Category: Current Events

Here’s your friendly reminder about our Education Equity Happy Hour that will take place tomorrow at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Join us for a casual conversation with Momentum Memphis Education Task-Force leaders, parents, and community partners that believe in educational equity for every child in Memphis and Shelby County. To attend, please use this link to register.

You’re also invited to pre-register for our virtual joint Momentum Memphis Education Task-Force meeting on December 7 via Zoom at 6:00 pm. Hear updates about our advocacy efforts that support a fair and equitable future for our children and generations to come. We’ll also discuss ways to get involved in our work to change the narrative of what equitable access to education looks like for our Shelby County Schools system.  To attend, please click this link to register.

See you soon! 

We’ve made some changes to our weekly schedule to include in-demand workshops that were requested by Stand supporters like you, community leaders, and parents. Here’s what’s coming up!

 To accommodate back to school and work schedules, we’ve switched “Cardell’s Soapbox” to air every Wednesday at 5:00 pm via Facebook Live.

Hear Memphis Director Cardell Orrin share updates on Memphis and Shelby County government and ways you can take action to make equity in education a reality for all Shelby County students. If you have a question, topic idea, or want to be featured in the next episode, please email us at [email protected].

On Friday, September 4, we will be having our bi-weekly “Education Equity Happy Hour” starting at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Meet and hear from Momentum Memphis task force leaders, who will discuss updates on our advocacy work within the community and share opportunities for how you can join us in our efforts to make equity in education a reality for all students in Memphis and Shelby County. To attend, please use this link to register.

Due to the Labor Day weekend, we’re moving our monthly virtual joint Momentum Memphis Educational Task-Force meeting to Monday, September 14, at 6:00 pm. Hear updates on our advocacy efforts to make educational equity a reality for all children in Memphis and Shelby County and learn how you can join the Momentum Memphis Coalition. To attend, please use this link to register. 

As a reminder, we’re still accepting submissions for our This is 2020: Meaningful Stories, Artful Healing contest! The deadline for students in grades K-12 to submit their piece is Thursday, September 10. Please send all submissions with the words “Artful Healing” in the subject line to [email protected]

See you then!

August 25, 2020 

Dear Superintendent Ray and Shelby County Schools Board, 

Four weeks ago, Superintendent Joris Ray announced that Shelby County Schools would be starting school virtually. While we commend that the safety of students, teachers, and community members is being prioritized, we are writing to you because we believe that there has not been an explicit pathway for parents to navigate finding childcare support. As you know, our district serves over 100,000 students and families, yet there has been no explicit information provided about how the district plans to support all parents inevitably affected with this ongoing challenge. After the initial announcement about virtual learning, a graphic was shared that included 33 community partner childcare sites, yet there were very limited spots available at each with no information on the different processes like explaining how to sign up, costs, and who would be watching students at those respective sites.  

Through speaking with community members and even teachers with children in Shelby County Schools, it is very clear that the cost of childcare will be a huge burden to many families on top of the challenges already created by the global crisis. We appreciate that the district has been working on a partnership with the YMCA, and we are aware that the YMCA has stated that they had the capacity to serve the needs of 10,000 students. However, considering that approximately 23% of SCS families reported that they preferred in-person learning on the summer survey and around 38% could have defaulted to in-person, there could be about 35,000 students who still need care not even considering those families who were making arrangements for children while opting into virtual instruction. The average cost of childcare in Memphis, TN, is $270.75/week or $1,083/month per child. This can be a great financial burden for families considering that, according to the US Census data, the median household income in Memphis is $39,108 (monthly income being $3,259). One SCS teacher who is struggling to find affordable childcare said, “I want everyone to be safe and healthy, first and foremost. But it makes it extremely hard for our family. My husband can’t work remotely. It will be very, very difficult for me to manage multiple children and effectively teach.”  

