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]]>Cover Photo: saveur.com
The Idea of the Concept Shop
A concept shop is a destination where small artisans and business owners are able to showcase their goods. One of the main hang-ups for small business owners is the ability to get their products in front of customers. E-commerce is one way, but it is a crowded market. It’s often easier to push a locally crafted product to locals, but investing in the necessary real estate is also expensive.
With the help of City & State, small artisans in the area were able to highlight and showcase their products to people who came into their stores as well as to those who walked past.
Expanding to Women Business Owners
As Toro saw the growth of City & State and the entire Broad Avenue Arts District, she wanted to expand her outreach to local business owners. However, she noticed that despite the growing professional community, women and minorities were not highly represented. To help, she decided to assist these business owners in landing real estate.
She went back and talked with her own professional network and went on to create the Broad Angels Network. Toro and her partners wanted to assist female and minority Memphis entrepreneurs who were struggling to move into a brick-and-mortar location.
Oftentimes, finding the right real estate at an affordable price point is especially difficult. With her Memphis Entrepreneurship programs, Toro has helped local professionals connect with banks and receive the necessary funding required to open up a business in the first place.
Helping Through Education
While Toro is assisting up-and-coming professionals with opening their dream businesses and getting them off the ground, she’s also helping through education.
Toro found that one of the biggest issues individuals face when it comes to opening a business isn’t necessarily the lack of access to loans, but it is the lack of understanding of how to secure these loans and other forms of financial assistance. There are loans, offered through the city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee, as well as federal loans, all of which are specifically designed for female and minority entrepreneurs. However, many business owners are not aware that these loans are available.
To help, Toro has worked with business owners to educate them about the documentation and financial information that is required to open such a business. It is her goal to clear up confusion about the loan process and how entrepreneurs can access such loans from local lenders.
Additional Reading:
Original Saveur Magazine Article
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]]>The post 7 celebrities you didn’t know were from Memphis appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>Celebrities from Memphis include:
- Justin Timberlake, who was born in Memphis to Lynn and Randall Timberlake on Jan. 31, 1981. This former “Mickey Mouse Club” regular and Man of the Woods also has several films under his belt, including “Friends with Benefits” and the Oscar-winning “Trouble with the Curve.”
- Cybill Shepherd, who was born to a homemaker and a small business owner in Memphis. She modeled for major magazines and has been credited as both a movie and TV actress.
- Actor and Memphis native Chris Parnell, who took drama and auditioned for every play during his time at Germantown High School. When he was a senior at Germantown in 1985, he was voted “Most Talented” by his classmates.
- Ginnifer Goodwin, who got her start in west Tennessee and is best known for starring in the award-winning “Walk the Line,” a film about country music star Johnny Cash.
- Kathy Bates, who took her first breath in Memphis. Her role in “Fried Green Tomatoes” earned her a solid spot in the nation’s heart, and she has not looked back since.
- Memphis-born Lucy Hale, who is a budding country music star and renowned actress best known for her portrayal of goth-princess Aria on the TV show “Pretty Little Liars.”
- Morgan Freeman, who has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern American cinema. Morgan was born in Memphis to Mayme Edna Revere and Morgan Porterfield Freeman on June 1, 1937.
Additional reading:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003267972/
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]]>Here are the most important details you need to know:
WHO:
YOU are invited to be part of this incredible event! It is open to anyone, but if you are an educator or a business professional, you are especially encouraged to attend. Come make a lasting impact on the next generation of leaders and innovators in this country who could look back on this night as pivotal in their career.
WHAT:
Pitch Night is the exciting, fast-paced culmination of a 16-week finalist program. It is a fun opportunity for hard-working high school students to showcase the ventures they’ve created to build the future of Memphis. You will be invited to engage with the innovations and the leaders who created them. Vote to select the grand prize winner, and have a direct hand in helping to select thousands of dollars in additional funding for the best student ideas.
Light refreshments will be available.
Even better: Encourage students to use their full potential to change the world.
WHERE:
Join us in the McCallum Ballroom, Bryan Campus Life Center at Rhodes College. Address: 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, 38112
Free parking is available in the Rhodes campus parking lots. There are two lots within a short, one-minute walk to the Bryan Campus Life Center.
Tickets are $10 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the skills development and entrepreneurial ideas of future LITE students.
WHEN:
Thursday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m.
- 5:30 – 6:00: Hear from 27 different students as they share elevator pitches at their booths.
- 6:00 – 7:00: Watch eight finalists pitch on stage for the chance at funding.
WHY:
Because you could inspire a student to dream big AND improve a city you love. What could be better than that?
LITE has been named one of the five most innovative grassroots organizations driving change in the country by The Renewal Project. Forbes magazine has named it one of the 20 ideas that can change the world. This program has already helped over 2,000 students in Memphis develop and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.
WHY WAIT?
Get a head start! Between now and Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m., you are invited to vote for your favorite ideas here. Meet the young innovators and help decide who should pitch on the Pitch Night stage! These students want your vote!
