If you’ve spent any time around the east side of Madison, Wisconsin, specifically near the Goodman Community Center, you’ve likely heard the name Imru Currie. Honestly, people aren't just searching for a resume or a LinkedIn profile when they look him up. They are looking for the story of a man who basically became the heartbeat of a community in a very short amount of time.
Madison is a "big small town." Everyone knows someone. But Imru Currie was different because he didn't just know people—he made them feel seen.
Who Was Imru Currie?
Growing up in Madison gives you a certain perspective on the city. You see the shifts in the Ironworks district, the gentrification of the near-east side, and the way community spaces like Goodman serve as an anchor. Currie grew up here, left for a bit, and then returned about three or four years ago.
He didn't come back to just "live" here. He came back to add texture to his life. That’s a phrase he actually used. It's a heavy thought, isn't it? The idea that our lives need more grit, more involvement, more giving to feel complete.
When he showed up at the Goodman Community Center (GCC) in 2021, he wasn't looking for a paycheck. He was looking to volunteer. He started with the older adult program. But the thing about Imru was that he didn't stay in his lane. He’d finish his shift with the seniors and then just... hang out. You’d find him at the front desk. Or in the kitchen. Or playing pickleball with the staff during lunch. He was everywhere because he wanted to be where the people were.
The Impact on Madison's East Side
Madison’s east side has a specific vibe. It’s gritty but polished, diverse but sometimes siloed. Currie broke those silos.
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He eventually transitioned from a volunteer to a staff member, taking on a role in Hospitality and eventually becoming the Events and Hospitality Manager. It was his first real management gig. Most people approach their first management role with a lot of "by-the-book" rigidity. Imru didn't. He looked at the managers he had admired in his own life and tried to emulate their empathy rather than their authority.
Why this matters for Madison:
- Bridge Building: He connected the youth programs with the senior programs just by being a familiar face in both.
- Accessibility: He made the "front door" of the community center feel like a living room.
- Storytelling: In April 2023, he was one of the featured storytellers at a live event hosted by the Mad City Story Slam founders. He wasn't just a worker; he was a voice for the neighborhood.
What Most People Get Wrong
Sometimes, when someone becomes a "local legend" or a frequent name in community blogs, people assume they were some high-profile politician or a wealthy donor. Imru wasn't that. He was a guy who, by his own admission, didn't have money to give.
"I didn't have money to give, but I did have time," he once noted.
That’s a radical thing in a city like Madison, which can sometimes feel obsessed with status and degrees. He proved that the most valuable currency in Wisconsin’s capital isn't always a tech salary from Epic or a tenure track at UW-Madison. It’s showing up.
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The Pickleball and the Smile
It sounds like a cliché, right? "He had a smile that lit up the room."
But in the case of Imru Currie, people in Madison talk about that smile like it was a physical force. It’s mentioned in almost every memorial and blog post about him. He used it during those staff pickleball games, and he used it when he was managing the front desk during chaotic events.
He was a hiker, too. He came from a family of hikers. He once talked about his grandparents, who were actually famous in certain circles for hiking the Smoky Mountains more than almost anyone else. That’s the kind of DNA he had—the kind that keeps moving, keeps climbing, and keeps looking for the next view.
A Sudden Loss
The reason many people are searching for "Imru Currie Madison WI" today is rooted in a sense of collective grief. Imru passed away in 2025.
It was a shock to the Goodman community. When someone who is basically the human equivalent of a "welcome" mat is suddenly gone, the floor feels a bit colder. The center published a tribute to him in August 2025, highlighting how he had become a "regular" in the lives of so many people who didn't even know his last name at first—they just knew "the guy with the smile."
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Why His Story Still Matters
We live in an era where community is becoming increasingly digital and isolated. Imru Currie represents the antithesis of that. He was a "hyper-local" hero.
He didn't need a global platform to make an impact. He just needed a community center on Waubesa Street. His life is a blueprint for how to return to your roots and actually make them stronger.
If you’re looking to honor that kind of legacy or if you're just wondering why this name carries so much weight in Madison, the answer is simple: he showed up. He stayed late. He played the game. He listened to the seniors. He mentored the kids.
Actionable Insights for Community Building
If you want to take a page out of the Imru Currie book for your own neighborhood, here is how you actually do it:
- Start with Time, Not Money: Don't wait until you're "successful" to volunteer. Show up now.
- Be a "Lingerer": Don't just do your task and leave. Stay 15 minutes late. Talk to the person at the front desk. Cross-pollinate between different groups.
- Prioritize Hospitality: Whether you're a manager or a neighbor, treat your "territory" like a home. Make people feel invited, not just tolerated.
- Share Your Story: Participate in local slams, write for the neighborhood newsletter, or just talk to people. Your narrative is the glue of the community.
The legacy of Imru Currie in Madison isn't found in a building named after him or a statue. It’s found in the fact that the Goodman Community Center feels a little more like a family because he spent a few years making sure it was. If you find yourself on the east side, stop by Goodman. Grab a coffee. Say hello to someone you don't know. That’s exactly what Imru would have done.