Heights Against Drugs) and SWAD (Southwest View Against Drugs).The neighborhood drug fighters forged a remarkable partnership with law enforcement that is still seen to this day almost 20 years.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outdoor Learning Trail
Building on the success of the drug fighters efforts he created the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outdoor Learning Trail, an unique history initiative.
Turn Around Columbus
As the Wrice Process created Turn Around America, Mr. Buckner established Turn Around Columbus to continue the fight to build up neighborhoods through mentoring, tutoring and assisting community youth to reduce dropouts, create the next generation of business owners and reduce violence and crime. He has also consistently trained youth in how to start and run a business using his restaurant as a real world classroom .
Youth Entrepreneurship
Years ago he partnered with the city and one of the shopping mall developers to create a youth run T-shirt business. And a little over 5 years ago with city assistance he established a youth operated fruit and vegetable stand as an entrepreneurship initiative. This led to plans for a youth entrepreneurship center at George Washington Carver High School.
George Washington Carver Victory Garden and Farm
These efforts created the opportunity to collaborate with the Muscogee County School system to create the youth run George Washington Carver Victory Garden and Farm planting seeds, raising crops and saving lives using agriculture and youth entrepreneurship to build new futures
for Columbus youth. All these initiatives have been characterized by looking at the needs and issues differently, an understanding that grassroots, no blame and complain, not waiting on someone else, always moving ahead, keeping what works, adapt or die mission mentality can empower and inspire
folks to change. Ronzell and TAC continues this process approach building and creating new and innovative ways to try and dissolve problems and instill in youth to have faith in themselves to build positive futures.