For the Black Talons, we spent the vast majority of the time under survival mode in our community, Jefferson City, MO. When the lockdowns occurred, our entire town went into panic mode and began buying everything off the shelves. We understood that our community was not prepared for this crisis and we were certain we needed to think and act or their behalf.

Our first train of thought was “self-sufficiency” and how could we make the biggest impact with our collective skill sets. The first thing we did was post a survival supply list to a page we created on Facebook called, “Keeping up with the Jeffersons.” Vice President, Marco Patterson then produced multiple videos pertaining to gardening in home with buckets, outside of the home with a garden, home-made wine, making bread and aging cheese.

These actions lead to the creation of the Ubuntu Community Garden project by Talon member, Jennifer Ferguson. This was helpful with supplying the community with produce; and though it yielded little at first, it eventually began to grow.

We then devised a plan to look after the elders of our community while adhering to social distancing protocols. Since my wife works at Walgreens drug store, I decided we should buy medicines that were over the counter to provide some relief for those that were in need. As we began to proceed with our initiative, several of our members contracted Covid -19: Brother Bryan Bennett (Sergeant at Arms), and Pastor Raymond Lee & Nicole Lee of Powerhouse Outreach Ministry. The Lee family oversees our community response team (a safe haven for families that suffer tragic events).

We provided assistance for the flood victims in Jefferson City, MO that lost their homes on East McCarty Street. The Powerhouse Outreach Ministry church also sustained water damage from the same weather that caused the flood.

The Lees recovered from Covid -19, started a food pantry and began providing food to various neighborhoods. They also partnered with The Boys and Girls Club and provided care packages containing hygiene products for the youth in our area.

I received news that my two sons who suffer from sickle cell anemia contracted Covid-19 from their mother who had just been hospitalized. Next, I received news that my daughter, who was pregnant and due to deliver in three weeks, had contracted Covid-19 from her brothers. It was an intense three weeks as they had to deliver my grandchild early, in order to save both my granddaughter’s and my daughter’s life. We persevered through this huge challenge and I continued delivering medicine to those that were in need, requiring that they leave baskets on the front porch where we could drop off their provisions.

Gatorade packets and Pedialite were added to sustain adequate hydration.  Vice President, Marco Patterson and several members of the chapter continued providing meals and/or medications throughout our community until our funding was almost depleted. At this point, the struggle became almost unmanageable as I continued working a second job, and those funds were slowly depleted.

The stimulus checks began to deposit into accounts which alleviated a lot of the pressure, stress and financial hardships we endured. When November hit, I tragically lost my grandmother; and then in the month of December, I lost my close friend and sponsor, Dwayne Jungermeyer, to Covid-19. Dwayne gave me the start-up funds to build Talon Life Tactical, which would later give me the resources to launch the NAAGA Chapter in Jefferson City. I lost my grandmother before Thanksgiving and Dewayne right before Christmas, yet we persevered.

To continue to find ways to help our community, Richard Cross (Assistant Director of Education) started the Black Men Thrive organization, knowing that we were still going to need to lead. This comprised of several members of the Black Talons and several other community leaders. We knew that despite Covid-19, men young and old still needed assistance in life to pursue their dreams and aspirations, because we would return to normal sooner or later.

Meetings were held on Zoom when possible and we were able to meet once in person at Lincoln University. As we began to moving forward, we took another tragic hit. Life-long friend, Tori Wade and the sister of Black Talons members Breanna Wade and VP Marco Patterson tragically died in the hospital. This sent a shockwave through the chapter and we took up donations for a celebration of life ceremony.

This made our journey even harder because it was now 2021 and we were still taking hits. Currently, we are working to pool all of our resources to develop our chapter website, online training and career development in firearms. Our Director of Education, Sylvia Wilson began focusing on saving black businesses during and after the pandemic, with the Black Business Registry, which she is still developing online.

Mrs. Wilson is the Director of the 62nd and 65th Colored Infantry Scholarship Foundation, and a military veteran. Dr. Jason Groce, the Director of C.E.R.T. spent 2020-2021 as the chief of staff of the Senate, fighting bills that would incarcerate young black males at the age of 14. Dr. Groce has continued to make us aware of ever changing laws that impact Missouri citizens and our local community. Though we were still dealing with challenges and hunkering down due to the pandemic, I can truly say my chapter believes in living our moto: “No Retreat, No Surrender, No Regret!”