Purchase your tickets here. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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]]>Millennials are flocking to America’s cities in record numbers, but not all cities are created equal. Memphis was recently listed as one of the top cities to which millennials are moving, with its millennial population increasing 9.5% between 2010 and 2015. This trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down, so let’s take a minute to talk about what it is that makes Memphis so attractive to millennials.
Since arriving in the working world, millennials have left an indelible imprint. And in easy to access cities like Memphis, TN, millennials have found a home to grow, live and flourish. This is the story of Memphis and its millennials.
A city on the move
For Memphis entrepreneurs, Memphis is a resilient and hardworking place you quickly learn to call home. In particular, many young, sharp minds with dreams of running a successful business have been drawn to this little big town. In fact, Memphis was recently named one of the top destinations for millennials. Steeped in community and committed to making a difference, we are Memphis and we are a city on the move.
A generation on the move
The noise coming from the millennial generation simply can’t be ignored. Indeed, one study indicated that millennials might just be the most entrepreneurial generation in history. Given that Memphis is a mecca for creative, innovative and hungry young minds, it’s no wonder more than 200,000 millennials have found a home in Memphis.
Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Memphis has been making great strides in encouraging people with big ideas to relocate here. Memphis provides a perfect environment for artists, creators, entrepreneurs and anyone with a dream of starting their own business. It’s certainly no coincidence that millennials have shown a thirst for leadership and have flocked to booming cities like Memphis.
Millennials experience success in Memphis
Also known as 3i Design Group, three(i) Creative Communications was founded by one young millennial in 2013. Since then, the organization has helped not one, but four candidates win their Memphis primaries this past election season!
This is just one example of how millennials are making an impact in Memphis. Together, millennial entrepreneurs are writing a new chapter of Memphis history, working with the city itself to grown and flourish. This is the story of Memphis and its millennials, and it is just starting to get good!
America’s largest small town
One of Memphis’ greatest strengths is its unique combination of big-city amenities and small-town charm. It has the cultural diversity and economic opportunities of a city, along with a tight-knit community and low cost of living typical of a much smaller municipality. This unique combination isn’t lost on the many new residents who are calling Memphis home.
Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Memphis has been making great strides in encouraging people with big ideas to relocate here. Memphis provides a perfect environment for artists, creators, entrepreneurs and anyone with a dream of starting their own business. It’s certainly no coincidence that recent studies have shown millennials to be possibly the most entrepreneurial generation in American history.
There are currently more than 200,500 millennials making their home in Memphis, and more arrive all the time. But what’s really interesting is why Memphis is growing in popularity among the millennial generation.
Why Memphis?
Apartment searching site Abodo recently published a survey of 2,000 millennials born between 1982 and 1998 to determine what they look for in a city. Turns out that a lot of the qualities they seek are among Memphis’ biggest strengths.
- A thriving job market: This is the No. 1 thing that surveyed millennials said they look for in a city, and Memphis delivers. In addition to the fact that several major corporations have branches or headquarters here—FedEx alone employs about 30,000 people in the area—Memphis has become a great place to not only get a job, but also start a business. In fact, CNN recently ranked Memphis among America’s best cities to launch a startup.
- Affordable housing: Memphis routinely ranks among the U.S. cities with the lowest cost of living, with home prices and average monthly rent well below the national average. Indeed, CBS News recently listed Memphis among the 10 cheapest places to live in the country.
- Parks and hiking trails: Many millennials stated that living in a city with lots of green space is absolutely essential. Memphis has that covered, from the Old Forest State Natural Area located just a mile outside of town to the vast outdoor playground of Shelby Farms Park.
Other qualities that ranked highly in the survey include increasing walkability, a revitalized downtown, music venues, a thriving creative class, local restaurants and coffee shops. Needless to say, these are all things you’ll find in Memphis.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Memphis is a place that encourages creativity and rewards hard work—qualities that the millennial generation has in abundance. Our city is known for its rich history, diverse culture, growing arts scene and business-friendly attitude, so it’s no surprise that it’s becoming a home for people who value those very same things. If you’re one of them, we look forward to meeting you!
(Additional reading and source information):
*200,000 millennials who have found a home in Memphis
*three(i) Creative Communications
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]]>- Celebrate local urban artists at the second annual Artsy Awards, taking place Friday, June 22, through Sunday, June 24.
- Fuse your appreciation for Japanese art and Memphis culture by dropping by the Cook Convention Center for Anime Blues Con during the last weekend of June.
- Reconnect with nature while enjoying the fare from your favorite food trucks at one of the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Food Truck Garden Parties.
- Revel in your shared love of one of our city’s most famous residents by attending Elvis Week 2018. This August’s event will be packed with impersonators, musicians and, of course, many of The King’s biggest fans.
- Crack up with Jerry Seinfeld when the legendary comedian swings into town on Friday, June 29.
- Whet your appetite at Whet Thursdays, a free, after-hours, open-to-the-public event that takes place at the Metal Museum on the first Thursday of the month from April through October.
