The Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H. Group wants to take it to the next level helping inner city youth.

Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H. Group formed a youth basketball team a couple of months ago. The team, called the Wilson & Wellons Black Panthers, was designed to help some of the troubled, predominantly African-American youth throughout the city of Suffolk.

Akoma Love saw some youth playing basketball in the street and wondered why they didn’t have anywhere to go. She jokingly got in on some street ball action, which later turned into someone asking Love if a team could be formed. Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H. group formed the Black Panthers team that focuses not only on sports but also on helping with life skills that will make them productive citizens in the community.

“Some of the youth in the city are good young men,” Love said. “They just need guidance and that we are providing. Everyone has a different situation, which may lead to trouble, and these kids don’t want that. Some of them want to own businesses one day, and they have real goals they want to achieve. The team represents a community.”

The Black Panthers aren’t in any formal league, but the Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H. Group has plans to start a league of their own. Many obstacles stand in the way at the moment, but they want to continue to pursue their dreams of helping the community.

Normally throughout the week, the youth group meets at the Morgan Memorial Library, where kids can read and do work. The Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H group has plans to try to designate a house on Wellons Street that will allow the youth group to provide more recreation and activity.

“All of our future plans are for the youth,” Love said. “They deserve it. We want to keep them out of as much trouble as possible. We are working so hard to create more opportunities and good environment for these kids.”

For more information on the Wilson & Wellons Black Panthers or the Supreme Save Our Y.O.U.T.H. Group, contact Akoma Love at 202-718-4979 or at happyhappyhour3hclub@gmail.com. Meeting hostess Angie Harris can be contacted at 288-1926.