What if we could see roadblocks in advance and navigate to a smoother path? Slingshot's MemWorks initiative is utilizing data to discover roadblocks hindering the local workforce, and collaborating with organizations like Soulsville Charter School to create solutions to move the community forward. Josh Gettys of Slingshot Memphis and Maya Robinson of Soulsville Charter School share what the data shows, how that impacts the community today, and the plans for the future. Resources mentioned in thi...
May 14, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 18
What does it mean to learn, lead, and leave a legacy? New Memphis understands that the leaders of tomorrow are created in the classroom today through the transformative power of education. Empowering and educating youth is one way that our city continues forward momentum. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, Memphis! In this conversation with newly appointed Memphis Shelby County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins , we take a look at her plan, witness her passion, and hear examples of her "wh...
May 07, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 17
How do you continue to grow what you know? With 96 acres, 30 specialty gardens, and a brand new tropical plant house, Memphis Botanic Garden offers the people of all ages and interests opportunities for education, relaxation, and connection. Olivia Wall and Gina Harris drop by to share how the Youth Education and Tropical Plant House is a unique regional asset and what role the gardens play in experiential learning for all. Recourses mentioned in this episode include: Teacher Appreciation Week T...
Apr 30, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 16
What does it really mean to champion your city? Tune in to today's conversation to hear how leaders are able to thrive in Memphis inside arenas, on fields, and most importantly, in their connections with others. Today's guests are Chandell Ryan from the Downtown Memphis Commission and Jason Mims from Memphis 901FC. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Memphis 901FC Downtown Memphis Commission Our previous conversation with Chandell Ryan Cancer Kickers The Memphis Redbirds 100 North Main ...
Apr 23, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 15
What happens when a community takes chance on second chances? Ellen Zahariadis of the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County and Dominique Winfrey-McKinnie of Shelby County Mayor's Office of Innovation share how their new project is creating meaningful experiences and increasing empathy for animals and humans alike in this week's episode. With dogs being utilized in hospitals, schools, and more for their therapeutic benefits, we'll dive deeper into how "man's best friend" is continuing to p...
Apr 16, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 14
"The first eight years really determine so much about our life in the future. Most of our brain growth and development happens in the first five years of life. Then at eight, there's a lot of research that shows that, good or bad, we have a general sense of how someone's life will be like as adults." Dr. Kandace Thomas of First 8 Memphis and Kimberly Carter of Brilliant Minds Child Development Center share how infant mental health impacts children and those caring for them. First 8 Memphis condu...
Apr 02, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 13
"It is about leveraging all the stories that we have from the past -- every song, every story, every everything -- to be able to co-create the stories of the future." Memphis is making a smart business case for arts and culture because t_here's no business like show business, after all!_ New Memphis' Celebrate What's Right: Creative Economics brought local experts to the stage who shared how to artfully blend creativity and business at a scale that is shaping our city, its image, and its bottom ...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 12
"We stand by the fact that these individuals will be some of the best employees you've ever had -- they're going to work hard, come in on time, do what they have to do, and then go home. But until more employers start giving opportunities to justice-involved individuals, it will be a revolving door system of barriers." Josh Spickler of Just City and Myletta Moore-Dawson of Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) are working to create sustainable employment for all which will in turn increase t...
Mar 19, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In 2023, Memphis earned the dubious distinction of being ranked the second most overweight city in America. With the health of our city on the line (literally!), medical professionals across organizations are joining hands to rally for our community. Healthier 901 aims to help Mid-Southerners create small changes to access the vibrant quality of life we all deserve. Here with us to discuss the initiative are Tabrina Davis, Dr. John Leslie, and Jimmy Scott. Resources mentioned in this episode inc...
Mar 12, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 10
"You can complain about what you don't have or you can build what you want. If we want a prosperous Memphis, we can't expect anyone to give it to us. It is something that we have to work, spend our own blood, sweat, and tears to build. Whether it's a business, your career, or anything -- you can complain about it or you can build it." Alan Gumbel of Black Business Association of Memphis and Cynthia Daniels of Cynthia Daniels & Co. join us to show how Memphians can harness the inspiring, dyna...