- Switch up your workout routine and get ready for swimsuit season at iLoveKickboxing.
- Support the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park all summer long. Be sure to take advantage of $2 beers on Thirsty Thursdays, and don’t forget to check out the list of similar promotions!
- Attend the inaugural Butcher Board Festival in July, which is set to feature the best meats, pickled foods, fruits, sweets and cheeses from around these parts.
- Experience arts, crafts and music from around the country at the Cooper-Young Festival on Saturday, Sept. 15. Billed as “Memphis’ most anticipated outdoor celebration,” the festival is in its 31st year and going strong.
- Take in new and old classics at the Orpheum’s summer film festival.
- Get your golf on at one of eight disc golf courses located in Memphis.
- Head out to the Christian Brothers High School soccer field to watch the Memphis City Football Club in action.
- Jam to some live music with the Memphis skyline as your backdrop via the Peabody Rooftop Party concert series.
- Break out your lederhosen for Germantown Oktoberfest at the Germantown Civic Center.
- Winter is coming… in July? Get down to Westeros (a.k.a. the Rec Room) to watch the return of “Game of Thrones.”
- Beat the heat with some paleta at La Michoacana.
- Learn about the Lower Mississippi River—or just cool off at the scale model of Big Muddy—when you visit Mud Island River Park.
- BYOB and tour downtown or midtown with 16 of your closest friends aboard a River City Pedalers party bike.
- Cool off with a Memphis original at Jerry’s Sno Cones
- If you’re a music aficionado, you must tour Sun Studio, which has been referred to as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll due to its connections with many of the genre’s most legendary musicians.
- The Delta Fair & Music Festival is happening from August 31 to September 9, and it’s not to be missed! Enjoy carnival rides, culinary exhibits, livestock judging and a range of other exciting, educational and interactive things to see and do.
- The 29th Annual International Goat Days Festival has been a Millington, Tennessee, tradition for the last 29 years and this year’s event takes place Sept. 7 to Sept. 8. Enjoy live music, incredible food, fun games and rides, an antique tractor show, and goats galore.
- The Zoo Rendezvous on Sept.8 is the Memphis zoo’s largest fundraiser of the year. Drop by to enjoy entertainment on four stages while you contribute to a good cause.
- Take a self-guided tour of the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum which is packed with over 300 minutes of information and features more than 100 songs.
- Drop by the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid to experience one of the craziest places you will visit while in Memphis. The shop is inside a giant pyramid that also houses what feels like an adult playground, complete with an aquarium, bowling alley and the five star Big Cypress Lodge resort.
- The Crystal Shrine Grotto located at Memorial Park Cemetery, is a manmade cave filled with quartz crystals and unique religious sculptures. Created by a Mexican artist over the course of 50 years, this magnificent attraction boasts free admission.
- Take a walk down Beale Street. While it might look like any other tourist destination, there is more to it. Eat a juicy burger cooked in 100 year old grease at Dyer’s and enjoy a world-class concert at the New Daisy Theater among other fun things.
- If you have kids, be sure to drop by the Peabody Hotel in Downtown Memphis to watch the famous Peabody Ducks go to and from the hotel fountain in a grand procession complete with a red carpet and paparazzi.
- Do you love nature? If the answer is yes, take a trip to Lichterman Nature Center and enjoy 65 acres of forest, lake and meadow.
With numerous Memphis events happening all year round, the list above highlighted just a few things to do in Memphis during your visit.
No matter what you’re into, there’s plenty to see and do in Memphis. Take your pick from the options listed above or chart your own course of adventure through the Bluff City.
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]]>The post See how this new Memphian is thriving in our city! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>Q: Why did I stay in Memphis?
A: When I first meet someone, I always ask if the person is from Memphis, and some of my favorite conversations have stemmed from learning about their “Memphis story.”
Let me tell you about my Memphis story.
Six years ago, Memphis was not in my vocabulary. In fact, it was not even on my radar until Spring 2012 when I visited the city for the first time. Later that fall, I moved from a small town in Kentucky to attend Rhodes College. Little did I know, I would soon identify myself as a “Memphian.”
My experience at Rhodes College would not have been complete without this city. I chose to be an Urban Studies and Community Health major because I saw Memphis as a bridge to real-world application. Through an urban studies lens, I was able to see Memphis as a hidden gem and simultaneously learn about the opportunities for growth. Unlike other cities I had visited, I saw Memphis as an opportunity to directly engage with and be a part of a community that could use me just as much as I needed it. I was not quite sure what it was, but there was certainly a draw to know more about the place, its rich history, its authentic culture, and where the city would be in ten or twenty years.
Tremendous opportunity exists to connect urban planning and design to public health, especially as people begin to rebuild and reimagine space. Oftentimes people’s health is directly correlated with their built environment. The Memphis Medical District Collaborative, the organization I work for, and its partnerships are a major key to the development of this city’s future. Being able to create a more vibrant atmosphere, connect neighborhoods, and strengthen human relationships is essential to building on what is already present. Each day I have the opportunity to work towards a mission that I hope will bring positive change to our community.
