"You have all of these touchpoints that aren't necessarily under our control, but we understand that we own the experience." Hospitality runs deep in Memphis -- from the creation of Holiday Inn to making an event of ducks walking to an elevator -- every detail of that experience is curated by individuals in the hospitality industry. But what is being done to pour into those curating these 901-derful experiences? Enter: Welcome To Memphis. Glen Thomas (Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority) and...
Oct 10, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 41
"It's the glue that holds community together -- I would argue it holds democracy together. Yes, parks provide fun, respite, and peace, but I think at their best, they really underpin what's needed to build strong communities." Jen Andrews (Shelby Farms Park Conservancy), Tina Sullivan (Overton Park Conservancy), and Carol Coletta (Memphis River Parks Partnership) have a lot in common. They all love Memphis, parks, and each other. Their enthusiasm and work ethic make our city a more beautiful pla...
Oct 03, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 40
"We live here, too, so we very viscerally understand a lot of the experiences of Memphians, how that drives conversations about politics, how that drives different candidate's platforms, and how that may ultimately drive whoever ends up in office." Samuel Hardiman of The Daily Memphian and Katherine Burgess of The Commercial Appeal share how they approach their role as journalists, how local news coverage impacts culture, and why having the press as a watch-dog for government will always come in...
Sep 26, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 39
"People talk about those who are 65 years and older as one group, but you would never talk about those ages 0 to 40 as one group. There is the infant, the toddler, the kindergartner, then elementary and middle and high school... it goes on and on. There are 10 different categories for the first 40 years of life, yet society looks at the last 40 years and says 'oh, they're all the same' but they're not." Kim Daugherty of the Aging Commission of the Mid-South and Mia Henley of Creative Aging join ...
Sep 19, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 38
"The idea that creatives come up with creative solutions goes far beyond the walls of any of our arts organizations." Michael Detroit of Playhouse on the Square and Tracy Lauritzen Wright of ArtsMemphis join us to share the role of the arts in our city, the collaboration rather than competition, and Memphis' first arts-centered mayoral forum. Resources mentioned in this episode include: ArtsMemphis event calendar Playhouse on the Square Tennessee Arts Commission Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Grou...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Anasa Troutman joins us to share how the Historic Clayborn Temple is not only being restored for remembrance but revitalized as a resource and catalyst for stories that will shape the future. Resources mentioned in this extended-cut episode include: Historic Clayborn Temple Anasa Troutman's professional website National Trust for Historic Preservation Clayborn Temple Traveling Exhibit guide book PDF Clayborn Temple on Instagram Clayborn Temple and I AM A MAN Plaza This episode is made p...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 36
"We have a vision for Memphis where you don't have to own a car to get outside of your neighborhood. We have a vision for an equitable, accessible transportation system that allows residents and visitors alike to see all of the amazing parts of Memphis that we have to offer." It might seem as simple as getting from Point A to Point B, but the reality is that transportation impacts every aspect of urban life from getting to and from work to how to get groceries or get kiddos to school. The cost a...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 35
As we navigate another election cycle, New Memphis is convening conversations with experts to help debunk common voting myths and empower everyone to make their voice heard in the ballot. In this "Ballot Basics" conversation, we ask the dumb questions (like what is the difference in the City Mayor and the County Mayor?), so you don't have to. Ian Randolph of Shelby County Voter Alliance (SCVA) is in the studio to break it all down for us. Tip : Bookmark this episode as a helpful first step in na...
Aug 22, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 34
We are revisiting a few of the 2023 TEDxMemphis talks that focus on active listening. We hope that these insights from community changemakers remind you to stay curious and compassionate. Resources mentioned include: Roshun Austin's 2023 TEDxMemphis Talk David Jamison II's 2023 TEDxMemphis Talk Subha Vadlamannati's 2023 TEDxMemphis Talk This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank ....
Aug 15, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Robin "Bobbi" Brice, is an 8th Grade Mathematics educator at Soulsville Charter School, a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and is a 2022 New Memphis Educator of Excellence honoree. She entered the education sector through Teach for America and remains an active classroom educator to ensure she's "serving my full purpose." Tune in to hear how Bobbi empowers her scholars to know the power of the word " yet ." Resources mentioned in this episode include: Spillit: Baggage Claim on Aug...
