The month of May brought a lot of changes in Memphis’ Orange Mound community. Let’s go back so that we can move forward. The Collective (CLTV) was a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and propelling African-American culture in Memphis. Primarily the focus for CLTV was on the arts.
Note the verb “was.” In mid-May, the organization changed its name to Tone and expanded its mission to the community as a whole. By the end of May, it was announced that Tone had partnered with Unapologetic, a music-centric arts and culture organization, to develop the United Equipment tower and surrounding property on Lamar.
Now, the partnership is having its first event at the Orange Mound Tower. The celebration will host musical performances, food trucks, games, and more to celebrate the legacy and freedom of those who came before. In a historically Black neighborhood, community-forward Black ownership definitely honors the Black community and ancestors.
The emphasis on family for this Juneteenth celebration is intentional, says Victoria Jones, founder and executive director of Tone. “Family reunions used to be a highlight of my year when I was a kid. The desire to expand that experience to include the artists and creatives I have grown to call family through the celebration of freedom was a huge inspiration for our Juneteenth Family Reunion. We are inviting our ancestors into the space — it’ll be a real family affair as we celebrate their perseverance and hope that got us this far.”
Juneteenth Family Reunion, Orange Mound Tower, 2205 Lamar, Saturday, June 19, 5-11 p.m., free.
