“This is a corridor that touches very diverse neighborhoods,” says Nicholas Oyler, Bikeway and Pedestrian Program Manager for the City of Memphis. “You travel through here and you’re passing through all walks of life in Memphis.”
“What we’re doing at More For Memphis will not only tackle the barriers of today, but pave a clear path forward for the next generation of dreamers and doers here,” says Teshanda Middleton, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Program Officer at Communities In Schools of Memphis.
The new effort aims to build community power, map local ecosystems, and provide equity training to reduce significant disparities in infant mortality.
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I knew there were 20 signs out there,” says Chris Collier, a resident and “the Leslie Knope” of Berclair.
From creating free farm stands in Detroit to promoting healthier drinking water in the Jackson area, the Henry Ford Health initiative Generation with Promise is supporting healthier families and communities across Michigan.
“We want people to leave motivated and inspired to be better leaders within their circle of influence. And so maybe that's at work, maybe that's you leading in a civic organization, or even you being within the nucleus of your family,” says Kaylon Bradford, Director of Leadership Programs for New Memphis.
“Literacy affects everything in your life -- from schooling, to understanding an over-the-counter drug label, to filling out a job application,” says Sam O’Bryant, Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South and head of Read901.
“Community input was crucial for us during the naming process, because Northside Square is a place for the community, plain and simple,” says Roshun Austin, president and CEO of The Works, Inc.
Here's a look at the actions three Michigan communities have taken since passing declarations that racism is a public health crisis.
For residents of some underserved communities — like Hickory Hill and South Memphis, for example — the barrier to fresh produce can stretch for miles. Here’s what some community leaders are doing about it.
Our Partners
