Norristown 'Get Out & Grind' Workouts Ready To Go

NORRISTOWN, PA —Two men who grew up on the mean streets have learned the hard way how to defend themselves and lead a productive life, and they want to help Norristown young people find an easier path to a productive life.

For Dwayne Fletcher, 41, of South Philadelphia, being shot in the face when he was 23 years old was the turning point.

For Clayton Kellum, 42, of King of Prussia, spending 15 years behind bars for selling crack cocaine was the wake-up call.

They have long since turned their lives around, and are successful entrepreneurs running fitness programs.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Norristown police Chief Derrick Wood invited Kellum and Fletcher to provide an inspirational fitness program to encourage Norristown youth to end gun violence.

“Get Out And Grind,” a free of charge workout program, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the athletic fields at Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy, 1601 Markley St., Norristown.

The program is for ages 12 to 21 and is open to the public.

Here is the schedule:

• Tonight: Kellum will provide high-intensity workouts to show participants how to overcome obstacles. Kellum owns Built Fitness, a personal training and fitness program in Downingtown.

• Wednesday: Fletcher will provide a motivational program on boxing, motivating participants to fight against everything holding them back. Fletcher owns GunzDown Glovezup a Philadelphia-based program teaching youth to put down guns and pick up boxing gloves.

• Friday: Fletcher and Kellum will come together to train participants to push the limits to change for the better.

Gunzdown GloveZup

Fletcher said when he was growing up he was a big guy who was in and out of trouble. He said there was a lot of gun violence in Philadelphia.

After being treated for a gunshot wound to the head when he was just 23 years old, he decided it was time to give back to the community.

Soon after, he started his nonprofit to provide boxing lessons to the underserved communities to teach that there are alternative ways to deal with anger than gun violence.

“You have to think things through,” he said. “We have to work together in the community.”

Fletcher said he runs up and down hills and climbs up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Fletcher said he hopes to train kids and adults in boxing.

Built Fitness

Kellum grew up in Coatesville, where he was an athlete. He went to Lincoln University, where he was a track star and an All-American athlete.

But in his sophomore year, Kellum was arrested for selling crack cocaine.

He was later sentenced by a federal judge to a mandatory 20 years in prison, but got out in 15 years.

While in prison, Kellum said, he became religious and started planning ahead to be an athletic trainer. He was released in February 2014.

He has since opened a training facility, Built Fitness, 123 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. The facility provides fitness training and weight loss for people of all ages.

Kellum said his goal is to give back to his community.

“Fortunately for me, I had a chance to change my life,” he said. “You can go through life and have problems that you can overcome. This is about maximizing every opportunity.”