As part of an ongoing project with his foundation, Noah's Arc, former Chicago Bulls and current New York Knicks big man Joakim Noah led a peace march through the streets of Chicago on Thursday.
According to a report from K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Noah, now 33 years of age, led a group of kids and community leaders down the middle of West Jackson Boulevard as part of the city's “Rock Your Drop on the Block” street party outside the Vince & Pat Foglia Family & Youth Center on the city’s West Side.
Busy day of community service for Bulls and ex-Bulls. Joakim Noah is helping lead a Peace March with his @NoahsArcFdn on Chicago’s West Side. pic.twitter.com/6X30wsyUUL
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) August 2, 2018
Though he no longer plays for the Bulls, Noah says Chicago will always have a special place in his heart.
“‘Rock Your Drop' is something that’s very special to us. It’s a symbol for peace (and) I’m really proud to wear it every day,” Noah told the Tribune, referring to the pendant created by his mother, Cecilia Rodhe, who is a sculptor and certified expressive art therapist. “Even though I don’t play here in Chicago, Chicago is very special to me. It’s somewhere I’ll never forget.
“Chicago is plagued with a lot of violence,” Noah continued. “To march like this — the energy, the vibes — is so special. The community leaders who are out here every day, working for the kids, they’re the real heroes. And all the kids out here doing the right thing, rocking their drops, I want to show them love.”
Noah spent quite a bit of time viewing the artwork that the kids created. After posing for loads of pictures, the two-time All-Star dished out teardrop-shaped pendants that his mother created, which are meant to represent the loss of a loved one to violence.
“This is all about love,” Rodhe told the Chicago Tribune.
Noah has done a lot of good work in Chicago, and it is great to see him continue to do so even though he doesn't play for the Bulls anymore.
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