-Mariko Krause
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]]>The post Memphis graduates, here are the top 5 things to know when job-hunting! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>For starters, you have access to countless Memphis startups, businesses and entrepreneurs—not to mention big corporations with Memphis headquarters—all of which are eager to connect with hard workers who have big ideas straight out of college. Second, there are a lot of prestigious Memphis colleges and universities that look pretty darn good on a resume. Whether you’ve just graduated from any one of our more than 10 colleges and universities, these tips will come in handy as you head out on your job hunt.
- Start early: If you wait until after graduation to start your job search, you’re already late. Many college students start networking with faculty members, lining up internships, taking leadership roles in campus organizations and attending club events as early as freshman year. It sounds crazy, but these are competitive times—get an early start or risk getting left behind.
- Focus on what you’ve learned: Employers like to see candidates with experience, but as you’re no doubt aware, it’s hard to show experience when you’re looking for your first real job. If you don’t have a long employment history, focus instead on your life experiences. What have they taught you? How would you apply those lessons to a new job? How did they make you a better, more well-rounded person? If you can answer these questions with conviction, you’ll impress most employers more than you would by simply reciting a laundry list of previous jobs.
- Polish up your social media presence: When it comes to social media, there are two things you should keep in mind. One, it offers a great opportunity to show off your professional skills, network and connect with people who can help you in your budding career. Two, if your mom has a Facebook page, chances are your future boss does too, so be careful what you post.
- Learn to budget: Your college days are behind you now, and so is the “work-hard-play-hard” ethos that came with them. It’s easy to see your first real pay check as your ticket to new clothes and nights out at the bar, but that attitude is a great recipe for a hangover and an empty wallet. Landing a job requires focus, and staying out of debt requires learning how to manage your money. After all, that first job might not last forever.
- “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams”: Although it’s been a while since Henry David Thoreau penned that famous quote, it’s stood the test of time. Even as it becomes more difficult to secure the type of safe, permanent job that defined past generations, there’s never been a better time to start your own business and follow your own unique vision. Decide what you want and go after it.
Memphis has a reputation as the best city for startups, a friendly place for businesses, and a city that supports arts, music and all things creative. If you’ve just graduated from college and are working on figuring out your next move, you couldn’t have a better launch pad. We wish you the best of luck!
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]]>The post I’m Just A Tourist Here, Too: A Love Letter to Memphis Music appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>By Jayne Ellen White
An 80-year-old man from a small town in India once told me that when he was a teenager, he earned 10 cents a week. There was a jukebox in his village with two Elvis records in it, and each play cost five cents. Every Friday night, he spent his entire weekly wage listening to Elvis.
At 24, I was a former Army brat who never stopped moving from city to city. After college in Philadelphia and a short stint in Phoenix, I was ready to land in a place that felt like home—somewhere I actually wanted to stay for a while.
I’m originally from Appalachia, and I knew I needed to get back to the South. After all, that music informed my childhood. My early days were rich with Americana record players that played through fuzzy, blown-out speakers as my father yelled the names of the musicians over their songs. “James Burton!” “Carl Perkins!” “Johnny Cash!” In their own way, these musicians would become like gods to me.
In 2004, I was 22 and obsessed with both the blues and the biblical narrative of Robert Johnson. Naturally, this led to a musical road trip through the South. My then-boyfriend and I headed from Philadelphia to Nashville’s country and folk music museums, then explored the rock ‘n’ roll and soul of Memphis. In Mississippi, we delved into the Delta Blues, soaked up New Orleans’ jazz and its pre-Katrina vibe, then made our way through Texas.
When we finally landed in Arizona, I stayed for a whole year and a half, but I couldn’t seem to get Memphis—or its music—off my mind. When it was time to move on, my decision was easy: On Dec. 26, 2006, I hopped on a bus in West Virginia and embarked on an 18-hour ride to Memphis. After I found a place to live with a childhood friend, I got a job working at a Midtown bar. One day, I called Sun Studio on my flip phone and asked if they were hiring. As serendipity had it, I would end up working at Sun Studio for nearly a decade.
My first live music experience as brand-new Memphian came only a few days later in the form of the Reigning Sound on New Year’s Eve. On that freezing night, the Hi Tone on Poplar Avenue was so packed with fellow Memphis music lovers that I could barely move in the crowd. I knew I was home.
I went on to experience the likes of Alex Chilton, Rufus Thomas, Mud Boy and the Neutrons, Blackrock’s “Yeah, Yeah,” Tommy Burk and the Counts, Otis Clay, Wayne Jackson and so on. I devoured every piece of Memphis music that I could find—or that found me—and I fell deeply in love. I became obsessed with figuring out what made it possible for artists to create so much magic in this city, and for decades, historians and music academics have been pondering the same question. Why did all of this happen in Memphis? Geography? Economy? Agriculture? Boredom? The variables that influence art seem to be immeasurable.
