Another chance at life; words of wisdom from an OG to our youth

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

This individual is someone I am honoured to be able to connect with. From a young age, I had grown up listening to stories about them from the communities that I reside in and also had been a supporter of their music.

I had privately written some poetry pieces, short stories, and novels while playing their music on repeat. An influential and wise individual that I told myself from time to time that their story needs to be heard, I seized the first chance to reach out to them in hopes they would be open to sharing their journey to show our youth the power of growth. I wanted to enable our youth to know that they shouldn’t fear making changes to better themselves and that where they started doesn’t mean that is how the story has to end.

“Could you tell our readers a little about who you are, a bit about your story, and what you are doing currently?” 

“My name is Marlon Anthony Morgridge. I was born in Toronto, Ontario. I was raised in Toronto Community Housing in Lawrence Heights community, also known as the ‘Jungle’, but I primarily reside at the Trethewey Drive housing complex at Jane Street and Trethewey Drive known as Brown Bricks.

I am a college graduate, also a father of three sons: two of them living with autism, and also have been diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic. I founded my not-for-profit organization called ‘The Morgridge Foundation’ which I will talk a bit more about later on. I was once known to be an active gang member from the Trethewey Drive community in the 90s and have been involved in many negative activities that didn’t serve a positive purpose in our community. I was once charged with attempted murder in regard to a shooting in the housing complex I was raised in and ended up being convicted due to me pleading guilty to assault but not convicted of attempt murder which gave me a second chance to make better choices in life moving forward.

I am known as a musician/rapper in the Hip Hop community known as Sling Dadz and have had several singles put out under the Independent music label StreetCode Entertainment Canada. One of my most popular songs is entitled ‘I’m From JANE’ where I did a breakdown about the history of gang culture from Northside Jane Street to Southside Jane Street.

I recognize my community through my lens. In this record, I tried using it to unify the Jane strip by collaborating with rival gang members on one record to show the world that bad blood can be addressed by using music, and it’s possible to make a progressive change if all parties truly want change. 

I constantly wanted to do something that would make a mark or a stamp in our city that people would follow after the blueprint was set in stone. At this moment in time, I am currently a community worker working in the Weston community and parts of the Jane street community in North York. I provide resources and services to youth between the ages 12-24 years of age. I do support older ages as well, but the focus is the youth of today, so we can help provide the necessary tools for them to excel in what they need to do to further themselves in preparing for their future.”

“What inspired you to get into music?”

“Music remains a thing that has always been a part of me as far as I can remember. As a child, I consistently used to vision myself on the television screen performing and saying to myself that I can do this well, and that one day I will.

Growing up in my community I was always around living legends who over time became either popular or famous from music. Two of my childhood friends were both in rap groups that ultimately landed them two separate record deals from major record labels. Witnessing my childhood friends living out their dreams in front of me remains a constant inspiration to me and I’m sure to others from our community.”

“What were some of the short and long-term goals you wanted to accomplish in your life? Could you share some of the barriers and lessons you have learned along the way while aiming to accomplish your goals?”

“I had a few short-term goals in life, but I can say going back to school to further my education was one of them. Transitioning into a young man, I never considered the option to be successful with a career. I knew what I saw growing up in the Jane Street and Trethewey Drive community. Selling drugs was a way to survive. So presently, being a two-time college graduate without quitting or dropping out I can say this was a short-term goal that I had set for myself, and happy that I accomplished it.

My long-term goal is to complete university and obtain my Bachelor’s in Social Work. I also have started a non-for-profit organization called ‘The Morgridge Foundation’ that focuses on providing service to underserved communities that have been neglected and need the resources and services to be accessible to those who are incapable to gain or have access to assistance.

I want to ultimately have an office for my team so that we will be able to conduct weekly meetings and have regular discussions on community issues.”

“Who are your biggest supporters?”

“My biggest supporters are my fiancée, my firstborn son Jasiah, my mother, and my grandmother. I want to emphasize my REAL genuine friends and even the real fans of myself from being Sling Dadz the artist, or the street gangsters that recognize me as…Slinga. People who know me have seen the successful transition.”

“Thank you so much for sharing with us your story and your truth. Before we end this off, I would love for you to share some words of wisdom for the youth and younger generations?”

“To ‘overstand’ what is real and what is fake, realizing who is real with you, and to acknowledge when someone is not being real with you. Overstanding this will get you further in life. People need to realize your path is your path, and only you are designed to walk in that direction.”

Thank you very much once again, Marlon, for giving some of your time to connect with me! May you continue doing the amazing work that you do and for our young readers to take in all the wisdom from Marlon’s journey!