Meet Marcus X Russell | President & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcus X Russell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcus X, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In 2019 I had been working for Dallas College for ten years. I didn’t have a degree so my pay was sub par but my work ethic was stellar. That summer I worked under TexPrep at Cedar Valley College. We had one of the largest robotics stem programs in the state of Texas and I was the Program Service Coordinator and at the end of the camp my director told me that I wasn’t going to get paid for my last 40 hours until next summer . I immediately resigned knowing that and went to his supervisor who approved my hours. I was so upset because I needed that last check and paid the fee to file my 501(c)3 for Commissary Is Very Necessary, Inc but I also needed that job I thought. It was a big risk because if this didn’t work out I had nothing to fall back on. Fast forward to summer 2020 the Cedar Valley College s closed due to COVID-19 and all part time employees have been fired and my department has been shut down. If I would have waited until next summer like my director told me I would have no job lost that money and not been able to file my paper work for my non profit but since I took that risk Commissary Is Very Necessary won Environmental Justice Organization of the year in 2020 from a plethora of organizations in Texas and help so many families during this pandemic. Sometimes taking a risk is all we got.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started working with Dallas College at Mountain View in 2010 as a volunteer. At the time I had enrolled back in school to finish my degree and when I was walking the hall I saw the Upward Bound office and it brought back memories of me being in the program as a teen at Southern Methodist University and how much it helped me as teenager from Oakcliff attending David. W. Carter high school. I walked through the door and told the assistant that I didn’t want a job I just wanted to volunteer because of my background. I volunteered the next the day and was immediately hired as a mentor. I worked my way up to a tutor then a administrative assistant all the way up to Program Service Coordinator. I was able to switch departments from UB to TexPrep. I even switched schools became a certified tutor and began coordinating robotics programs and teaching classes at Cedar Valley College. All this was done with no degree and through the process I have helped countless teens and adults get high schools diplomas, certificates, and college degrees. Through this process I inner stood that through building others we build ourselves. I have even had the pleasure to work with ex students of mine and seen how much they had grown and where now able to help me help others. When we create opportunities we create hope and that is what Commissary Is Very Necessary Inc, is about. We are a Human Responsibility Organization.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Favorite place to eat Thai binh @ Grow DeSoto Favorite person Davante D Peters
Favorite club Sandaga 813

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
North Texas Legal Aid helped me with my legal filings, Guerilla Mainframe showed me the way, Dallas Sierra Cub backed us financially on projects. Lone Sta Human Services encouraged us to become who we are. American Black Cross supported us with resources. Black Empowerment Movement volunteered. Black Panther Party gave us wisdom. Nation Of Islam gave us their blessing. North Texas Food Bank provided the food for our events. Suits for Judah volunteered manpower. Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk and The Memnosyne Foundationfor providing Financial support. Olinka Green and the Poor Peoples Campaign provided opportunities. Hopeful Solutions provided space to do events. College Park’s baptist church showed us compassion. Alkaline Hour taught us holistic health. Earth X and Socialwyze for the grant opportunities. The Skip Shockley foundation for helping us grow. Volunteering While Black helping in our vision. The Ellis County African American Hall of fame museum. for making us part of history. I also want to thank Oakcliff Veggie Project for educating us in gardening.

Website: www.commissaryisverynecessary.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commissaryisverynecessary/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CIVNINC

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8lF3iYokzmzvgZO3iQPn8g

Image Credits
Dewan Shockley Micheal Moore D,Ashliegh Brooks Dallas Sierra Club