The fourth annual Ju-Ju’s Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 17, noon-9 p.m., at Penn Park is where the community will come out for family fun, competition, and giving back. Julian Walters, a longtime Madison south sider and founder of the event, has a lot planned for the day.
“We got a lot of cool features this year for Ju-Ju’s Block Party. Of course, we’ll have a lot of the same stuff we always have like the basketball tournament and the backpack giveaway, but we will also have some new partners that will bring a new flare to the event. We’re excited to be able to give back to the community, adding different things for the kids,” Walters tells Madison365.
The first Ju-Ju’s Block Party was held in 2021. Walters remembered having fun at the Johnny Winston, Jr. Streetball and Block Parties he would attend in his youth at Penn Park and he wanted to do something like that on his own.
“Initially, it was just something I wanted to bring back to the community. It was something that was held as a kid by Johnny Winston. Since then, now as a professional, I wanted to add my own flair to it focusing on resources, housing and economic growth for families,” Walters says.
“This year, we’ll have plenty of resources at the event with different organizations surrounding health, wealth and enhancement like Moving Up, Quartz, Navitus, Eventus, Safe Communities, etc. We’ll have a good amount of organizations there that people can get information from so they know what resources they have in their community,” Walters adds.
The streetball tournament is a highlight of the Ju-Ju’s Block Party with many talented players and teams from the area competing on the Penn Park courts The basketball tournament competition is always fierce. “This year we’ll have the most teams that we ever had. Last year, we had eight teams. This year we’ll have 16. It’s growing,” Walters says. “We’re going to have some fun on the court, too, and we’re excited to partner with a couple NBA friends who will come and bring some resources, as well.”
The basketball tournament will take place on new basketball courts at Penn Park, which were recently renovated in June. “Since 2020, I’ve engaged Madison Parks about a new basketball court. I actually worked with Madison Parks on the hiring of a new park superintendent and with suggestions and a stakeholder for Penn Park. So it’s great to see what they’ve done at the park in this first year and some of the things that I suggested implemented,” Walters says. “I know that I’m excited about it; I know the community is excited about it. That’s the first court renovation that has ever happened in Penn Park since Penn Park was established.”
Ju-Ju’s Block Party will also have more barbers this year giving out free haircuts to the kids at the block party to make sure they are looking their best for the start of school. “We’ll have scholarships given out to three high school seniors worth $2,000 a piece,” Walters says. The YMCA will also be at Ju-Ju’s giving out 10 free year memberships to 10 families.
“We will have a lot of resources that people can patronize as well Black businesses that are going to be on display,” Walters says. “We’ve got about 20 vendors, which is the most we’ve ever had. So it’s just a lot more engagement this year, and a lot more for people to come out and see.
“And we’ll have the fire department out there with the trucks, and the police department on horses and ice cream trucks, and it’ll be something for everyone in the family to enjoy,” Walters adds. “And we’re excited to bring it to the community for another year.”
(Photo by Hedi Rudd)
Ju-Ju’s Block Party has a mission to encourage kids to stay on a positive track through community engagement and activities. A big part of the annual Ju-Ju’s Block party is highlighting the Black excellence that goes on in the community.
“My favorite part of the event is that moment I get to step back and see everybody enjoying the party — you’ll see people at the food truck who are enjoying themselves and people at the basketball court balling. You’ll see kids at the bouncy houses, and it’s just like, ‘Wow, we really put together something that people of all ages can enjoy and that you can bring your family to that everyone can enjoy and it’s within walking distance.’ I think being able to see that, and having it in a safe environment, is probably my favorite part about the event,” Walters says.
A great team of volunteers helps Ju-Ju’s Block Party run smoothly every year. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities for Ju-Ju’s Block Party, email [email protected].
“This year’s event should be great. We are expecting an overall bigger event with more attendance and more excitement around it,” Walters says.
