22 Thursday, June 27, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
WILL KOWALSKI
Sports Editor/Asst. Editor
James “Quice” Williams, still a kid
at heart, had a perpetual big grin on
his face last Saturday afternoon.
Not because he and over 2,000 oth-
ers were beating the 90-degree heat
outdoors by attending the City Kids
Day event indoors in air conditioned
Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, but
because he was happy that the fifth
annual event was another huge suc-
cess.
“This is just so much fun, and
I’m grateful for it,” Williams said.
“Making kids smile, that’s what it’s
all about. And all the parents and
other adults are having a great time
here today, too.”
The event was again masterminded
by The Real Grind group, of which
Williams is owner and director. Also
in the group are Williams’ mother,
Mira Stallings, and Ryan Payne.
“Plus, also part of the organizing
of the event were the Black Men of
Excellence group, Truth and Action
Baptist Church and Fatherhood &Fifth annual City Kids Day another success
The floor area at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek was filled between the hours
of noon and 4 p.m. with well over 2,000 people of all ages who came out to
enjoy the fifth annual City Kids Day orchestrated by James “Quice” Williams
and other local organizers. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)Battle Creek Public Schools with its
21st Century Community Learning
Centers Program had one of the
plethora of tables available for kids
and adults to check out last Saturday
at the fifth annual City Kids Day at
B.C.’s Kellogg Arena. (Shopper News
photo by Will Kowalski)A group of youngsters wave to the camera before entering Big Tym Fun’s
gaming trailer last Saturday at Kellogg Arena during the fifth annual City
Kids Day. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)Family Service Hub,” Williams said.
“Myself, Mario Brown, Evan Gray,
Marcelle Heath, all of us tied intogether to make this happen for a
fifth anniversary year. And it’s price-
less. The kids are the big winners.
They get to have fun, lots of fun – on
a day when everything here is free.”
Williams said that “local sponsors
and vendors, everyone here with astation today, all came together to
make sure everything is free for the
kids and the community.”
“And that’s a wonderful thing,”
Williams said. “A really great thing.”See KIDS DAY on 23