While the partnership with the YMCA and promoting other community organizations is valuable, we also recognize that working with community sites might not be enough to address the enormous childcare needs. Currently, the Shelby County government is setting up socially distanced learning pods for their employees’ children. These pods include a teacher or childcare provider with the expectation to assist students with technology, monitor breaks, and serve lunch among other duties. This could be a realistic model for how SCS could set up their own sites. Since SCS had already begun preparation of its own facilities for in-person learning along with collection of the necessary PPE and cleaning materials, we wonder if those efforts and resources could be retasked to expanding childcare capacity across the city and county. It seems that SCS has the greatest capacity in facilities and personnel to assist in addressing these needs, and additional resources needed could come from savings from buildings not being open across the county and requests to the county for CARES Act Funds in support of childcare. Our hope is that SCS could significantly expand free childcare options across different neighborhoods to match the needs of each community.  

With the urgency of the school year beginning soon, we recognize that questions about childcare must be answered as soon as possible. Families need affordable and accessible childcare support, and are left with concerns as they prepare for this year. Additionally, there are also many teachers with their own children who are looking for clarity on what supports will be provided for them as they are forced to balance both facilitating instruction and taking care of their own children at home. Many teachers we have heard from are struggling to identify childcare and the funds to pay for it. We believe that our teachers deserve support to ensure that they have less to worry about for their own children as they give their time and talent to effectively teach our children either from school or their home.

Ultimately, we are requesting clarity and greater support for families navigating childcare needs. In addition, we would like to know whether the district will take the initiative to provide its own childcare learning sites to meet the unique needs the COVID-19 pandemic has created? We look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,  

Healthy and Free Tennessee 

Memphis/Shelby County United 

Memphis Lift 

MICAH Education Equity Task Force 

Official Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter 

Stand for Children – Tennessee  

Whole Child Strategies 

Workers Interfaith Network 

I am not my hair. I am not my skin. I am not the country I was brought to. I am not the air that circles my lungs. I am not what I call myself. But do you see me as I am or what do I look like to you? As a young black woman in a racist society, my reality is a jungle that constantly implies that I am nothing but an animal- not a human being who takes pride in her blackness. Don’t take away my pride! I am not pleading. I am not going to say please to anyone.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand what black actually means in America. I am grateful to have a mother who sat down with me and explained to me what it meant. The power of being black and the beauty we all have as black people, in my opinion. I love having my black skin, culture, and tradition. However, I had to see the devastation black people have to go through for myself to fully have an understanding of what it’s like to be black in America. I remember I was in the 8th grade and I was listening to my teacher explaining the history of African Americans. He expressed the importance of understanding the depths of our history and to love our blackness.

That was the same year police brutality became a huge topic in American society, of what I remember. I knew it wasn’t a new situation in the black community, but my peers and I were new to this. I was scared. I was thinking about how this will affect everyone in my generation. How we will be too afraid to step out of our house to go to school or to the park with the police behind us.

As a black person in America, I am forced to understand the story of my life and others who look like me. Although I have to fathom the life of black people, I have a better understanding of who I am and my mission. I realized the world doesn’t value me- that is my story. Systemic racism is a part of our lives and I had to come to terms with it when I was in the 8th grade even though I didn’t know the term or the definition of it. I still knew, by experience, I will have to live with it and profoundly educate myself.

Systemic racism was designed to hinder black women, black men, and black children from achieving a peaceful life without worrying about being a personal target for those who hate us. I hate that this is our reality. Reality makes us grow up too damn fast than we should, and it tells us that we are too grown to think for ourselves. A reality that is made to teach us that our skin is not beautiful and our style is not presentable even though I love who I am. I know there are black girls, like me, who don’t because of lack of representation. Or black boys who don’t have any clue of what they want to be when they grow up.

I don’t want to be in my fifties and see this repetitive trend of racism my grandchildren will have to experience. But the reality is, it is going to happen. I am angry and I have the right to express my feelings for something that should have ended decades ago. I don’t want to be negative about the legacy of the country that allows history to repeat itself, but there will always be a ‘bigoted racist a**hole.’ 

