New Haven Independent

“It looks like we’re going to have a parade equal to if not bigger than 2007,” Smith said. “Right now, we have a commitment from at least 40 groups, and letters went out to another 120, so if we get 20 more out of that, it’s a wrap.”

In addition to the cleanup outside the now-closed Dixwell Community “Q” House, he said, this year two other groups were at work, one on Congress Avenue and the other on Chapel Street, and local businesses have been asked to join in the effort.

“Our goal is to get the whole city involved in a city-wide cleanup day,” he said, “and we’re picking up a lot of momentum.”

Doug Bethea (at left in top photo), founder of Nation Drill Squad and Drum Corps, said that after having marched in the parade himself for 30 years, he hopes the community will continue to come together to make Freddie Fixer more like it used to be — an event the children he mentors, and all of the city’s young people, can take part in and enjoy.

“It shows that we still have black pride in the community,” he said, “but it’s going to take everybody to step up, not just the politicians and not just the police. This is our community.”

Kamal Wilson, a fire marshal at Yale University and a member of the 203 Riders motorcycle club, said his group is among those coming back to the event after several years of non-participation.

“We’re trying to make the parade like it used to be, give the kids something to see and let them know that you can be part of a motorcycle club and still have a normal job and not be on the streets,” he said.

Devon “Vinnie” Alston, of Tru Saga Recordz, who recently moved to the area after getting married, also came to help the cleanup effort, along with one of the artists he represents, Norman “Dizz” Dorsey.

Although this was Alston’s first year at Freddie Fixer, Dorsey grew up in the Dixwell neighborhood and said he had played the drums in Bethea’s Drum Corps and marched in the parade for four years when he was younger.

“Hopefully this year it will turn out to where we don’t have to worry about anything going on and then next year it will be longer, because it actually used to go all the way downtown, and this year it’s not.”

Alston agreed: “Tru Saga’s more a movement than a record label, and we’re trying to bring back the fun, bring back the peace.”

Ultimately, Bethea said, he hopes the Freddie Fixer events will begin drawing participants from all over the state.

“In five years, we would like to see this just like the Macy’s Day Parade,” he said, “but first we’ve got to understand that the violence has to stop. You’re not going to get marching bands from Guilford, from Cheshire, from Trumbull, if all you hear on the news is that in New Haven they shoot people.”

The Cleanup

Taheshema Taylor and Tianna Young, 8, raked leaves outside the Dixwell Community “Q” House.

LeAndre Clark, 13, shoveled leaves into bags.

Michaela Frasier, 15, hauled a leaf bag away for disposal. The City of New Haven donated some of the trash bags and brooms for the event.

Michaela, along with Torre Cogswell, 9, left, helped collect sticks and branches.