Go Greene Crew Gets To Work

BIDDEFORD (NEWS CENTER) -- Every Tuesday night a group of young people gathers in the basement of the Episcopal Church on South Street. They are members of the Go Greene Crew.

The group was formed in the wake of a tragedy this past summer in Biddeford. Two brothers, 21-year old Derek and 18-year old Gage Greene, were shot and killed. Police have arrested a neighbor, 55-year old Rory Holland, and charged him with murder.

Tammy Cole is the mother of the two victims. One of her closest friends is Laura Kimball. Together, they started Go Greene. It's a way, they say, to help turn young lives around.

Kimball says it became clear to her that many of the kids who "ran the streets" with Derek and Gage had no focus and no direction--and no help from the community.

"The community had no clue what these kids' goals and aspirations were and they're absolutely amazing. They're absolutely amazing. They just don't have the resources and don't know the steps to obtain those goals," says Kimball.

Go Greene is providing some help and direction. The group worked all summer long to remove graffiti from buildings in downtown Biddeford. This fall, they're working on restoring an ice skating rink in Westbrook.

Eli Copeland is a member of Go Greene. He says that last year he was headed for trouble. This year, he is seriously considering going on to college.  He says losing his two friends, Derek and Gage Greene, has taught him a difficult but important lesson.

"After the whole thing with Derek and Gage we basically thought our lives are too short to mess up," says Copeland.

The Go Greene Crew meets every Tuesday at the Episcopal Church on South Street in Biddeford. Organizers say anyone interested in participating or helping out is welcome to attend.

Tammy Cole and Laura Kimball say their ultimate goal is to bring a Boys and Girls Club to Biddeford.

"Giving the kids in this neighborhood a place to go in this town is the only thing you can do to save these kids that are out on the street. If my boys weren't hanging out on the street they probably never would have come across Rory Holland," says Cole.