Fundraiser and block party kick off Alton Park improvement project

People watch rapper Tru Saint perform at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services. People watch rapper Tru Saint perform at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services.

By Yolanda Putman July 10, 2016 3 min read

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Alton Park host community block party and fundraiser

Raynaria Clark watches rapper Tru Saint perform at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services.

Marilyn Jones takes a selfie with Savannah Stepp on her lap as Melody Hayes, left, and Summer Hayes watch at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services.

Tareef Binford, Ari Craig, and Janiyah Jackson, from left, blow up balloons at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services.

Rapper Tru Saint performs at a block party and fundraiser at Westside Baptist Church held to raise money for community projects to make Alton Park a better place to live on Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The fundraiser, organized by Westside Baptist Church and the Nation of Islam, was held to assist in the establishment of the Community Haven which will include a nutrition and healthy eating program, counseling, and other services.

More Info

To donate go to the community haven go fund me account.

Nobody has been able to lift Alton Park above the crime and poverty plaguing the inner-city community for years, so the people who work, worship and volunteer there say they will lift themselves – and on Saturday they celebrated while doing it.

“We’ve been waiting for leaders to do things. We’ve voted people in and nothing has come of it,” said Charlotte S. Williams. “So what we’re doing is deciding we’re going to come together in unity and do something out of our own pockets.”

Williams, pastor of Eastdale Village Community Church, stood with local Nation of Islam leader Kevin Muhammad and Westside Baptist Church pastor Timothy Careathers as they hosted the Heaven on Hughes fundraiser and block party.

Muhammad said he wanted to set an atmosphere for unity and fun.