Eleven-plus years later, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is my professional home. I continue to enjoy the opportunity to speak on our great city—the joy and comfort that its music has brought to cultures near and far, its effects on social and civil rights, and the fact that we still have so much art to make here. Some of our visitors don’t speak the language. Some weep because they waited their entire lives to be here. Some are fulfilling a bucket-list quest. Some are here to answer the question, “Why Memphis?” But all are eager to celebrate and experience not only the city itself, but the cultural imprint that Memphis has left on the world.
To many of our visitors, Memphis represents an immeasurable emotion that we cannot touch. There is nothing I’d rather do with my days than spend them with the people I relate to so much. After all, I’m just a tourist here, too. #BringYourSoul
For all things Memphis, check this out!
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]]>The post 14 reasons why upcoming songwriters need to move to Memphis! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>We have our share of musical landmarks, as famous artists like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Otis Redding and more have called Memphis home. But present-day Memphis is also experiencing a musical renaissance that new artists want to be a part of.
A dollar goes further in Memphis
Once you’ve sold a million records, you can live anywhere you want. If you’re just getting your start in the music industry, however, the world isn’t quite your oyster—yet. That said, music industry jobs in Memphis pay fairly well, coming in at around 79 percent of the average national salary. It also helps that Memphis is one of the cheapest big cities to live in, regardless of what you do for a living.
The live music scene
Beale Street is one of the biggest reasons Memphis has such a reputation for being a musician’s city. While the highlight is B.B. King’s Blues Club, the downtown street is lined with venues featuring live music on any given day of the week. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll see your name in lights on Beale sooner rather than later.
An eclectic musical mix
Seattle’s got grunge, New York and Los Angeles have hip-hop and rock, and Nashville is the home of country music. While Memphis is known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and the home of the blues, today’s Memphis music scene boasts a bit of everything.
For instance, 8ball & MJG put Memphis hip-hop on the map in the ‘90s, then Three 6 Mafia picked up the mantle around the turn of the century. If punk is more your jam, Goner Records is home to a loyal and talented group of punk musicians. Whatever you’re into, you’re bound to find your people in Memphis.
Famous music studios
Electrophonic Records and Goner Records may be the current hot spots, but the studios of old have a major presence in Memphis to this day. Why not take a tour of Sun Studio, which became ground zero for rock ‘n’ roll? Alternatively, head on over to the site of Stax Records, which was home to artists such as Otis Redding and Booker T & the M.G.’s in the 1960s.
A lower cost of living
Compared to Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, the cost of living in Memphis is much more reasonable. What does that mean for you? Less time hustling to make ends meet and more opportunities to focus on your art.
Myriad music studios
The iconic Sun Studio is a cornerstone of Memphis music, but it’s by no means the only recording studio in town. Electrophonic Records and Goner Records are just two of the enterprises putting the next generation of Memphis musicians on the map. Could you be one of those musicians?
A vibrant live music scene
Music has been rated the biggest tourist attraction in Memphis, and it’s not hard to see why. In fact, there’s live music playing on Beale Street pretty much any time of the day that you visit, with countless clubs roaring to life each night. To catch large acts and national tours, stop by the nearby FedEx Forum.
Support for the arts
Music is the heart and soul of this city, so it’s no surprise that the arts receive a lot of support from residents and municipal funding alike. The numerous arts and music festivals hosted in these parts offer ample opportunities to showcase new talent—including your own.
A rich music history
It feels like an understatement to say Memphis has a rich musical history. There’s nothing like looking back at the past to get inspired for the future, and reacquainting yourself with the stories of Memphis music legends who made it big will help you do just that.
A lower cost of education
Memphis colleges charge lower tuition fees compared to many of their counterparts, and the selection of art schools in the city is ideal for upcoming songwriters eager to add a string or two to their bows.
Livability
Livability—the balance between work and social life—tends to quickly fall by the wayside in many cities, but not Memphis. If you’re considering a move to Memphis, you can rest assured that it’s a well-balanced city offering both business opportunities and a wide range of social activities.
Friendly people
The people of Memphis are warm and friendly, which will help newly relocated artists stave off homesickness and assimilate into new personal and professional networks. Newcomers to the Bluff City are warmly welcomed and embraced by everyone, but don’t just take our word for it—come see for yourself.
A cultural mix
Memphis is filled with different people from all walks of life, each with their own assorted backgrounds and customs. This yields a social and cultural mix that has inspired many a local musician to experiment with sound and rhythm.
You can find your inspiration
Memphis’ musical past gives the present a profoundly soulful feel. There’s just something about living at the crossroads of an urban vibe mingled with the slow rhythms of southern living that lends itself to the small-town feel and close-knit community that have been inspiring artists in Memphis for years.
Looking for musical inspiration in Memphis? Check this out!