Aug 08, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Dr. Mario Brown and Dr. Mary "MJ" McConner are here to help us sort through the A-B-Cs of DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) and more . It might feel a little like alphabet soup, but when you simply it, people want to belong, feel included and welcomed. It's about the journey, not necessarily a particular destination. Resources mentioned in this episode include: The New York Times article summarizing The Punishing Reach of Racism How SCOTUS decisions impact talent pipeline: Brookings article Cor...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 31
What happens when an economic value-add comes at the expense of humanity? What are our obligations to people? Local experts Daphne McFerren (Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change) and Meka Eqwuekwe (CodeCrew) join us to share insights from their 2023 Policy Papers directly researching the impacts of automation on the workforce, the ethics of AI, and more. Resources mentioned in the episodes include: Benjamin L. Hooks Institute of Social Change at University of Memphis Code Crew Hooks Ins...
Jul 25, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Everyone has a story to tell -- it has the power to heal, empower, challenge, and even change the world. We're revisiting the 2023 TEDxMemphis conference, sharing a few of these stories. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Speed Mentoring for college students and interns New Memphis Leadership Summit Darius Wallace's 2023 TEDxMemphis talk titled Storytelling as a Yoga for the Soul Fletcher Cleaves' 2023 TEDxMemphis talk titled The Dangers of the World's Smallest Slot Machine Co...
Jul 18, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Leadership can take many forms -- it can be loud or quiet, it can manage hundreds of individuals or one task. The common denominator is action . As New Memphis gears up for our 2023 Leadership Summit in August, we are sharing some insights from local leaders that just might inspire you to level up on your own style of leading. Much like leadership, the people we are hearing from today (Kelly English, Lar'Juanette Williams, and Kathleen Terry-Sharp) have a myriad of differences, and yet they all ...
Jul 11, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Episode Notes What is Memphis, Tennessee's most impressive contribution? It’s impact on culture! Memphis has a long list of artists and innovators who continue to shape the world we know today through their influence on arts, music, sports, logistics and more, so let’s raise a glass to a few of the city’s most notable ambassadors! In today's episode, we revisit a live event -- Celebrate What's Right: Culture City, USA Happy Hour -- which features a power-packed panel sharing their special connec...
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 27
"We thought about Dr. King's dream and all that he had set forth, and it struck our team that 'we are the dream.' How does that dream manifest? Well, it's up to all of us." Tiffany Graham and Kevin Woods join us to share details of the renovations to The National Civil Rights Museum which include the "BlueCross Healthy Place at Founders Park." They share how their respective organizations (National Civil Rights Museum and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee ) are bringing communities together and ...
Jun 27, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Persisting through a problem to find a solution is a universal truth for everyone. In fact, the subject of math displays more than a handful of life-lessons including discipline, teamwork, confidence, and not being afraid of failure. Yanli Cui , a 2022 New Memphis Educators of Excellence Award honoree, shares how she went from failing middle school geometry to finding a passion for teaching mathematics at the highest levels. Resources listed in this episode include: New Memphis events like Memph...
Jun 20, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 25
"I'm proud to say Memphis is the only city in the country to have eliminated concentrated public housing." Shante Avant (WFGM) and Eva Mosby (Urban Strategies Inc.) join us in the studio to share about ways to remove barriers and create opportunities to move families from poverty to accessibility and success. Resources mentioned in the episode include: Summer Experience Launch Night at The Shell on 6/15/23 Memphis 101 on 6/22/23 New Memphis Educators of Excellence Award nominations and applicati...
Jun 13, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 24
"Education can help build better communities." Kerrie Jackson, a former classroom educator, works to make sure the next generation of scholars and families make meaningful connections. As the Director of Gestalt Community Schools' N.I.C.E. Program (Network, Inclusion, Culture and Equity), she works with community partners to create advocacy, wellness, and overall "pulse-checks" for all. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Kathleen Terry-Sharp's 2023 TEDxMemphis Talk titled "Horses, Hipp...
