Current Events Archives

A Moral 2020 Budget for Shelby County

Current Events | 05/17/2020

Cardell Orrin Memphis Executive Director

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!

Newsletter 2020: COVID Edition

Current Events | 04/15/2020

Dominique Garrett Communications and Community Engagement Manager

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.

COVID-19: Local Resources

Current Events | 03/20/2020

Dominique Garrett Communications and Community Engagement Manager

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.

COVID-19: National Emergency

Current Events | 03/16/2020

Dominique Garrett Communications and Community Engagement Manager

As we’re sure everyone is aware, the spread of the coronavirus has reached Memphis and Shelby County, leaving families to take extra precautions to ensure that their children and loved ones stay healthy during this critical time.

At Stand, we’re concerned for our whole community, the impact on our most vulnerable citizens, and potential barriers children and families will experience during this national emergency. We hope to assist by helping to spread information and support community efforts from our governments and direct service agencies as they become necessary and available.

Our office will be closed from March 13 – March 30 while staff will be working remotely to keep our advocacy efforts moving forward. We will make determinations about meetings and gatherings as needed with up-to-date information and a focus on safety.

Stay tuned to our social media pages to find out about available community resources and tips on how you can protect yourself and your family. If you’re aware of resources that we should share, please send them along to us!

Exercise precautions and stay safe and healthy!

Let’s Try Again!

Momentum Memphis | 01/20/2020

Dominique Garrett Communications and Community Engagement Manager

If you came to the Shelby County Education Committee Meeting on January 8th, you were there waiting for over two hours to hear the results and lessons learned from the Reimagining 901 Input Community Sessions that were held in various schools across Memphis.

I want to thank those of you who came out and waited with us to hear the committee report, and I also want to ask for your support again in attending tomorrow’s education committee meeting at 11:00 am. You can meet us at the Shelby County Commission Building located at 160 N. Main Street. Tell the security officer that you are attending the education committee meeting and they will direct you where to go.

Your attendance at the Education Committee Meeting is vital to our children getting the 21st-century school facilities they need and deserve! If you can’t make it to the meeting, be sure to take our SCS Facilities Survey and tell us the current state of your child’s school facilities. If you are a Shelby County Schools teacher, please take the SCS Educator Facilities Survey and let us know the working conditions of your school.

See you there!

Attend the SCS Education Committee Meeting!

Current Events | 01/6/2020

Dominique Garrett Communications and Community Engagement Manager

Join Stand for Children, MICAH – Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope and 90ONE Organizing Network for Equity for the Shelby County Commission Education Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 8th, at 11:00 am.

Come out and hear Shelby County Schools – SCS administrators share the next steps on the facilities planning initiative and what they learned from the Reimagining 901 Community Input Sessions.

Your attendance at the Education Committee Meeting is vital to our children getting the 21st-century school facilities they need and deserve! It is time for the Memphis community to STAND up and demand change for our children.

Be apart of that change by attending the meeting on Wednesday! If you can’t make it to the meeting, I urge you to take our SCS Facilities Survey and tell us the current state of your child’s school facilities.

Hope to see you there!

Essentials for a Real 3rd Grade Commitment

Access to High-Quality Schools | 08/8/2019

Meili Powell Teacher, Stand for Children Member

Two years ago, I started as a third-grade reading teacher in Shelby County Schools (SCS). I knew that third grade was the strongest predictor of long-term learning success, but I did not know the complexity behind the immense literacy gaps within our district.

Three out of four SCS third-graders are not reading on grade level. In 2018, only 27% of SCS third-graders were proficient on the reading state assessment. I’ve seen the impact of these statistics, as many of my students entered the year behind.

Recently, SCS developed the “3rd Grade Commitment” to correspond to revisions of its policy for promotion and retention. Currently, second-graders are promoted if they earn above a D (70+). This new policy requires the district’s 8,700 second-graders to meet at least 8 of 12 points under a new success criteria. Students who do not meet the criteria must attend summer school, and, if still not successful over the summer, will have 45 days of the following year to catch up before having to repeat the second grade.