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]]>The post Memphis’ Longest-Serving Public Educator on MLK50 appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>McKissick, now age 79, is a Memphian through and through. A native of North Memphis, she graduated from Douglass High School and received her teacher training through her years studying at historically black LeMoyne-Owen College and the University of Memphis, then known as Memphis State.
Like McKissick’s teaching career, Georgia Avenue, which closed several years ago, was brand new in 1960. McKissick, who comes from a family of teachers, entered the classroom with tremendous enthusiasm and passion for education.
But she also felt a strong sense of duty to nurture and provide a safe space for the children entrusted to her care each day, particularly during a time of tremendous upheaval in Memphis.
In 1968, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled to Memphis to support the sanitation workers’ struggle for equal pay and safer working conditions, McKissick was teaching at Lincoln Junior High, located in an impoverished African American community. All 800 students at the school were black, as were all faculty members, except for four white teachers.
“The kids did know, in a sense, what was happening, but they weren’t as aware because they didn’t have television — we didn’t have that much news,” said McKissick, who taught at Lincoln for 14 years. “There was not a lot of discussion around it, but we knew something was going to happen for the sanitation workers.”
McKissick had first-hand insight into developments in the community because of her father’s involvement in the civil rights movement.
“He wanted us to be part of the movement, as he was when he was a Firestone worker,” she said. “We watched him create changes there at Firestone. He’s the one who integrated the cafeteria there.” There were eight kids in my family, and we were aware of the struggles – the segregation and everything that was going on, maybe more so than other young people because of our dad.”
McKissick said civil unrest spread throughout the community, and the NAACP began organizing Black Monday boycotts against Memphis City Schools. Students and teachers throughout the city protested inequality in the classroom by boycotting schools on Mondays, and black workers from various sectors across the city joined them in a show of solidarity.
“We started to have turmoil throughout the communities,” she said. “On Black Mondays, teachers and staff members were encouraged to stay away from school to honor what was going on at that time.”
McKissick, however, remained at Lincoln on Mondays for children who needed a safe space.
“I did not stay away,” she said. “I would go to school but still honor what was going on…I felt I needed to be at school with my kids because I knew they were fearful, and they felt safe at school. Our school didn’t have many kids who were absent during those turbulent times because a lot of our teachers were at school. It was scary, but we assured them we were there to keep them safe.”
On April 4, 1968, McKissick learned through a radio broadcast that Dr. King had been assassinated at the Lorraine Motel.
“We were stunned that it happened,” she said. “The children had questions about why it happened and what was going on, and we tried to get them to understand that things were changing, as Dr. King had talked about in his speeches. Change had to come, but he wanted things to be peaceful. And we told them we wanted everything to be peaceful at school.”
During her 58 years in Memphis’ public schools, McKissick has witnessed more change than any other educator in the city – from segregation to integration to re-segregation.
“Things have changed quite a bit — from bussing kids from their communities to other places in an attempt to bring about some equality in education so they can all be prepared for the future. For some it worked well, while others found themselves back in their previous situation, in the re-segregation of schools, because many white kids did not attend those schools.”
Today, McKissick is principal of Avon Lenox High School, where she works with young adults with special needs.
“I love what I do and believe I made a difference in the lives of a lot of kids. I would say to young educators that there is hope. We have a lot of work to do. It’s our responsibility to prepare our children.”
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]]>The post Issues and Innovators: City Planning appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>Over the past five decades, Memphis has seen its fair share of change and growth. That said, a portion of that growth into newer and trendier areas has left behind and sometimes pushed out Memphians. The danger in this is that as trendy areas sprout up, often in traditionally minority neighborhoods, the new and costly developments price out old residents. Without an intentional strategy of how to ally redevelopment projects and new residents with old residents, Memphis is at risk of excluding some Memphians from being able to access the future of the city’s expansion, and, of course, any exclusion of peoples in this new city would certainly not honor the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In the second half of the 20th century, the population of Memphis grew, but so did its spread. As the outer suburbs of Memphis, such as Germantown and Bartlett, saw their populations and vitality grow and improve, the inner areas of Memphis witnessed stagnation. During this time, city planning focused more on the growth of the suburbs and less on the core districts of the city. As a result, there was a lack of investment in many minority areas, including North and South Memphis.
Now, after nearly four decades without a comprehensive city plan, Memphis 3.0 is seeking to recraft what the city will look like heading into its third century. When the last such plan for Memphis development was written and implemented, the trend in the city was to move farther and farther east. Today, Memphis 3.0 aims to see a strengthened core as well as growth and empowerment occurring in the northern and southern areas of Memphis in addition to the eastern areas.
Along with the plethora of ideas coming from the nonprofit sector for how to improve the city, Memphis 3.0 has sought to directly gain the input of city residents from the fourteen districts of Memphis. Memphis 3.0 has enlisted three locally-based artists to facilitate responses from residents on what improvements they wish to see in their communities. While striking up conversations with city residents using their art, these three artists have been able to ask complex questions in simple ways so that city planners can develop the Memphis 3.0 plan to better serve the people of this city. Dividing the fourteen Memphis districts between the three of them, the small crew of artists has spent ten weeks in each district to which they were assigned gathering data on residents’ needs, wants, and likes about their communities. The district data-gathering projects are set to conclude this summer after having begun in late 2017.