Mar 05, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 9
"The opportunity for students to see Memphis outside the classroom brings the city to life." We're heading out on a discovery mission to learn more about the impacts of experiential learning on students in the Mid-South. Interim Superintendent Toni Williams , Dr. Myke Collins , and Ekundayo Bandele of Hattiloo Theatre are sharing how they've collaborated to create access for students to explore. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Hattiloo Theatre Self-Identity Theatre Camp Memphis Shel...
Feb 27, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 8
"The world is changing more rapidly today than ever before; so, the needs of young people are different than even the needs of young people five years ago. If we don't center the experience, expertise, and lived experience of young people in decision-making that impacts them directly, we're missing the mark." Leadership has no age requirements, and we're diving into why with Dana Wilson, President and CEO of BRIDGES, and Anthony Miles, college student, Mr. University of Memphis and New Memphis A...
Feb 20, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 7
"Memphis, we have an abundance of talent, not only on the stage as artists but also session musicians, producers, and audio engineers. You name it, it's here. And we want to make sure that they know there are many avenues to take their creative genius and utilize it." McKenzii Webster (Crosstown Arts) and Lee Rankin (media, technology, and virtual reality legal marketing attorney) are helping us understand the nuances of music industry publishing, combining the creative side with the business lo...
Feb 13, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 6
"How do we connect residents to theatres, dance companies, instructional opportunities within their community they might not even know about? The map with MATA came into play as a resource for riders showcasing all of the arts and culture assets in our county." The Mid-South is rich in creative assets, but are we maximizing them to the best of our bottom line? Hear from Shelby County's first Arts & Culture Liaison, Nykesha Cole, and MATA's Chundra Smith on the recently unveiled MATA Arts &am...
Feb 06, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 5
"I've learned the lifecycle of things -- how human actions can destroy beauty, whether intentional or neglect, but human actions can also put it back together. Adaptive re-use is not limited to a singular building." Great Scott! We're going back to the future to explore adaptive reuse in our city. How can looking backward propel the community forward? Tune in to hear from local experts on how Memphis is learning and leading by example. Resources mentioned in this conversation include: The Shrine...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 4
"The need is there; people are hungry. We will continue to provide resources, but we have to also figure out a way to truly make it attainable with the education piece and policy, too. We continue to be reactive rather than proactive... food should be a true right attainable to everyone." New Memphis has had several conversations about how social determinants of health all rely on each other for optimal community health. Research indicates a link between chronic diseases — such as heart disease,...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 3
"For many Memphians, the system that they know has always worked against them. We have built a system that works for them by mobilizing and aligning resources to address priority issues." It takes a village to support individuals and families in Memphis -- everyone is needed to create impacts from generation to generation. Dr. Kenneth Robinson of The United Way of The Mid-South , and Kiki Hall from Catholic Charities of West Tennessee join us to share how non-profits are working together to crea...
Jan 16, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 2
"Adaptive reuse, at its core, is looking at the inherent value of these places, how they speak in context to the surrounding history, and repurposing that place that might have perceived loss of value. It's an interaction with the neighborhood." Ben Schulman of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC) and Deveney Perry of BLDG Memphis share the important connections between people and the places they utilize to live, work, and play in Memphis. They detail how partnerships and collaborat...
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 1
Happy New Year, Memphis! 🍾 Special guest Geoff Calkins joined us in the studio to share how sports unifies cities, has the power to change city narratives, and why his biggest hope for Memphis might be different than you'd think. This episode is a great refresher for a new season. We encourage you to also “trust the process” when it comes to beginning a new year. Whether you have new resolutions, intentions, or are just excited about flipping the calendar page, trust the process. This episode i...
Jan 02, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 53
"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." Whether you get outside today or over the next few weeks, we want to remind you about the power of Memphis’ public parks. Jen Andrews ( Shelby Farms Park Conservancy ), Tina Sullivan ( Overton Park Conservancy ), and Carol Coletta ( Memphis River Parks Partnership ) bring ...
