We bring to light the awe-inspiring feats of Detroit’s very own hero, Jerjuan Howard, during his ‘From Puritan with Love’ 7-2 day, 5K run.
Detroit has always been a city that births champions. But what Jerjuan Howard demonstrated over the past few years transcends any typical description of victory – he embodies the essence of ‘Puritan with Love’.
The 2nd annual “7-2 Day” hosted by the Umoja Debate Team proceeded with an extensive lineup of events!
Founded by Detroit’s Jerjuan Howard, the Umoja Debate team is a youth debate team based in Detroit, MI. By using debate as a vehicle to provide students with the opportunity for self-expression, critical thinking skills, and conflict resolution skills.
The first annual 7-2 Day took place on July 2, 2022, and was a huge success. “7-2 Day” is a series of events on Puritan Avenue that allows community members to showcase positive pride in their neighborhood. The events included neighborhood cleanups, free little library installations, black owned business highlights, face painting for children, live music, food trucks, an empowerment panel and more, all on Puritan.
This year, 7-2 Day was a 2-day event. Starting on July 1st, volunteers had the opportunity to participate in neighborhood beautification through a mural painting Umoja Village, followed by a 5k Community Run/Walk.
“7-2 Day is a day of events on Puritan to showcase positive pride in the community,” said Jerjuan Howard. “I grew up on Puritan all of my life, the spot that we’ll be starting the run from is six blocks from my childhood home and I still stay in this area myself.”
Unlocking even more opportunities to engage, on Sunday July 2nd, there was a neighborhood clean-up, business highlights along Puritan, and 2 cook-outs for social engagement and local vendors to close the day.
Puritan, the neighborhood that raised Jerjuan, was a focal point of this endeavor. Each step taken during the 5K run was a homage to the nurturing soil of his roots, showcasing not only his physical strength but his profound love for his community.
In the world’s largest stages, it’s the smallest communities that shape our biggest dreams, and what Jerjuan has accomplished is a testament to this truth. ‘From Puritan with Love’ wasn’t just about crossing a finish line—it was about running the extra mile for the community that helped him find his stride.
“I wanted to put on something that changes the narrative,” Howard said. “We can look within our communities to do anything that we want to rather that’s physical fitness or recreation, whatever the case may be we have the power to do that here.”
The ‘From Puritan with Love’ 7-2 Day 5k run, wasn’t merely a marathon—it was a declaration of love and gratitude to his home. He demonstrated that love could fuel strength and endurance, and that every challenge we overcome is a love letter to those who’ve helped us stand strong.
“Growing up my mom would take me to Oak Park to go play or to have a picnic or go to Southfield to walk the track,” said Howard. “I always thought to myself that we outsource for so much when we can do all of that right here, in our own neighborhood too.”
Through his journey, Jerjuan proves that success isn’t always about individual triumph, but about uplifting the places and people that have shaped us. He’s not only a champion runner, but also a champion of love and community.
“7-2 Day is all tailored towards the idea of positive pride in your community – that’s the first step to make a change and that’s what we’re trying to plant,” he said.
In conclusion, Jerjuan Howard’s ‘From Puritan with Love’ 7-2 day, 5K run wasn’t just a sports event—it was an exploration of human resilience and a tribute to the nurturing spirit of community, a tale of love and determination that will forever be etched in the heart of Detroit.