SCS states that the 3rd Grade Commitment will “hold district and school leaders, teachers, and all stakeholders accountable” for students’ success before third grade. With the plan for implementation in 2020, I am left wondering, what new measures will hold adults accountable? Also, if students are given new requirements to move from second grade to third grade, what new supports will they receive?

While focusing on literacy is crucial, it cannot be an isolated effort. To change results, the root causes for what left students behind in the first place must be simultaneously considered.

When I think about my students who needed literacy intervention, I know that support goes beyond academics. Two of my students lost family members to gun violence this year. I vividly remember when they came to class crying, as I helped them make cards that day because they couldn’t focus. They showed resilience but had anger management issues and emotional outbursts throughout the year. Consequently, they had multiple in- and out-of-school suspensions and were penalized for using the only coping mechanisms they had to deal with their trauma.

Research shows that two-thirds of Memphis children who are treated at Le Bonheur have at least four Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), traumatic events that can range from neglect to poverty to the incarceration of a parent and exposure to violence, and one-third have food and housing insecurity.

If my students who were exposed to violence had fallen under this new policy, how would SCS provide new trauma-responsive supports to ensure that they are given every opportunity to succeed?

Two other students at my intervention table often missed instruction because they were chronically absent. Some weeks, they would only come to school for one or two days. One of them always got picked up early, missing countless instructional hours. He spent the year working on sounding out words on a first-grade reading level (2-grade levels behind). Last year, 12% of SCS students were chronically absent, meaning that they missed 18+ days of school.

If my chronically absent students fell under this new policy, how would SCS establish new measures to communicate with families and ensure their attendance?

SCS must also be strategic in evaluating the negative impacts on retaining students mid-year. Retaining students in elementary grades is less harmful compared to later years, but SCS needs to communicate to families that retention is not a punishment. It will be critical to ask, what supports will be given to students who are forced to integrate into a new grade mid-year?

Thousands of students may not be promoted based on the new criteria. We must ensure that literacy funding is prioritized and supports are put in place to balance out the negative repercussions of retaining students at a large scale. This policy change is an attempt to transform a local culture that is too accepting of low literacy for our children, and we need to recognize that a real 3rd Grade Commitment must come from our entire community.

A real 3rd Grade Commitment means investment in true, universal pre-K that is not solely needs-based. It means stressing the importance of K-2 foundations and making sure that the universal phonics curriculum recently funded in the SCS budget is a high-quality, evidence-based choice.

SCS must invest not only in literacy laureates (teachers who coach part-time), but also in full-time literacy coaches, because research shows that they have the most impact on student achievement. In addition, we should look to identify opportunities to reduce student-teacher ratios as a way to further enhance learning.

Holistic support that addresses non-academic challenges that students face requires increased school support staff, such as counselors, social workers, and trauma-responsive family engagement specialists. These investments should be intertwined with implementation efforts for the recently passed SCS resolution to become a trauma-informed district. An enhanced communication between all entities in the district will be necessary to enact a strategy for comprehensive student development.

If you are a parent, teacher, or advocate, plan to attend one of the 3rd Grade Commitment community meetings to make your voice heard. If you have questions or have suggestions for the community resource toolbox, contact [email protected]. If you’re ready to get involved in community advocacy for the 3rd Grade Commitment, join us at Stand for Children in our Graduation Success for College & Career Task Force.

Lastly, you can join Chalkbeat journalists on August 22nd at an early literacy listening tour to ask questions, gather more information, and learn about opportunities to connect with Chalkbeat in the future.

Statement on Brandon Webber’s Death

Current Events | 06/17/2019

Dylan Moore Teacher and Community Advocate

Our hearts go out to the family of Brandon Webber, the Frayser community, and all involved in another traumatic event for our city.