My feelings towards police brutality are as typically expected, ANGER. Rage is a better word to describe my hostility towards the justice system that isn’t invented to protect the people who have built this country on their backs. Am I being too honest? I couldn’t possibly be because I am right. My blackness comes first before anythingthat the world will offer me in return. Silence isn’t enough.

“We don’t want to see Targets burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground.” 

Killer Mike pushed through tears to offer those words of resolve to his city as it reels from the response to police violence against black and brown bodies, most recently the modern day lynching of George Floyd, the unarmed black man whose life was taken by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin’s excessive use of force. 

Only ten days prior to the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor was murdered in a botched “no-knock” warrant raid. Louisville Metro Police Department recklessly entered her boyfriend’s residence with no warning, indiscriminately firing their weapons, killing Breonna with 8-shots, in a search for someone who was already in custody. Louisvillians have taken to the streets as the officers are still employed and no charges have been filed. 

Before the loss of George and Breonna, Ahmaud Arber was murdered in broad daylight while jogging for exercise, by a racist father-son vigilante duo. No charges were filed until months later, when video of the execution was leaked and public outcry forced the hand of law enforcement.

Lest we forget, the Memphians who were also brutalized in recent years. In 2018, Martavious Banks was shot by police during a pursuit on foot but was fortunate that his injuries were non-fatal. But another Memphian’s fate was more grim. In 2015, Darrius Stewart, a 19 year old young man, was an unarmed  passenger riding with a friend, the night he was detained in a traffic stop. He was shot and killed by an officer when the stop became physical; the officer was never charged with a crime and is currently receiving a monthly retirement pension granted on claim of post-traumatic stress disorder.  

These stories are unfortunately only a few recent accounts of untold black lives that have been taken with impunity. As we memorialize and honor the lives of George, Breonna, and Ahmaud, we also remember Philando, Sandra, Freddie, Alton, Tamir, Trayvon, Michael, Atatiana, Eric, and countless others taken too soon. The uprising across the nation is a cry that, “enough is enough!” In order for a lasting peace to be achieved, there must be a commensurate change and deep justice.

Dr. King once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” Memphians have long suffered under inequitable policing conditions, and we say the bend must be sharper. The activist community of Memphis has joined together to demand policy changes that’ll ensure that the lives of black and brown citizens will be acknowledged, protected, and valued at the same level as their counterparts. In addition to our ongoing efforts in education,, these are a few criminal justice demands we lift up:

1. Release all protesters who were arrested as a result of exercising 1st amendment rights to protest AND drop any charges, pending or otherwise 
2. Investigate law enforcement brutality and misconduct during recent protests with public reporting of findings and a commitment to hold officers accountable for any wrongdoing
3. Reallocate funding from the police department to fund alternatives rooted in community health and crisis response
4. Ban chokeholds and strangleholds by Memphis Police Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies
5. Require de-escalation as a first response by Memphis Police Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies
6. Develop a Duty To Intervene policy that requires officers to intervene when witnessing another officer using excessive force for the Memphis Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office
7. Require reporting by officers and deputies any time they point a firearm at a citizen
8. Give the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) the power it needs to investigate and ensure accountability for police conduct and provide clear avenues for CLERB’s input on MPD training, policies, and procedures
9. Include grassroots black and brown leaders and activists on the search and selection committee for the next MPD Chief
10.  End money bail and stop predatory, ballooning penalties for traffic tickets, court costs, and other fines

Stand For Children Memphis acknowledges that the same system that perpetuates the indiscriminate killing of black and brown bodies also subjugates our children to substandard educational conditions. These issues are inextricably linked and as we knock down one barrier we put a dent in them all. In order to break the cycle of violence and undereducation in our communities, we urge you to support our initiative: A Moral Budget for Shelby County. We know the myriad obstacles to creating a more equitable landscape for students, families, and communities. A moral budget prioritizes people, not politics, profits, or posturing. When the Memphis City Council passed a resolution to allocate $5 million dollars of CARES Act funding to help close the “digital divide”–the discrepancy in availability of technological devices and internet access for students engaging in remote learning–they took a good first step toward fulfilling Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community.

