photo: Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have always cared deeply about the community in which they play and reside.
The events that we all have witnessed first hand over the last few days does not represent the Baltimore we know and love.
It’s our home. It’s where a lot of us were born, raised and will raise our own families. The events that have transpired have brought the need for change to the forefront.
On Thursday, 85 Ravens volunteers – including 55 players –Â took part in a community initiative to help relieve tension between citizens and the Baltimore Police Department on both sides.
The players and volunteers visited different areas around the west side of the city, stopping by communities and speaking to students at three schools in the area. At one of the schools, they distributed food and goods to over 500 families.
Joining many current Ravens that included Justin Forsett, Joe Flacco, Will Hill and Dennis Pitta in visiting the schools was retired linebacker and Baltimore icon Ray Lewis. Lewis ditched his ESPN draft analyst duties to stay in Baltimore to help in the initiative instead of traveling to Chicago for tonight’s draft.
“If you want to make real change, be the example of change,” said Lewis to the students from Fredrick Douglass High School. “Now it’s about each other. It’s about coming together.”
Head coach John Harbaugh was also front and center, on the streets with his team meeting members of the community and taking time to talk to football players from the Fredrick Douglass team.
While the players’ visit is minute compared to the problems that face Baltimore, it does let the citizens, fans and communities know the organization cares about all of the happenings in a city they love playing for.
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