Regardless of the details leading up to his death, we must admit that a deep tragedy occurred in the Frayser community.

Media coverage has centered on the reactions of the community and police. While headlines note the number of police injuries or the actions of the crowd, they ignore the tragic truth at the heart of these events: another young man in our city was killed.

The Frayser community is in pain. We can only imagine the anger, sadness, and grief felt by the family members, friends, and community members who knew Brandon.

Brandon’s death and the pain of the Frayser community remind us at Stand for Children Tennessee why we do the work we do.

Every day across our city, nearly one in three black youths are disconnected from work or school, and even those who are connected lack adequate protection and support, resulting in many who continue to struggle, whether academically, socially, or economically. We know that when we fail to invest meaningfully in our youth, we leave them much more vulnerable to violence. We must make new choices to recognize all of our youth as inherent assets to our city and take meaningful steps to nurture their growth and defend their development. Past policy choices have created a cycle of pain and mourning that has left deep wounds in communities all through our city.

As a city, we must recognize the deep trauma endured in our communities every day. Shelby County Schools recently took initial steps towards becoming a trauma-responsive district; this is an example that we must expand upon and, as a city, move to make all systems–education, public safety, healthcare, and others–more aware of and responsive to trauma. We need to strengthen our individual and collective capacity to mourn with people in Frayser and listen to the community for what it needs now.

If we do not listen deeply to the people in our communities and empower them to heal, we will continue to see events like this one happen throughout our city.

Stand for Children uses grassroots organizing as a way to listen to communities and hear directly from them about what they need to ensure that all youth are empowered to succeed educationally and economically. Our city must learn to do the same. We know we can and must do better in empowering our youth through community investments in jobs, education, healthcare, transportation, and more.

We will continue to stand for our youth in Frayser and in every part of our city through advocacy, our organizing efforts, and community support. We STAND with the Frayser community during their time of mourning.

A UNIFIED VOICE FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH

Access to High-Quality Schools | 04/24/2019

Cardell Orrin Executive Director

For over a year, Stand for Children, MICAH, and 9-0-One have been working both separately and together to define occasions for improving educational opportunities for students in Shelby County. We have talked with Shelby County Schools (SCS) administrators, SCS Board Members, County Commissioners, the County Mayor, parents, students, and other community stakeholders and have outlined a list of requests and recommendations that are in alignment with the goals, priorities, and plans of both the district and our county officials, as well as many of the hopes and dreams for young people that we have heard across the community. Where research exists, we have focused on proven, evidence-based approaches to develop opportunities for increasing support and success for all students.

When we found that our organizations had set similar focus areas, we decided to join as a collaborative to share our research, experience, knowledge, skills, and solutions. We knew that the power of a unified community voice for our young people was a model that needed to be seen and heard.

As SCS enters its budget process and considers the investments that the district wants to make in 2019-2020, we recently presented SCS Board Members with our proposals for setting priorities and making investments for SCS students. While some of these requests may not require more funding, we must be bold in what we want for our young people and cannot shy away from asking for what is needed. Even if these requests mean that the SCS budget must increase, we look forward to pushing with SCS leaders and board members for the funding from Shelby County to ensure that SCS and its partners are able to deliver these impactful investments with fidelity.

Click here to download a PDF of our full presentation to the SCS School Board.

Supporting Schools to Help Students Succeed

The requests included in this section have some of the strongest backing based on the clear researched evidence and best practices that have been gathered on these topics.

Graduation Success for College and Career

Every student should be given the support necessary to graduate from high school and, upon graduation, students should be prepared for success in either college or their chosen career path.

In order to meet SCS’ Destination 2025 goal of a 90% graduation rate, we must ensure that every high school is focused on making sure 9th graders are on track by 2021.

