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Justice & Safety Alliance Urges County Commission to Prioritize Community Investments Over Additional Sheriff’s Department Funding

Sep 9, 202402 min read
Justice & Safety Alliance Urges County Commission to Prioritize Community Investments Over Additional Sheriff’s Department Funding
MEMPHIS, TN – The Justice & Safety Alliance (JSA) has issued an open letter to the Shelby County Commission and County Mayor, calling on them to reject the proposed $15.5 million emergency funding request for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). The full text of the letter can be found at this link. In the […]

Opinion: Let Memphis choose its own leadership

Jun 27, 202404 min read
Opinion: Let Memphis choose its own leadership
In recent years, Memphians have decisively chosen Democratic leadership in 2018 and 2022, most notably electing Steve Mulroy to become Shelby County’s district attorney general. Despite this clear preference, the Tennessee Republican Party is determined to reclaim power in Shelby County, hearkening back to a time when Republicans dominated local government. This determination was underscored […]

Rev. Dr. James M. Lawson Leaves Us Each with a Legacy of Courage, Commitment and Wisdom – No Matter What!

Jun 18, 202404 min read
Rev. Dr. James M. Lawson Leaves Us Each with a Legacy of Courage, Commitment and Wisdom – No Matter What!
A Memphis Centenarian since June of 1962, Rev. Dr. James M. Lawson quickly began nonviolent workshops as the new pastor in the deeply segregated South. Some may have thought he was following in the footsteps of the courageous Rev. H. B. Gibson who led the Memphis NAACP and pastored Centenary. Yet, Dr. Lawson already had […]

The Memphis Power Fellowship is Off to a Strong Start!

May 16, 202402 min read
The Memphis Power Fellowship is Off to a Strong Start!
Building off of the big success of last December’s Memphis Power Summit, we teamed up with The Equity Alliance and Memphis for All to kick off the Memphis Power Fellowship last month! For the past month, the Power Fellows have been deepening their understanding of the organizing and political landscape in Memphis and Shelby County […]

Help Cardell Celebrate the Big 5-0!

Apr 26, 202404 min read
Help Cardell Celebrate the Big 5-0!
Many milestones of my life come in 5s and 10s, and besides turning 50 on Saturday, this year marks: Throughout these years, my greatest privilege has been working alongside countless brilliant adults and youth to build real, lasting community power that will bring the changes we need for a brighter Memphis where all of us […]

Local and Statewide Organizations Set the Record Straight on Blended Sentencing

Apr 18, 202408 min read
Local and Statewide Organizations Set the Record Straight on Blended Sentencing
Local and statewide organizations sent the below letter to state elected officials, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, and other Memphis/Shelby County leaders to set the record straight on what “blended sentencing” (as proposed in HB0430) truly means for our young people. As amended by Speaker Sexton, blended sentencing could result in children as young as 14 […]