Though not a conventional approach to gaining resident feedback, embedding artists into Memphis communities is a valuable tool used by Memphis 3.0 to gather data on how city residents are really feeling about their neighborhoods and what they want to see improved. These artists have been able to engage with residents in ways that city planners cannot using art as a medium to illicit the thoughts and opinions of many Memphians. The significance of the artists’ presence and their work is that many residents of neighborhoods that were ignored or overlooked by the last sizable city planning initiative now have the chance to have their voices heard by those who will write the next plan for the city. Perhaps for the first time in Memphis’ history, the city is making an effort to gather and incorporate the thoughts of Memphians who have long been told how their neighborhoods will be developed rather than asked.
One of these artists, Yancy Villa-Calvo, has engaged with Memphians through her project GEMS (Go Explore Memphis Soul). In this project she has created a map of Memphis gems and has used it to ask city residents to share which parts of their communities they would consider gems and then to place tiny gems on her illustrated map over the spot that they treasure. Through this project, Villa-Calvo has sought not only to gather data points on people’s feelings towards their communities but to capture the stories that Memphians have regarding their city and their neighborhoods. Her care for the stories of regular Memphians has become a valuable asset in designing the Memphis of the future for these residents and for countless others.
Memphis 3.0 has stated on their website, “No one is more important to this [city planning] process than Memphians themselves because the best experts about our neighborhoods are the people in them.” With this belief and basis for action of those who will plan and implement the first comprehensive city plan for Memphis in nearly 40 years, then our city has the potential to become a more representative and livable place for all of its people.
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]]>The post Boo Mitchell talks about Willie Mitchell’s impact on popular music appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Boo Mitchell talks about his father Willie Mitchell’s continued influence on artists like the Talking Heads, Tina Turner, Wu-Tang Clan, and even Kanye West. It’s amazing to see the reach of Memphis’ sound from classic hits to the music we all know and love today.
See the full video below:
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]]>The post Memphis native Evvie McKinney wins ‘The Four’ singing competition! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
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Did you watch Evvie McKinney’s performances on ‘The Four?’ Let us know on Facebook and be sure to like our page!
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]]>The post Justin Timberlake’s FULL Super Bowl LII Halftime Show! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>At the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show, Memphis’ own Justin Timberlake performed in front of millions with a melody of his most famous songs. We want to hear from you on our Facebook page, what did you think of his performance?
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]]>The post 5 Grammy winners and nominees from Memphis appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>ThankGod4Cody and Teddy Walton were responsible for some of 2018’s hottest music, and they’ll be looking to make Memphis proud at the Grammys. These two producers are just the latest to carry on a long tradition of Memphis music-makers.
Deep roots
No stranger to the Grammys, Ike Turner made a name for himself in Memphis before earning nationwide notoriety. His first recording, “Rocket 88,” is considered by many to be the earliest rock ‘n’ roll song. Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Turner arrived in Memphis in 1952 and found work as a session musician for such stars as B.B. King. Before he debuted on the national stage in the 1960s, Turner worked as a talent scout of sorts, discovering another Memphis treasure: Bobby Bland. Turner was twice awarded a Grammy and nominated another three times.
Speaking of Bobby “Blue” Bland, this local legend had the distinct honor of being enshrined in both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Renowned as a lyrical storyteller, Bland landed in Memphis at the age of 17 and started singing with local gospel groups. It wasn’t long before he found himself down on Beale Street, rubbing elbows with B.B. King and Junior Parker. Bland received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997.
Another singer who achieved fame shortly after arriving in Memphis was Otis Redding, who caught his big break in 1962 when he gave a bandmate a lift to the Stax Records recording studio. At the end of the session, Redding was allowed to cut two tracks—one of which, “These Arms of Mine,” became one of his biggest hits. It was at the Stax studio that Redding recorded “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” in December 1967. Three days later, his plane went down near Madison, Wisconsin, causing his untimely death at the young age of 26. In addition to being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Redding was posthumously awarded the Grammys for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song in 1969, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1999.
New school
With those soulful roots as a backdrop, ThankGod4Cody made a name for himself with his work on Sza’s album “CTRL.” Sza is 2018’s most nominated female artist, earning nods for Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Rap/Sung Performance.
In the Best Rap/Sung Performance, Sza will get some competition from Goldlink, produced by Teddy Walton. Walton has also earned credits for working with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky— and like ThankGod4Cody, Walton was born and raised in Memphis.
Looking to keep up with the Memphis music scene? Check this out!
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]]>The post Just graduated? Here are the hottest jobs in Memphis! appeared first on We Are Memphis.
]]>One of the hottest landing spots for recent graduates is Memphis. This unique, soulful city has become a hub of innovation and growth for a wide range of companies that do business on both a national and worldwide scale.