Commit to all high schools having an intentional, evidence-based 9th grade-on-track program by 2021. Research indicates this should include at least bi-weekly 9th grade team meetings, focused student data monitoring, targeted academic interventions, one-on-one coaching support, freshman seminar/advisory class, participation in peer improvement network, and summer bridge program for 8th graders.
For 2019-2020, support expansion of the Freshman Success Network with 5 additional SCS traditional high schools (9 current schools) for a total of 14 traditional high schools in 2019-2020.

$65,000 per school with current allocation and summer bridge pilot (6 schools, 50 students each).

Estimated Cost: $1.3 million

High-quality career pathways should be available equitably to all students.

Programs should include rigorous curriculum and instruction towards industry certification, structured learning communities, work-based learning, an industry advisory board to ensure industry connection to all components, and school-based staff to ensure high-quality programs and assist students in post-graduation planning.
Funding to support expansion of NAF Academies with at least 6 more Academies.

Estimated Cost: $125,000 plus staffing costs (1 person for Academies oversight per school)

We can significantly impact literacy in grades K-2 by using research-based best practices to provide the supports needed to ensure that as few 2nd grade students as possible are retained under the new policy.

Create a more comprehensive early literacy pilot program with expansion of EL Foundations to 16 additional schools (from current 8); provide literacy coaches for each of the 24 elementary schools in the pilot; increase access to high-quality, culturally relevant books in pilot classrooms.

Est. $2.8 million (curriculum & materials, PD, coaches, and books)

Additional benefit could come from commitment to 18 students per class for K-2.

Facilities & Funding Our Students Deserve

All students need facilities and classrooms that meet 21st century standards.

By August 2019, SCS should develop a comprehensive footprint analysis for Shelby County Schools (including charter schools and ASD) that emphasizes access to academic opportunities and social-emotional learning. SCS can allocate the funding needed to create this analysis in the 2019-20 SCS Budget.
By December 2019, SCS should develop a 7- to 10-year comprehensive facilities investment plan that is equitable for students and neighborhoods, focused on 21st century learning needs, and aligns resources to serve students and families well. SCS can allocate the funding needed to create the facilities investment plan in the 2019-20 SCS Budget.

Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline

Students who are suspended from school lose valuable learning time, and can be set on a path that impacts the rest of their lives.

SCS has recently committed to become a trauma-informed and responsive district that understands that we must begin to better address the social and emotional needs of all students and do our best to prevent and address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Trauma responsive schools – SCS should create a 10-school pilot that includes additional staff and both proactive (SEL curriculum) and reactive (restorative practices) programs, training, and support.

Estimated Cost: $2 million

SCS has recognized the use of exclusionary practices (out-of-school suspensions and expulsions) as a serious challenge and should continue to make progress in reducing these.

Ensure that all elementary schools have designated staff for supportive, trauma-responsive in-school suspension or similar alternatives to out-of-school suspensions (e.g., reset rooms).
All schools should have a trauma-responsive trained Family Engagement Specialist who supports students and families with connections to interventions and supports in-school and outside of school. Adding 30 each year, this could be accomplished within 3 years. Clear metrics should be set around decreasing chronic absenteeism, suspensions, and expulsions.
- 30 additional Family Engagement Specialists for 2019-2020 school year.

Estimated Cost: $1.8 million

There is a great need for additional counselors, social workers, and/or behavioral specialists in schools, but there may be a lack of certified candidates available for the scale needed by SCS.

Support staff that schools fund through their SBB, Title I, or other school-based funding source should come from a pool of candidates and fall under the oversight (with appropriate training and support) of the primary SCS office for that role.
- This will help to maintain consistency in abilities and expectations for all schools with the same role in that school.
- For example, all Family Engagement Specialists should be overseen by FACE and all Behavioral Specialists should be overseen by Student Support Services.

Community Investment for All Youth

In the schools, we see community investment through making our schools more equitable and ensuring that we are meeting the needs of all of our students and families.

Memphis has a growing population of non-English speaking community members. We should work as a community to welcome our neighbors and ensure they have equitable access to needed information.