Jun 06, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 23
"One of the really powerful things we've come across in our work at Slingshot is that at least 100,000 people in Memphis who are experiencing poverty are probably not able to pursue technical trainings or other types of career opportunities because of their lower literacy levels." Sam O'Bryant (Literacy Mid-South) and Jared Barnett (Slingshot Memphis) talk about the intersections and realities of literacy and poverty + what YOU can do to move the needle. Resources mentioned in this episode inclu...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 22
"We all want to be seen and feel like we belong. Seeing yourself reflected matters." The month of May might be all about music and BBQ, but that's far from the whole picture of our diverse city. May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month , and this year, the celebration of culture was formalized in a new way for the 901 to experience thanks to Dr. SunAh Laybourn and partnerships with allies like Sarah Cai of Good Fortune Co. Resources mentioned in this episode include: AAPI H...
May 23, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 21
"Once you become aware that 40% of the food grown in the U.S. is wasted and figure out where you're connected, people are genuinely interested on how to engage." We're getting down and dirty to help clean up our city with Janet Boscarino (Clean Memphis) and Leann Edwards (Project Green Fork). We're talking about the link between environmental education and academic outcomes, how to help reduce food waste personally and commercially, why it all matters. You'll gain practical tips, helpful insight...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 20
"Don't let the emergencies cloud the vision of the work you're doing." We're getting back to the A-B-C's of it all with 2022 Educator of Excellence, Grant Monda . As Executive director of Aurora Collegiate Academy, Grant is the working to build a strong foundations for the leaders of tomorrow. Grant is a Teach For America - Memphis alumni and the recipient of their prestigious Barbara Rosser Hyde Alumni Leadership Award. Resources mentioned in this episode include: ARISE2READ Teach for America M...
May 09, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 19
"Your income shouldn't determine your health outcomes." We're discussing a unique piece of the healthy communities puzzle -- housing. There is a distinct intersection of healthcare and housing that greatly impacts both individual and community health, and we're digging into the specifics with Dwayne Spencer (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis) and Marcy Wurzburg Stagner (Church Health). Resources listed in this episode include: Dwayne Spencer's 2023 TEDxMemphis Talk Habitat for Humanity of ...
May 02, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 18
"It takes all of us working together to build a more just world so that we can all live, work, and thrive in this community together." We're continuing the conversation we began a few weeks ago by discussing how state and local legislation impacts healthy communities, livability, and economic progress. Phillis Lewis of Love Doesn't Hurt 901 and Shahin Samiei of Tennessee Equality Project join us to discuss side effects of recent state legislation. NOTE : Please note that this episode discusses t...
Apr 25, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Entrepreneurship is risky business (literally), but in Memphis, the rewards often outshine the risk. Memphis is known as a city that produces movers and shakers—problem solvers who get creative and look beyond limitations—but what are we doing to support and keep them here? How do we define success and how does hope factor into a business plan? Can we invest in innovation with more than just money? Perhaps most importantly, why is the 901 the perfect place to get started? We covered all of this ...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 16
"Tennessee is under the national spotlight." Preserving healthy communities and city livability impacts everyone, and having crucial conversations is critical for education and activation. In that spirit, New Memphis invited Jenna Dunn (Trans Services Specialist at OUTMemphis ), Anu Iyer (Volunteer Coordinator and Community Manager at OUTMemphis), Krista Wright Thayer (Director of Outreach and prevention at Friends for Life ) into the studio. We discuss the real-life implications of recent laws,...
Apr 11, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Is pressure pushing down on me, pushing down on you? We're tackling something that impacts everyone -- STRESS. 😵 Life has been in a pressure cooker these last few years, and the ripple effects of stress are creeping into every area of our lives. Our friends at Baptist Hospital and Baptist Memorial Health Care are sharing their knowledge on: how stress impact your immediate and long-term health how you can press the reset button what resources are available how to interrupt the cycle of stress a...
Apr 04, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 14
"If you love Memphis, Memphis will love you back." A rising tide lifts all boats, and Lift Insights & Capital Partners is aiming to do just that for businesses here in Memphis.↗️ Tune in to here Paulo Teixeira and Bruce Landau talk about how they [and their other co-founders] are using their "retirement" to pay their business expertise forward. This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.
Mar 28, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 13
"I sat there and I imagined myself 5 to 10 years from that moment [of turning in my journalism resignation], and what would I say to myself? I would've been so disappointed if I hadn't tried to make this idea a reality." Kontji Anthony, CEO and co-founder of Youdle as well as a New Memphis Board of Trustees member. She along with her two sisters and friend created this start-up from a need they saw locating hard-to-source products in stores. This episode is made possible in partnership with Inde...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 12