At Stand For Children – Tennessee, we believe that words matter and, even more, we know actions must follow. We make this statement for the record to proclaim that Black Lives Matter and assert our solidarity with those in our Memphis streets and across the country raising up what should be an accepted fact. But, those are just words if we don’t work every day to push a  system bent with structural racism to find that arc towards justice. We commit to continuing the fight for equity in education and working with partners across the community to build equity and opportunity for the black and brown citizens of Memphis and Shelby County. It will take the village, but we can rise from these tragedies and ensure an equitable, new beginning for our children and community. 

For years, our local officials have taken an austere approach to funding our city and county governments resulting in a lack of investment in desperately needed areas such as education, transit, and neighborhoods. The COVID-19 pandemic shines a light on the challenges of our community that have suffered from severe underfunding, in addition to the virus specific issues that must be addressed. COVID-19 has produced a financial strain on the Shelby County budget, presenting the possibility of cuts that could drastically affect the educational future of students in Memphis and Shelby County, as well as resulting in a loss of up to 150 jobs from County staff, slashing of significant benefits, and other service cuts.

Stand has joined with the Memphis & West TN Labor Council, MICAH, and other community groups to demand better for our county with a campaign for a moral budget!

Take action now to tell the County Commission and Mayor that we need to invest in our children and ensure no staff suffer job and benefit losses during this pandemic!

Every day, County workers subject themselves to the possibility of being infected with COVID-19, working in identified pandemic hot spots and environments where proper sanitation isn’t necessarily a priority. These workers, who could easily be a loved one in your family, may not receive the pay, protective equipment, or healthcare they deserve. As one Commissioner proposed, some may be furloughed or lose parental leave.

That’s why we are asking Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commissioners to raise new revenue to restore the County budget fairly and equitably.

Raising new revenue like the Vehicle Registration Fee, as proposed by Mayor Harris, to $16.50 would assist in stabilizing the budget to ensure that the funds for education continue for our children and that benefits for County front-line workers remain available. The Vehicle Registration Fee has not been raised in 20 years, and even keeping up with inflation would anticipate it being $22 more. In post-COVID-19 times, this would also ensure additional funds are available for investments in education and transit.

Whether the Commission takes this route or not, we ask that the Shelby County Commissioners present another alternative budget that will put people first and will restore the County budget in a way that will be equitable for all. County residents and workers should not be held accountable for COVID-19’s impact on the Shelby County budget nor the havoc it has caused in students’ and teachers’ lives.

If you agree that Shelby County Mayor, along with the Shelby County Commissioners should put people first, take action by signing this letter to show your support for a moral and equitable 2020-21 Shelby County Budget. If you haven’t already, check out this op-ed for more information on why the  Commissioners and Mayor need to raise new revenue now!  

Community Resources for Students and Families

As we all continue to monitor and tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus in our community, Stand remains committed to keeping you informed with the latest news and up-to-date information about resources that are available during this public health emergency. Visit our online resource center to find local resources in Memphis and Shelby County that may be helpful to your family.

 We know students and families are facing many struggles during this time. We want you to know we’re listening. Take our COVID survey to tell us how your family is dealing with these challenging times.

While we’re continuing our work in advocacy and supporting educational equity across our community, this month’s update will focus on the current COVID-19 crisis and provide information we hope is both helpful and informative.

Safer at Home Executive Order

We’re sure you’re aware and hope you’re following closely the Safer at Home Orders that were issued by Governor Bill Lee, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. We are in this together and efforts for social distancing are important to protect each other and assist in “flattening the curve” to support our healthcare system from being overwhelmed.

 A simple point of advocacy in these times is ensuring that you, your family, and everyone you talk to understands these orders are in place and commits to prevention techniques:

1. Stay home as much as possible (only going out for essential needs)

2. Keep a safe distance (6 feet) from people when you’re out

3. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when your out

4. Wash your hands often

5. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

6. Cover your mouth and nose for cough and sneezes 

7. Stay home and self-isolate if you feel unwell 

State Testing and Other Education Issues

Tennessee lawmakers voted to suspend TNReady testing and other mandates for Spring 2020. On April 9th, the TN State Board of Education will meet and consider priority concerns impacted by COVID-19 including issues related to graduation requirements for seniors, special education program and services, grades, attendance, and other rules changes needed.