Ensure an option for students to have their report cards and all official documents (prioritizing IEPs and 504s) translated and printed in Spanish with plans to expand to all students’ families’ preferred language. Provide resources in the budget to ensure the implementation for the 2019-2020 school year.

SCS can help to stem the tide of Opportunity Youth by providing supports and programs that recognize and address the challenges faced by justice-involved youth.

SCS should commit to continue funding for Project STAND at Carver High School to replace expiring federal funding and to explore expanding the program to more schools with high concentrations of justice-involved youth.

Estimated Cost: $450,000

City of Memphis

Increase MPLOY summer job opportunities from current 1,750 to 5,000 by 2022.

City of Memphis & Shelby County

Ensure that funding for pre-K expansion is included in city and county budgets.

Living Up to the Legacy

Current Events | 04/18/2018

Cardell Orrin Memphis City Director

I made this speech at the Lorraine Motel on the 50th anniversary of the assination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Thanks to the National Civil Rights Museum for partnering with organizations like ours, and so many others, to create a space over the last year to ask the challenging question, Where Do We Go From Here?

As has been the case with many Memphians, and I’m sure others, my heart has been conflicted this week. We honor the sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the sanitation workers, and all those who fought to make change to bring equality in civil rights, economic justice, political freedom, and the simple recognition of our humanity – most recently expressed as Black Lives Matter.

At the same time, we’ve heard many times this week, and I’m sure you will hear again many times today, the facts for Memphis 50 years after King’s assassination – the high poverty rate, the higher child poverty rate, one of the highest rates of opportunity youth, economic, residential and school segregation, a juvenile court that needs federal oversight just to ensure that Black youth are treated equitably, and, just yesterday, police overreaction to non-violent protesters resulting in the arrest of several activists.

With these issues facing us, we have city leadership that instead of reacting with the fierce urgency of now responds with the glacial speed of soon. The City of Memphis, which divested from supporting education several years ago, gave us hope with a commitment to support universal pre-k. Their commitment translated to taking four years to ramp up to just a $6 million investment (only a portion of the amount needed for universal pre-k). One city council member proposes taking three years for a slight increase in the city’s summer youth jobs program. Meanwhile, the amount we spend on policing continues to expand.

Even with these harsh realities, we have hope that King’s prophesy can come true…something can happen in Memphis.

In reflecting on the way that we could honor the legacy of Dr. King, at Stand for Children, we launched Momentum Memphis, an effort to create a city-wide movement for youth opportunity and success.

Education achievement for African Americans is one of the few places where we have seen advancement over the last 50 years, but we still have more to achieve. We believe that engaging, informing, and equipping parents, educators, and community members to be advocates for building a community that values our children will help to build a community that values them as adults.

We have connected with thousands of our fellow Memphians around our four platform areas:

Graduation Success for College and Career – because walking across the stage isn’t enough. We need to ensure that our students are ready and prepared for post-graduation success. Connecting pathways to high-wage, high-growth career opportunities can help with the economic advancement missing in our communities.

Community Investment for All Youth – what happens in schools is only part of the solution. We must support our youth after school and in the summer. We have to build a community that can effectively respond to the trauma that too many of our young people are forced to deal with.

Facilities and Funding Our Students Deserve – our students and educators suffer in buildings with leaking roofs and air-conditioning or heating systems that don’t work. We must invest in learning spaces that let our students know that we value them and that support preparing them for a global economy.

Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline – a connection has been developed that links the institutions of schools and prisons. We must develop advocacy and solutions that address both sides of that pipeline. We have partnered with criminal justice reform organizations to coordinate our efforts so that no child is treated as disposable.

We work every day to advocate solutions in each of these areas, and believe this is a critical part of achieving Dr. King’s dream of addressing poverty and economic disparity.

You can learn more and join our fight at MomentumMemphis.com.

Thank you and have a wonderful day of honoring the sacrifice and continuing the struggle.”