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Skate event pair’s effort to give back

Apryl Pilolli/Staff photographer

ENLARGE PHOTO

Apryl Pilolli/Staff photographer

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Rodney Hunter (left) and Cedric Burns-Davis sit Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at Skateway in Middletown. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

Apryl Pilolli/Staff photographer Rodney Hunter (left) and Cedric Burns-Davis sit Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at Skateway in Middletown. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer 10:39 PM Sunday, December 20, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — There is the Cedric Burns-Davis before and the Cedric-Burns-Davis after.

He graduated from Garfield Alternative School in Middletown in 2003 with a 4.0 grade point average and an immeasurable potential.

“I was a good kid,” he said.

He attended Kentucky State University for 2 1/2 years, but during his return visits home, his life took an “interesting turn,” he said.

He chose money over education, quick dollars over a career.

“I took the wrong path,” he said. “I saw too much at a young age.”

He witnessed how his friends — many much older — became wealthy selling drugs. He wanted what they had. He wanted the jewelry, the cars, he said.

He paused, then added: “But I didn’t want the trouble that came with it.”

What he got was a lengthy police record. His arrests have landed him in the Middletown, and Butler and Warren county jails, and he spent three months in the state’s Correctional Reception Center penitentiary in Orient.

Now 24, Burns-Davis wants to make an honest living, what he called “positive money.”

He and Rodney Hunter, 21, a 2007 Middletown High School graduate, formed Picasso & Red Da Dawn, a promotional business.

They have scheduled a Gospel Skate Night for Christmas Eve, and once the business gets established, they hope to donate some of their profits to local charities and organizations.

“We want to give back,” Hunter said.

The two men share similar relationships with their biological fathers — Burns-Davis met his father when he was 11; Hunter met his father when he was 12.

Hunter, a single father with a 4-month-old daughter, Aiyannah, said he wants to be the “best father I can be.”

Burns-Davis has three children — Amaria, 3, Alaysha, 18 months and Ashlyn, 11 months — with two women, one of them his fiancée.

“It’s time,” he said, “for me to grow up.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

Gospel Skate Nite

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24

Where: Skateway-Middletown, 2514 N. Verity Parkway, (513) 422-7213

Cost: Admission $5; regular skates, $1.50; speed skates, $3

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I have gotten to know Cedric and Rodney over the last month and I am very impressed with their drive as well as their ideas. I'm not sure what that person s talking about, because it looks to me the author did research, the article says that Cedric spent time in jail. It takes alot of guts to air your laudry out with the idea of it educating and helping others. You won't even put your name with your comment...get real. Keep it up fellas and do not let that type of ignorance slow you down.

Jade
10:55 PM, 12/22/2009

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Hey Ced, Don't let these haters stop you, you are doing something really wonderful with yourself. You will be greatly blessed. I'm glad you turning your life around for them beautiful babies of yours!! Its a good thing God forgives and gives us a chance to better our life and straighten out our path unless this character below me!! Don't stop what your doing!!

Bethany R
12:50 AM, 12/22/2009

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I wish Rick McCrabb would do some background research before he makes people look like heroes. Seriously, who would give a guy who has spent time in prison and has three kids by two different women any money to promote his or her business or organization? What has he done lately to offset such grievace offenses? That's what should have been mentioned in the paper.

Are you kidding me?
9:40 PM, 12/21/2009

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a fellas its good to see young people starting to interact with the youths these days, and for all the support you need i'm there just like alwalys. god bless the both of you and lookin forward to keep work'n with the both of you. see you both on the 24th,punn

big punn
10:43 AM, 12/21/2009

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I have always seen the good in both of you. I am proud of you and please continue to be the best that you know you are.

some that loves you both
7:47 AM, 12/21/2009

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