The best of Memphis always shows up as students say goodbye to summer and gear up for their return to the classroom. This year was no different as The Gloria Smith Foundation and other local stakeholders partnered with the Orange Mound Community Center for its Run the Mound event, providing backpacks for youth, haircuts for young men, air conditioners for the elderly, and a kids talent show hosted by homegrown hip hop legends 8Ball and MJG.
My personal highlight from the morning was the Foundation’s 8:00am walk/ run through Orange Mound, carrying young and old through the streets of this historic South Memphis community in the name of health and personal wellness. But this went well beyond a stroll, as the father and son duo that birthed The Gloria Smith Foundation (rapper 8Ball and runner Lace Wooten) charted a path through the neighborhood that took them to Park Avenue and Airways Boulevard (renamed by the City of Memphis as MJG Avenue and 8Ball Boulevard respectively) and through the streets that served as the backdrop to their childhood.
What was initially a walk through the community became a narrated origin story of the hip hop collective’s rise to prominence and the importance of local residents (many of whom greeted and shared their respect along the route) to their global success. From tales of getting first gold teeth at the neighborhood dental office, Jheri curls from the local beauty shop, food from childhood hotspots, and noted backdrops to album covers, 8Ball and MJG gave a history lesson on the importance of Orange Mound and how it shaped their trajectory of success as kids finding their way through Memphis. It was a story of community, a rare walking dedication to the people of Orange Mound who made a way for two men who represent so many.
Not to be lost in the moment was the physical task of walking the 1.4 mile neighborhood loop, as both 8Ball and MJG endured early-morning heat and inclines to make a statement that life-long wellness should be prioritized. This passing of the baton between father and son (8Ball and Lace) was a true testament as to how younger and older generations lead one another for the health and wealth of our communities.
Be on the lookout for more great things from The Gloria Smith Foundation (IG: @thegloriasmith.fnd), including its partnership with PTTP (IG: @pttpstore) as the two groups continue their More Than A Runner environmental awareness series promoting healthier communities for all Memphians.
This blog was written by Jonathan Reid
Jonathan founded PTTP as a means of leveraging creativity to address issues facing Black communities, with a focus on 4 specific pillars: environmental sustainability, personal wellness, gun violence prevention, and criminal justice reform. Through PTTP, he advocates for the protection of neighborhoods from legacy pollution, promotes self-efficacy through the emerging Urban Agriculture movement, and partners with organizations to bring Black families closer to nature with the long-term goal of fostering healthier relationships between communities and the outdoors.
Follow PTTP on Instagram (@pttpstore) and visit our website at http://www.pttp.store
