West End Connection: Cookeville Non-Profit Working For The Historical Community

A new Cookeville non-profit has formed in Cookeville preserving the history of the West End community.

The organization West End Connection was created by President Natalie Okorji (Oh-Core-Gee) alongside other community members. Okorji said she grew up in West End and wanted to keep its story alive.

“West End area is historic to the Cookeville city due to it being the only predominant African-American community in Cookeville,” Okorji said. “So our mission  number one is preserving the area.”

Okorji said the organization units residents so that everyone knows a little bit of history that they live. Okorji said by recognizing West End’s importance, people bring more pride to the area.

“It is very special to us,” Treasurer Monica Reynolds said.”We get out in the community and the city and talk to them about West End, and a lot of them have know idea that it is there or exists or how to get there. So, it is nice to sit down and tell people about our home.”

Okorji said the organization has 2022 planned out with plenty of events to make that connection happen. Okorji said things kick-off this spring with a gardening class for young people.

“For spring break we have that outlined as well as during the summer on every Saturday in June, we will have different programs for the kids and adults to come out and partake in for 2 to 4 hours ,” Okorji said. “Everything we do we are doing here in the community to help out residents.”

West End Connection has two weekends of cleanups, a weekend of yard maintenance and a back to school bash all planned. Okorji said the organization operates from the park in the community. A place where Okorji and Reynolds both grew up.

“Change has came and we honor the change, because the world is definitely more diverse than ever and the community is more diverse than ever,” Okorji said. “What we are recognizing is we have children that play together and go to school together. Therefore, let’s connect and bring the sense of community back to the community.”