After this meeting, we should expect SCS and other districts to make more detailed announcements about what will happen for students in the 2019-20 school year.

SCS Student Meal Distribution

The YMCA has partnered with Shelby County Schools to ensure the distribution of free student meals at 60 designated sites. Meals are available from 11 am – 1 pm, Monday through Friday for all children 18 and under and the child must be present to receive a meal.

Along with meals available at all Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantries, SCS will have a mobile pantry in the Board of Education parking lot (160 S. Hollywood) every Wednesday, 10am–2pm where families can receive a 14-day food supply pack.

Shelby County Schools on TV

Shelby County Schools has partnered with WMC5 to broadcast Pre-K-12 lessons to support continued education at home. You can catch daily lessons streamed live on C19TV, WMC-TV 5 affiliate stations, and Bounce-TV.

Help Students Stay on Track

With schools closed indefinitely, we want to help equip parents with tools and resources that will assist in continuing education at home. You should first check with the resources provided by your child’s school and the SCS site for instructional resources. In addition, check out our blog post on local and national COVID-19 resources, then explore our online resource center for other toolkits and activities your family can do at home.

Ensuring Digital Equity for All Children

It’s wonderful that so many community partners are stepping up to support students with remote-learning resources while schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, the reality is that many children in our community do not have the devices or internet access at home they need to take advantage of these resources. This “digital divide” only exacerbates and reinforces equity issues that already exist in education.

This is unacceptable, which is why we’re working every day to ensure that all students have access to 21st-century technology that will allow them to succeed at school and later in life. That’s why we’re proud to support our friends at SchoolSeed (in partnership with SCS) in raising funds to eliminate digital barriers to accessing online academic resources.The SCS COVID-19 Relief Fund will help provide needed WiFi access and purchase digital devices for low-income families in Memphis and Shelby County. We’re asking our supporters to take action by joining us in making a $25.00 donation towards bridging the digital divide.

Your contribution is an investment towards a stronger and more resilient community – now and for years to come.

Census 2020: Don’t Count Me Out! 

 t’s time to take the Census! This constitutionally mandated population survey happens every 10 years and forms the basis for distributing federal funds to local communities and determining legislative representation. Your participation in taking the Census counts more than ever and will help our city plan for the resources we need. Taking the Census also helps our children get the school funding and facilities they deserve! 

 Don’t miss this chance to stand up and be counted! Complete the Census form online at census.gov.

With the sudden spread of COVID-19 in Memphis and Shelby County, Stand Tennessee is committed to providing updates on educational and community resources that are available throughout the city. Here is a list of resources that you and your family can access during this difficult time.

COVID-19 INFORMATION

For the latest updates on the spread of the coronavirus, Use this portal created by the Shelby County Health Department for updated information and county-wide resources to use. You can also direct specific questions or immediate concerns you have about the virus by calling the Health Department Hotline at 833-943-1658.

MEAL DISTRIBUTION

Shelby County Schools and community agencies are ensuring that every child in Memphis and Shelby County receives a meal during the district closure. Click here to find a designated meal distribution site near you.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Along with meal distribution, Shelby County Schools has made it easier for parents to help students continue their learning at home. Printed learning guides are available for pick-up on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at all SCS meal distribution locations. Digital learning guides are available by clicking here. 

The Amazing Educational Resource Group has developed a list of educational companies that are offering free subscriptions to their curriculum due to school closures. It is advised to use this list in conjunction with the learning guides from SCS for extra practice with your student(s).

You can also check out this list of free online instructional materials and additional educational activites compiled by Stand for Children’s national staff.

ACTIVITIES AT HOME

Need something fun to do at home? How about a virtual trip to a museum or state park? You can also check out this recent I Love Memphis Blog to find other virtual events happening around the city.