SAGINAW -- NBC25 nominated Saginaw Reverend Larry Camel for the Grio's 100, an annual list by MSNBC of African-Americans making a historic difference in their community.
Out of thousands across the nation, only 100 people were chosen, including Pastor Camel.
"I'm looking for better days. I'm looking for people to get involved in the community and for men to come back and raise their sons," said Camel.
Rev. Camel's desire for getting the city back on track stems from happy childhood memories growing up in Saginaw.
"We could go outside and play and walk the streets and stay out until the streets lights came on. We didn't have to worry about being killed in the streets."
While the neighborhood has changed and his first home is now boarded up, the memories still bring a smile to his face. Life was good, his parents worked for General Motors and he and his brothers grew up living an idyllic life. But then things started to change when people lost their jobs and drugs started to pop up.
"A lot of guys got caught up in that...getting high and going to prison." Soon Camel would see the action up close through his older brother Rudy.
"He was a drug addict and it kind of hit home and I also had cousins that were killed."
In 2007, 17 killings were reported in the city. Camel could take it no longer so he started working with police, city leaders and other pastors and co-founded Parishioners on Patrol.
Nightly, the group took to the most dangerous streets patrolling and praying with and for anyone living a life of crime.
"People don't know you care until you show that you care," said Camel.
The hard work paid off and by 2010 the homicide rate had dwindled to just six.
"I think Parishioners has been successful because we respect them. We're coming into their territory. We're coming in with love."
With the violence settling, Parishioners on Patrol has evolved. The group now distributes food to the hungry and mentors teens. Pastor Camel says the fond memories he had growing up in this home are the type of memories he would like to give today's youth. That and his faith in God are what drive him.
"Whatever God tells me to do I do and it's successful." So successful, he's now getting national recognition by the Grio’s 100 which also included First Lady Michelle Obama.
"We are a great people and we are not a violent society and we can do some awesome and great things.
The night this story aired the City of Saginaw formally recognized Rev. Camel’s efforts and his listing on the Grio’s 100.