Business Insider recently published its list of 2017’s highest-paying entry-level jobs, which included a number of positions analogous to employers in Memphis. Salary data was computed by sifting through job profiles and postings with LinkedIn’s salary tool.
Operations engineer
The world hub of FedEx’s global operations calls Memphis home and employs a wide range of local engineers. Operations engineers focus on solving problems using scientific methods, and as you would assume, they are a major part of FedEx’s largely logistical operation.
Much of FedEx’s tactical planning and engineering is carried out by operational engineers who are dedicated to planning, organizing and controlling the company’s global services in the most efficient and effective way possible. Fiscal year and long-range planning are also handled by these engineers.
Insight and Aramark are two other major employers in the Memphis market that utilize the services of operations engineers, with the latter leveraging engineers to develop and deploy its facilities management program.
Data scientist
What’s inside a number can help businesses run more efficiently and effectively. Collecting, analyzing, curating and integrating this information is the job of a data scientist.
Although healthcare may not be the first industry that comes to mind in connection with data scientists, the Memphis-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital utilizes data science to mine and model data for drug screening experiments, lead development and drug repurposing projects. Ultimately, data scientists at St. Jude work with chemical and biological data to drive research forward.
ServiceMaster is another major Memphis employer that utilizes data scientists in creating a roadmap for the company’s future and developing ServiceMaster’s unique vision.
Investment banking analyst
Positions in investment banking took the top spot on Business Insider‘s list. Analysts in this field cull and analyze financial data to better monitor investment portfolios for individuals and businesses, making an average of $105,000 at the entry level.
One of the top landing spots for investment banking analysts in Memphis is Duncan-Williams. Tracing its history back to regional municipal bond firms, Duncan-Williams has grown into one of the largest female-owned investment banking firms in the nation. Despite its size, it has remained focused on operating with a small-business culture, making it popular with recent graduates.
Memphis has become a national destination for both employers and those seeking jobs after graduation. Located in a right-to-work state with a relatively low cost of living, Memphis offers numerous workforce advantages that will continue to lead growth across the board for years to come.
Look at Business Insider’s complete list here, while more information about Memphis and its target industries can be found here.
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]]>The post Irish Sports Gain Popularity, Attract Diverse Pool of Players appeared first on We Are Memphis.
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When you think of sports in Memphis, ancient Gaelic games certainly aren’t among the first to come to mind, but the traditional Irish sports of Gaelic football and hurling are gaining popularity in the Bluff City.
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), celebrated as one of the great amateur sporting organizations in the world, is Ireland’s largest sporting organization, with more than 2,000 regional clubs across the Emerald Isle. Irish emigrants brought their national games with them wherever they settled, and today there are about 400 across the world, whose shared mission is to promote Irish sports and culture.
Memphis’ GAA club was founded in 2015 by Jesse Gammons, a research assistant at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, who was an active player in the Nashville GAA club before moving to Memphis.
The co-ed club offers opportunities for all Memphians over the age of 18 to learn and compete in Gaelic football and hurling – Ireland’s most popular sports. Gaelic football, which dates to at least the 1300s, could be described as a combination of soccer, rugby, and basketball, while hurling is the oldest and fastest field sport in the world, with a rich history that dates back more than 3,000 years and is referenced in Irish myths and legends.
“When I moved to Memphis to work for FedEx in 2012, I never dreamed that several years later I’d be playing hurling and Gaelic football in the Bluff City,” said Memphis GAA Club Chairman Dermot Murray, originally from County Westmeath in Ireland. “It’s fantastic to see so many people from various backgrounds embrace Ireland’s most popular sports in Memphis. And it gives this 40-something a reason to get out from behind my desk and keep fit playing the sports that I grew up playing back home in Ireland.”
But you don’t have to have any Irish ancestry to play. One of the Memphis GAA’s main goals is to recruit a diverse pool of players of all ethnicities, genders and walks of life. And they’ve been successful, having recruited players — everyone from college students to doctors to journalists — from backgrounds that include African American, Canadian, Mexican, Scottish and Turkish, to name a few.
Melvin Purdy, a student at the University of Memphis who’s African American, serves as diversity chairman on the board of the Memphis GAA.
“My role is basically player recruiting, focusing on getting a great, diverse group of people to join the league,” he said. “It’s definitely important just to get people together and away from their comfort zone, learning and doing something new…most importantly, I want it to grow around the city as a recognizable organization that gives people something fun to do.”
Memphis GAA, a nonprofit, is sponsored by local pubs and restaurants, including The Brass Door, Celtic Crossing, Majestic Grille and Memphis Made Brewing Co. Adult participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join and are not required to have any prior knowledge of Irish sports. And if playing sports isn’t your thing, spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend the matches.
Follow the Memphis GAA’s Facebook page and website to stay abreast of practices, game schedules, and post-game meetups for pints and “the craic” — an Irish term for meeting up with friends and having a great time.
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