Double OT

Mentorship program moves forward despite pandemic

EAST LIVERPOOL -- COVID has really put a damper on several charitable organizations' efforts to get their non-profit statuses validated.

Between the pandemic forcing the cancellation of many fundraising efforts or holding up government functions of organizations like the Internal Revenue Service, organizations like the Project OT find themselves in a holding pattern. Two of the men behind the Project OT spoke Wednesday about the challenges associated with the east end community center of sorts.

This past August, Troy Chisom and Robert Nizer Jr. were among the participants in the Potters' Progress community cleanup at the former East Liverpool school administration building, which sits in the 500 block of Maryland Avenue on three acres of land in the city's east end. Owned now by the city of East Liverpool, plans are to make the vacant building the youth mentorship program's headquarters and host various community sports and activities there.

Both men are lifelong residents with strong roots in East Liverpool school athletics and had explained in previous media coverage that they were especially motivated to help the gap among youngsters without strong male influences/

The goal would involve having kids in several days a week, doing everything from talking about choices and tutoring to playing basketball in the gym.

In addition to its squatting community vandals, which had returned again sans the vile vulgar graffiti, the building does have its issues. A portion of the building needs asbestos remediation and is currently off limits; however, apparently the vandals may think they are exempt from that.

"We are going after grants, but we need to secure the building again," Chisom continued. "We really hope to be able to open it this year, but we need to make it safe and foremost."

In December, city officials allotted $10,000 of its C.A.R.E.S. money to Project OT, so the program could purchase equipment while waiting for its IRS status. With the city affiliation, the organization can use East Liverpool's federal ID number to apply for grants when needed as well as keep track of donations.

The men credited both Mayor Greg Bricker and Bill Crawford of the recently dissolved Team Mojo Foundation for providing much needed guidance.

"It is all coming together. We are getting a lot of support from the community, and even former residents and alumni are reaching out. We are still trying to put together a social media presence to keep interested (parties) updated," Nizer concluded.

For more information about the budding mentorship program, contact either Chisom at 330-303-0671 or Nizer at 330-708-0977.