Dec 26, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 52
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. This episode is particularly meaningful as it directly points back to the values of our organization . We hope you take time this season to reflect on the ways in which you belong r...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 51
"In a lot of ways, teachers are not given the respect as the professionals that they are. It sounds so simple. I'm finding myself focusing on teacher mental health as much as student mental health because I have to create the space where they [all] want to be here." 2023 New Memphis Educators of Excellence Kerrith Griffin , Executive Director of University Middle School, and Danny Song , Founder and Executive Director of Believe Memphis Academy, share how to lead with love, the importance of emp...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 50
"You're in a perfect place in the world to find yourself a nice wetland or a bottomland hardwood and watch a wetland wake up. It's pretty magical." Chuck Smith and Karen Waldrop of Ducks Unlimited Inc. join us to share how Memphis has become the hub of the continent's wetland conservation efforts. tune in to learn about the impacts of wetlands -- from clean water and flood mitigation, to yes, waterfowl production. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Ducks Unlimited Inc. Wetlands America...
Dec 05, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 49
"Philanthropy does not have a price tag on it, it simply has a willingness. It is wherever you choose to put your time, talent, treasure, and ties." Happy Giving Tuesday! Giving trends and opportunities have changed quite a bit over the decades, and we wanted to learn how the next generation of philanthropists are combining passion with strategy to maximize impact. Caroline Kuebler of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and Dr. Shanea McKinney, a participant of their first Next Gen Phila...
Nov 28, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 48
"America's dinner table is either made or moved through Memphis. We are feeding America from here, and that's important work." Cathy Pope of the Mid-South Food Bank and Gwyn Fisher of the Greater Memphis Chamber detail how Memphis can be both a hub for the food and beverage industry yet also have so many experiencing food insecurity. Tune in to hear how the solution is in the intersection of workforce development and access. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Celebrate What's ...
Nov 21, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 47
"Re-entry is about a human. It's not about a system or a behavior, it's about a human re-claiming humanity." DeAndre Brown of the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry and Virginia Murphy of Playback Memphis describe the impact of the arts on the process of previously-incarcerated individuals reclaiming their humanity. Resources mentioned in the episode include: Playback Memphis Celebrate What's Right: Bridge Over Troubled Water on November 28, 2023 Community Matters playback theatre as an a...
Nov 14, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 46
"If we dismiss such a large section of our community it makes Memphis dismissible in the grand scheme of things." Dr. Elena Delavega of the University of Memphis School of Social Work and Rev. Lisa Anderson of Room in the Inn join us to share the nuances of both data and social impact of those experiencing homelessness in our city. The long-term impacts of homelessness permeate into the community in a multitude of ways. This conversation discusses the current resources, what barriers are in plac...
Nov 07, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 45
"This is probably cliché to say at this point, but the city does have grit. It has attitude, in a good way, and there's a strength to it in its people that I just absolutely love." This is Halloween , and we're leaning into the spirits and haunts that make our city the special place it is today. Old Dominick has centuries worth of stories steeped into each spirit, and Backbeat Tours are the experts on historical haunts in the city. Alex Castle, master distiller at Old Dominick, and Meagan May, V...
Oct 31, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 44
"Doing this job while knowing how crucial early childhood is to a child's later success in school, lights a fire in me and an excitement because I know these years are the most important. Giving them those tools as early as possible is a huge benefit." New Memphis Educators of Excellence, Stephanie Sacco and Michaela Arguin , are sharing the importance of early childhood education, how a strong foundation creates success for years to come, talking about the barriers to universal Pre-K, and more!...
Oct 24, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 43
"While there's a lot of frustration, fear, and concern in our community, I do also see hope. That frustration and fear come from a place of alignment. Everyone in our community wants the same thing: we all want our community to be a safe, wonderful place to live. That alignment gives me a lot of hope. I know that we have the best people and the best resources; if we can align ourselves appropriately, we can get that job done." The crime rate in Memphis was a major topic in the recent municipal e...
Oct 17, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 42
