Initiatives
Speak Out
Academy Alumni Take a Stand for Memphis
The Leadership Academy empowers Fellows, Masters, and Board Members to speak out in the media with a positive, intelligent, factual message about public safety, greening initiatives and education. Below are some great recent examples of Alumni taking a stand for their city:
Academy Fellow Chris Hill praises Teach for America and its results in Memphis in the Commercial Appeal. 12/9/10
Academy Fellow Sara Brock writes to the Commercial Appeal that she is grateful and proud to have a great municipal park at Shelby Farms. 12/5/10. Sara also blogged on memphisconnect.com about what the new consolidated government would be called. 10/16/10.
Academy Fellow Brandon Cooper thinks its great to see business leaders investing in Memphis City Schools 11/25/10 and connecting on the Greenline 2/13/10.
Academy Master and Executive Director of KIPP Memphis Jamal McCall, writes for memphisconnect.com about the Waiting for Superman and how it applies to Memphis. 11/1/10
Academy Fellow Claude Vinson writes to the Commercial Appeal about the great potential that consolidation has for the Shelby County area. 10/25/10
Academy Master Steve Fracchia discusses the economic benefits of consolidation in the Commercial Appeal. In the same issue, Academy Vice President Terry Davis writes that although painful, higher academic standards are the right thing for Memphis. 10/21/10
Academy Master and Waddell & Associates CEO David Waddell does explains the benefits of consolidation using economics and other cities. 10/19/10
Academy Fellow and frequent memphisconnect.com contributor Tarrin McGhee invites you to learn more about education in Memphis at a Stand For Children Study Circle. 10/14/10
Academy Master Joey Dudek tells the Commercial Appeal what makes the Greenline so great. 10/14/10
Academy Director of Communications Elizabeth Lemmonds uses the Commercial Appeal's Viewpoint section to explain why extending the school year is a good idea. 10/10/10
Academy Fellow Jackie Jackson writes the Commercial Appeal that failure is not an option for our youths. 10/8/10
Academy Fellow Mike Davis writes to the Commercial Appeal to praise the creation of the Greenline. 10/6/10
Academy Fellow Tyree Daniels posted about Wolf River Day for memphisconnect.com 9/22/10
Academy intern Ralph MacDonald blogged about a Saturday at the Memphis Farmers Market 9/16/10 and what you need to know about the MPD's Real Time Crime Center 8/15/10 for memphisconnect.com
Academy Vice President Terry Davis advises citizens to get better informed about their choices for Memphis City School Board candidates on memphisconnect.com 9/15/10.
MemphisConnect posted the One in a Million Tree Contest: the search is on for Shelby County's most significant tree 9/15/10, raising the bar in Tennessee schools 7/28/10.
Academy Fellow Anna Hotzclaw writes the Commercial Appeal to discuss the advantages of consolidation. 7/24/10
Academy Fellow Arnetta Macklin writes an op-ed about educating mothers on prenatal care for the Memphis Flyer. 7/22/10
Academy Fellow Jason potter blogs for memphisconnect.com about transforming cycling in Memphis. 7/14/2010
Academy Intern Matt Antwine commends the University of Memphis and Rhodes on memphisconnect.com for being noted as green colleges. 5/20/10
Academy Fellow Eric Mathews uses memphisconnect.com to seek input on the name for a future consolidated Shelby County government. 4/2/10
Academy Fellow John Schrank blogs on memphisconnect.com about Shelby Farms' Woodland Discovery Playground 3/15/10 and Shelby Farms opening the greenline 2/17/10. John also wrote an op-ed for the Commercial Appeal about Jamal McCall's impact at KIPP Memphis 1/27/10 and Miska Bibbs' work with MCS 12/30/09.
Academy Fellow Shalishah Franklin uses memphisconnect.com to blog about Operation Safe Community 2/11/10 and 11/17/09.
Academy Chairman Duncan Williams does a guest post on memphisconnect.com about the $90 million Gates Grant. 12/16/09
Academy Master Dorothy Pugh writes about Memphis City Schools' abilities for growth. 11/26/09
Our Speak Out calls to action and e-alerts to rally public support behind the $90 million grant from the Gates Foundation to Memphis City Schools caught the eye of Jane Roberts, who mentioned in Speak Out and Academy Alumni's excitement in her "Memphis' ‘Potential' Got Gates Attention" piece. 11/20/09
Academy Fellow Jackie Jackson touted the benefits of the Gates Grant in her Letter to the Editor of the Flyer and in the Commercial Appeal. 11/26/09
Academy Fellow Ryan Tracy writes in his CA letter to the editor that "We All Can Grow With City Schools". 11/25/2009
Academy Master and Board Member Kevin Adams calls Viva the Greenline! in his Flyer "Viewpoint" celebrating our multi-mile green connection between Shelby Farms and Midtown.
Academy Fellow John Cornes writes an op-ed for the Commercial Appeal about the advantages of the New Teacher Project. 11/8/09
Academy Fellows Stephen Yates and Brandon Cooper send in letters to the editor about the Memphis education system. 11/7/2009
Academy Fellow Kerry Hayes "Your Turn" cheering new charter school legislation airs on WMC TV Channel 5. 7/9/2009
The Commercial Appeal runs a "My Thoughts" Op-Ed by Academy Fellow John Cornes touting vital MCS education reforms ("New Teacher Project delivers vital innovations none too soon") 11/8/2009
Fellow-authored letters to the editor by Stephen Yates and Brandon Cooper appeared in the CA's debate on Memphis City Schools, tipping the scales on the dialogue toward the positive. 11/7/2009
Academy Fellow Tyree Daniels writes on memphisconnect.com that it is an exciting time for Memphis City Schools. 11/2/09
Academy Master Rhomes Aur writes an Op-Ed about Charter Schools Modeling the Way. 12/26/2008
Academy Fellow Marc Taylor publishes an Op-Ed emphasizing the important investment in Pre-K Education. 1/25/2009
Academy Fellow Brandon Cooper writes a letter to the editor 10/28/2008 of the CA, “Needed boost for crime fight,” touting the $15 grant to Operation: Safe Community. Later, he channels his inspiration from the Young Politicos Luncheon to a blog on Smart City Memphis about statesmanship and police residency requirements. 11/19/2008
Nancy Coffee, President of the Leadership Academy, publishes an Op/Ed inspired by Cory Booker. 11/7/2008Academy Fellow Pat Hopper writes a letter to the editor questioning a crime ranking of Memphis in “The story behind the statistics.” 11/29/2008
Academy Board Member Russ Wigginton Speaks Out about MCS Superintendent Dr. Cash's First 100 Days. 11/30/2008
Academy Fellow Jackie Peters encourages reporting on positive crime reduction statistics. 11/3/2008
Academy Fellow Renée Horne discusses how charters springboard our children to success in the Memphis News. 7/13/2009
Academy Fellow Jay Dennis talks about charters being a catalyst for urban education innovation in the Commercial Appeal. 7/25/2009