A local man combines healthy eating with math. Trueman McGee's Funky Fresh Math Club is known for its spring rolls and its dedication to a strong body and mind.
On Thursday evenings kids get more than nutrition, they get free math tutoring.
Five-year-old Lilliana-Carter-Lewis Milan was one of the students tutored.
"I like learning," she said. "I like having recess."
The owner of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, Trueman McGee, came up with the idea. The fitness coach and chef says he's always been good in math.
"I think its important for us to pour it back into the community," said McGee. "A lot of times business come into the community and just take and take and don't give it back."
Students get free homework help and free food. Tutors are volunteers like former teacher Milwaukee County Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson.
"I love assisting kids when I can," she said. "When I found out about this I said I'd love to come out and tutor."
Funky Fresh Spring Rolls is located at Sherman Phoenix, the business complex born out the unrest at Sherman Park in 2016. The former BMO Harris Bank building was torched after a fatal police shooting, but it now has new life as a hub for local businesses. It's a perfect setting to light the spark of learning.
"It's only right that we all take the initiative to give back to the community," said Nicholson. "For me if I can just help kids count better with math then that's amazing. There are a lot of parents working two and three jobs to make ends meet. If I can come up and show up on a Thursday and give a little bit of help to one family that makes me so happy."
Nine-year-old Trueman McGee Junior works for his dad's business and inherited his father's love of math.
"Some people don't like math," said McGee Jr. "My favorite subject in school is math."
The younger McGee calls his father his role model.
"I want to follow the footsteps that my dad took."
Funky Fresh Math Night is uniting the community with an equation solved by goodwill. Free tutoring takes place every Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
