MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Hundreds of neighbors gathered at Penn Park on Saturday for Ju-Ju’s Block Party, an annual free event on Madison’s south side featuring back-to-school supplies, a street ball tournament, haircuts, face painting, bouncy castles and food.
Organizers described the event as a showcase of south side culture, offering local youth a chance to connect with positive role models. NBA basketball players, nonprofit CEOs and business leaders were among those in attendance.
Event coordinator Julian Waters said the tradition is personal for him.
“It means everything for me. When I was a kid there used to be a block party, and then they stopped. And so, to continue the tradition — to have families out here to see their idols. We have NBA basketball players, nonprofit CEOs, and business leaders. To see positive Black influencers out here is amazing. It means everything — the representation is everything,” Waters said.
Event planner and coordinator Jacquesha Hunt said the difficult summer made expanding the event more important, not less…