Orange Mound

Orange Mound was the first planned community built for and by African-Americans in the south. Middle-class black Memphians purchased inexpensive plots of land. Black-owned businesses flourished until the 1980s chronic disinvestment brought widespread crime and poverty. Today there is a strong, resident-led network of community and faith organizations and a stronger sense of history and neighborhood pride. The heart of Orange Mound is Melrose High School and its award-winning football team.

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Development News

Community Development

Explore Bike Share bicycle rental stations launching soon with more on the way in 2019

Michael WaddellWednesday, April 11, 2018

Feature Story

Composting takes place at the Compost Fairy's facility. (Submitted)

Sustainability

Memphis compost service turns food waste into rich soil

Mary K. LevieWednesday, March 28, 2018

Innovation & Job News

Volunteers from SunTrust Bank were on hand to help students work through their personal finance scenarios of managing a budget, balancing a checking account and preparing for unseen expenses.

Kids and Education

Melrose High School students make tough calls at financial education simulator

Kim and Jim ColemanWednesday, February 28, 2018

Feature Story

Multimedia artist Lawrence Matthews of The Collective talks with Dr. David Acey, professor of African-American rhetoric and creator of Africa in April at Black Resistance Opening Reception hosted by The Brooks programmed by The CLTV. (Ashley Bend)

Arts and Culture

From Stax Records to social media, two generations of Black arts leaders support the scene

Kirstin CheersWednesday, February 21, 2018

Development News

Healthy Communities

City fights blight for MLK Day of Service

Michael WaddellWednesday, January 17, 2018

Feature Story

The supply of decorated cakes is thinning at the Orange Mound Kroger. (Brandon Dahlberg)

Community Development

Orange Mound residents protest their closing grocery store

Erica HortonThursday, January 11, 2018

Development News

Kids and Education

Entrepreneur opens child care centers in underserved communities

Michael WaddellTuesday, January 9, 2018

Feature Story

SaveFirst aims to reduce the amount of people that fall prey to predatory tax services, which often overcharge low-income families upwards of $400 for simple returns.

Eonomic Development

SaveFirst aims to reduce predatory tax preparation in Memphis

Erica HortonWednesday, December 20, 2017

Feature Story

Kids start lining up at the home of Deidra Tuggle, the Candy Lady of Orange Mound.

Community Development

On The Ground Live in Orange Mound

Madeline FaberWednesday, December 6, 2017

Feature Story

Andrea Morales, On The Ground photographer, instructs a Melrose High student in photo technique.

Community Development

Four things the On The Ground team learned while reporting in Orange Mound

Erica HortonWednesday, December 6, 2017

Feature Story

Tiana Pyles became the new executive director of the Orange Mound Development Corporation in July and has goals to increase awareness about Orange Mound through two large scale festivals within the next two years.

Community Development

Community developers show that Orange Mound is worth investment

Erica HortonThursday, November 30, 2017

Feature Story

Jimmy Garner raises his hand during the Sunday service at Beulah Baptist. (Andrea Morales)

Community Development

Keeping the faith: Beulah Baptist Church has served Orange Mound since 1904

Andrea MoralesThursday, November 30, 2017

Feature Story

A view of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church on Carnes Avenue and Boston Street. (Andrea Morales)

Community Development

Keeping the faith: A tour in photos of Orange Mound's century-old churches

Andrea MoralesThursday, November 30, 2017

Feature Story

Santa visits Orange Mound Outreach Ministries in 2016 during the nonprofit's annual holiday party.

Community Development

Four ways to give back during the holidays in Orange Mound

Erica HortonFriday, November 17, 2017

Feature Story

Transportation

Getting 'round the mound: Residents advocate for transportation options in Orange Mound

Erica HortonWednesday, November 15, 2017

Feature Story

Community Development

VIDEO: Orange Mound elders tell their community's story

Lauren Squires-ReadyWednesday, November 15, 2017

Feature Story

Arts and Culture

Join High Ground News for The Age of Osage: Orange Mound in Photographs

Erica HortonTuesday, November 14, 2017

Feature Story

Panelists for Housing in Orange Mound: A Community Conversation (Left to Right): Howard Eddings, Neighborhood Housing Opportunities, Amy Shaftlein, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Britney Thornton, JUICE Orange Mound, Dwayne Jones, general cont

Community Development

Past, present, future: Orange Mound residents discuss a need for community development

Erica HortonFriday, November 10, 2017

Feature Story

Approximately 32 percent of homes in Orange Mound are vacant according to data from the US Census.

Community Development

Maintaining place: The challenges of homeownership in Orange Mound

Erica HortonWednesday, November 8, 2017

Feature Story

Maury Evensky, owner of Evensky’s Big and Tall, has witnessed the store's evolution from a sundry offering men and women's clothing, hardware and food to focusing solely on quality men's clothes. (Renier Otto)

Entrepreneurship

70-year-old clothing store in Orange Mound stands the test of a shifted neighborhood economy

Kim and Jim ColemanWednesday, November 8, 2017

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Orange Mound Highlights

Orange Mound Gallery models equitable development through arts Read Article

As redevelopments populate the Memphis map, some organizations like the Orange Mound Gallery look to more equitable ways to bring economic and social improvements to commercially disinvested areas.

Photo: An exhibit hosted in partnership with the University of Memphis' 1886 Memphis Massacre Symposium. Submitted

Memphis Black history: Orange Mound as a haven for Black Memphians Read Article

Memphis’ own neighborhood of Orange Mound has a significant spot in African-American history as it was the first residential neighborhood in the south open to African-Americans.

Andrew Breig

Bike share program will connect South Memphis, Orange Mound & Binghampton with core city Read Article

In line with its mission, Explore Bike Share will deliver a first-ever bike share program to Memphis with 60 stations housing 600 bikes across high-density areas of Downtown and Midtown as well as connector neighborhoods of South Memphis, Orange Mound and Binghamton.

Explore Bike Share will introduce the industry’s first and largest BCycle Dash system to Memphis by the spring of 2018, with 60 stations and 600 bikes with a planned 30-station and 300-bike expansion in 2019.

Photo: Explore Bike Share will introduce the industry’s first and largest BCycle Dash system to Memphis by the spring of 2018, with 60 stations and 600 bikes with a planned 30-station and 300-bike expansion in 2019. Courtesy Explore Bike Share

Orange Mound

Orange Mound Highlights

Orange Mound Gallery models equitable development through arts Read Article

Memphis Black history: Orange Mound as a haven for Black Memphians Read Article

Bike share program will connect South Memphis, Orange Mound & Binghampton with core city Read Article

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