As part of our On The Ground coverage, editor Erica Horton visited with community leaders and stakeholders in Orange Mound. These live interviews provide a candid glimpse of the passion that fuels the neighborhood's nonprofits. 

The Orange Mound Community Service Center

Tennille Moten, director of the Orange Mound Community Service Center, gives a short tour of the 33,000-square-foot center located at 2572 Park Avenue and talks about the classes and camaraderie provided to the neighborhood's senior population.

 

Related: "Video: Orange Mound elders tell their community's story"

Blues City Cultural Center

Deborah Frazier, project director and co-founder of the Blues City Cultural Center discusses the Orange Mound heritage room that will open in April at Melrose High School and her efforts to engage Orange Mound youth through the arts.

JUICE Orange Mound

Britney Thornton, founder of JUICE Orange Mound, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing economic self-sufficiency to Orange Mound, talks about the Round The Mound: 5K Walk/Run to take place on Saturday, October 28 and JUICE's commitment to the neighborhood.



Related: "New community organization focuses on self-sufficiency in Orange Mound"

901 BLOC Squad

Link Fisher, violence intervention worker for the 901 BLOC Squad talks about the impact they're making in Orange Mound. 901 BLOC Squad is a community mobilization, outreach and intervention team focusing on combatting youth gun violence among 14 to 25-year-olds through street-level outreach. This intervention team links vulnerable and at-risk youth and their families to educational opportunities, employment training and assistance, mental health services, substance abuse treatment and other resources.


 

Project Fresh

Jade Clark, executive director and founder of Project Fresh, a nonprofit committed to educating and empowering youth to make healthy, sustainable food choices, talks about partnering with organizations in Orange Mound.

 

My Cup of Tea

My Cup of Tea in Orange Mound is a tea packaging company that employs women in the neighborhood. The residents take classes to learn all about packaging, making and selling the unique product.



Related: "From sweet to salty, Orange Mound eateries prove experienced hands make the best food"