My name is Kourtney Brown, AKA 2$ON The Prince (Tucson The Prince). I’m born and raised on the Eastside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was just 7 years old when I discovered my talent for drawing. From that moment on I explored my mind's discovery and continued down the path of creativity. Throughout my school experience, I would express my talents the most through visual arts and music. I had basic training in music and art class, but my skills sharpened the most outside of the classroom. My environment was the best resource for me, so coming from the inner city and walking the streets inspired my style for graffiti and Hip-Hop. Those street art forms related to my spirit the most and led me to a haven where I could expand even further. Rondell Crier who is the director of Studio Everything gave me a platform to perform my talents. Studio Everything is the root that connects to all the accomplishments I’ve obtained within the past 7 years. Throughout my time with  Studio, Everything gave me exposure to public art partnerships with organizations such as Glass House Collective, Mark Making, Stove works, Arts build, and Chattanooga Design Studio. My past work has led me to create something new. This new version of myself displays my improvement and determination to introduce a series of works that scales a mixture of multi-medium styles like screen printing, mixed media, audio, and film. Where I started in art, and where I am now is all a manifestation of the purpose I stand for and that is Black Rebel. I think it’s a form of self-expression and it phrases the overall image I hold as an artist. My art is to speak the truth and the truth always derails against the false narratives that poison our leadership in the world.  

When AWW asked me to create a series of art that centered on the impact of climate resiliency. At first, I didn't know where to start. But that was a good place for me to reach for inspiration. I had no choice but to learn. I broke down my thoughts in a certain way to find the right message to convey. I asked certain questions that challenged the politically correct definition of climate resilience and reflected on the environment in which I grew up. That reflection allowed me to relate to south Chattanooga in a way that answered the question in my own words. Preparing for environmental issues begins with mental health and the unity of the residents living in the communities that serve the land. How well are we taking care of ourselves in order to take care of the land? How well do we work together in order to be a force for hazardous prevention? The spaces that are economically underserved, fall short of the help they need because there is always a stigma that prevents the movement. Alton Park, Chattanooga has always been a place of pride and culture for the last 60 years. The community has been thriving with black families and the boom from the industrial factories in the 60s and 70s paved a way for those families to build and provide more inspiring futures for their families. A lot of good things happened from that economic shift but it also came with the unfortunate toll caused by environmental problems that poisoned the community. In 1976 residents of Alton Park filed a lawsuit against the Velsicol chemical company for their use of harsh chemicals that contaminated the water, soil, and air in the community. Forcing plants like Velsicol to fix what they have done has ultimately led to nothing but more trauma to the current residents of Alton park. My work in this project is focused on that trauma and how the people of Alton park have been able to recover and rebuild from what still is a place of pride and culture. I sat with three gentlemen by the names of Milton Jackson, Larry Bear High, and Travis Gladden to discuss their upbringings and views on life. We spoke about the good memories that sometimes came with challenges. I focused some of our talk on the subject of healing and how it became a useful tool to fix the damage from those challenges growing up. Although it's been a long journey for them all, it's still a warm essence to hear the history from their own perspectives and how it made each of them give back to their communities in the way that they have. That essence made my connection a special experience because of my relationship with my own community. It was an inspiration to be around men that stand up for the place that raised them into the men they are today. I'm growing up on my own journey through similar circumstances like many growing up in Alton Park. This project has allowed me to listen and speak in my own language, so in a way, it's like my art has imitated life. The relatability we all shared made me comfortable telling parts of my story and perspective. In which made our experience more healing and fruitful. I don't know if we can stop anything that happens naturally in this world, but we can prepare and provide for communities that need resources to sustain a healthy place to breathe and drink water. Alton Park is just one of those communities like many others which happen to be a pawn for the industrial system that exposes people to dangerous chemicals and breaks them down with hard labor. Those people are the engine for what's left of hard workers in the community. Hard workers like Mr. Milton, who is a trailblazer, and Mr. Bear, who is an entrepreneur. While Travis is the combination of them both. And is the current generation to keep the history and traditions alive. What I aspire for viewers of this site to receive is a welcoming space to reflect on their own community and what they value from the experience they've gained while living there. This website will exist as a space to tell true stories of resilience.

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. In Chattanooga, TPL is committed to advancing health, equity, and climate by putting the community at the center of everything that we do. Parks are a proven tool for addressing the effects of climate change, especially in marginalized communities that lack civic investment. A park is more than just a physical place to improve health and wellness. Parks are a community tool to build relationships, community ownership, and especially in residents’ quality of life in the face of climate change. Close-to-home parks and pathways can mitigate heat islands and improve air and water quality.

 The South Chattanooga program starts in this direction, reconnecting disinvested communities from East Lake Park to the Tennessee River through parks with new pathways.

Advancing a pathway across South Chattanooga is a top priority for TPL and the City of Chattanooga. The design and construction of the Alton Park Connector is one of our top park priorities this year. Alton Park’s physical separation from the rest of the city by natural and built barriers has left the community without the economic investment occurring to the west along the Tennessee River. The Alton Park Community’s vision for a more prosperous future relies on strong ties to the rest of the city. The path through Alton Park will serve as a dynamic asset reflective of community needs and cultural identity.

 If you want to learn more about the Alton Park Connector Project visit https://www.tpl.org/our-work/alton-park-connector