CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. TODAY MARKS FIVE YEARS SINCE THE RISE OF THE SHERMAN PHOENIX IN MILWAUKEE. THE COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE OPENED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2018. IT’S BUILT FROM THE SHELL OF THE BMO HARRIS BANK BUILDING, WHICH BURNED DURING THE CIVIL UNREST TWO YEARS EARLIER. 12 NEWS CYREIA SANDLIN IS LIVE NOW ON SOUTH SECOND STREET IN MILWAUKEE AND CYREIA. THERE IS A SPECIAL GATHERING THERE TONIGHT. PATRICK, FRIENDS AND LONGTIME SUPPORTERS OF SHERMAN PHOENIX MARKETPLACE GATHERING TO SEE THE HOAN BRIDGE ALL LIT UP IN TURQUOISE AND GOLD. THE COMMUNITY FIVE YEARS AGO TURNED TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH. AND TONIGHT IS A CELEBRATION OF THIS MILESTONE. KAMAR CARTER’S JOURNEY AT THE SHERMAN PHOENIX STARTED BACK IN 2018. WE WERE SELLING PRODUCTS IN THE VAULT WHEN THE SHERMAN PHOENIX FIRST OPENED, SO NOW FOR THE FIFTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY, WE RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN SPACE. CARTER OWNS HOUSE OF VITALITY, SPECIALIZING IN NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS IN HERBS. HE REMEMBERS THE DAY SHERMAN PHOENIX OPENED AND THEY HAD POLICE PATROLLING ON THAT FIRST DAY, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY WAS SAFE. SO I WAS WALKING WITH ONE OF THE OFFICERS AND I TOLD HIM, I SAID, MAN, YOU KNOW, I’M KIND OF GLAD THAT BANK BURNT DOWN. AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WHY WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I SAID, WELL, I JUST THINK WHAT’S GOING ON HERE IS GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY A LOT MORE THAN THAT BANK EVER DID. THIS COMMUNITY IS HOW THE MARKETPLACE CAME INTO EXISTENCE AFTER A FATAL POLICE SHOOTING IN 2016, THE COMMUNITY GATHERED TOGETHER, HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDED AND COULD BENEFIT FROM, AND THE OUT OF THE ASHES, THE PHENIX RISES. THE DOORS OPEN IN 2018 AS A BLACK ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB AND MARKETPLACE. THIS HUB HAS EVERYTHING FROM A BARBER SHOP TO BARBECUE. KEVIN JR, OWNER OF JUNIOR’S, SERVES UP FOOD AND OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS NEIGHBORS. A LOT OF LITTLE BOYS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WERE COMING HERE AND WE’RE PAID. WE WILL PAY THEM TO DO CERTAIN THINGS AND AS SHERMAN PHENIX MOVES FORWARD, THESE MEN SAY THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. I’M GROWING SO FAST THAT SOONER OR LATER I KNOW I’M NOT GOING TO BE HERE. BUT YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY THESE THINGS TO ME TO GIVE SOMEBODY ELSE A CHANCE TO START OFF, I COULDN’T ASK FOR MORE. I TELL EVERYBODY EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY I WAKE UP GRATEFUL TO CYREIA SHERMAN PHOENIX ALSO NOW HAS A NON PROFIT DIVISION. PATRICK THE SHERMAN PHENIX FOUNDATION WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 THIS YEAR. THEY STARTED A CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS, EXPAND PROGRAMING AND GET SUPPORT FOR BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES.