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I WORK FOR MEMPHIS Amy Chinn, Library Services

Editor in Chief Allison J. Fouche’ Contributors Leah Kraus Kyle Veazey Jericka Webster

CONTENTS 2018 5 5 6-7, 13 8-9 11 11 11

Trolley return to Main Street Adopt a Block MLK 50 Recap Inside the 901: Amy Chin Memphis Trails Pre-K Funding Hire Memphis

MLK50: Bringing Life Back To Universal Life Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland along with over 200 city staff, economic and community partners along with former Universal Life Insurance Co. employees participated in a symbolic ribbon-cutting of the 33,000-square foot Universal Life Insurance Co. building, which is being revived due to a public-private partnership with the City of Memphis. Universal Life was founded in 1923 by Dr. J.E. Walker, who along with co-founders A.W. Willis Sr. and M.W. Bonner grew the business to become the fourthlargest African-American-owned life insurance company in the United States. The revived building will be the home of the City of Memphis Business Development Center.

(More MLK50 coverage on page 6)

A View from the Mayor’s Desk

Mayor Strickland with Ambassador Andrew Young and Reverand Jesse Jackson during the MLK Honors Gala

Dear colleague: Looking back now at two-plus years as your mayor and colleague, plenty makes me proud. I’m proud of the work you do every day to keep this city humming along. I’m proud of the new initiatives we’ve worked together on to improve the employee experience.

But I’m also proud of the body of work we’ve put together when it comes to investing in our young people. We’ve increased the number of youth summer jobs we offer, we’ve drastically increased our programming and hours at libraries, we’ve made summer camps free at our community centers, and we’ve started a program of staffed play at 20 City parks this summer. That’s on top of what we were already doing. And it’s just the highlights -- it’s far from all we’re doing every day to connect our young people to the opportunity this city offers.

Practically every corner of City government is involved in this work -- from our Office of Youth Services, our Parks, our Libraries, and so many more. We’ve asked a lot of you to prioritize this work, and I just want to take a moment today to say thank you -- it’s truly making a difference in building the kind of Memphis we all want.

Yours,

Jim Strickland

Trolleys return to Main Street By: Leah Kraus The wait is over. Main Street trolleys are rolling through Downtown Memphis once again. After a ribbon cutting outside of the North Main Street trolley facility, they made their grand return to the tracks at 11 a.m.

Monday after nearly four years out of service.

Refurbishing the trolley system cost more than $10 million, but city leaders say they wanted to make sure the work was done right and without cutting any corners.

“The trolleys are truly part of the fabric downtown,” said Mayor Jim Strickland. “It’s great for the people who work Downtown, it’s great for the business Downtown, and it’s really important to the tourists.”

Trolley rides will be free for the first two weeks of service. Starting May 15, rides will cost $1 each way.

They’ll run every half hour.

Adopt A Block A program that aims to beautify Memphis block by block kicked off on Saturday.

Adopt-A-Block is an initiative by Mayor Jim Strickland as part of his Call to Action last year, where he challenged citizens to get involved in by cleaning up the city. The program launched in 2017, but the goal this year is for even more people to get involved.

This year the kick-off was held at the Vollintine Evergreen Community Association. After remarks from the Mayor, and supplies were handed out, and volunteers hit the streets with garbage bags to pick up trash.

“It takes us all to control blight and keep our neighborhoods litter-free,” Mayor Strickland said. “Whether you are an individual, neighborhood association, community group, non-profit or corporation, you can do your part by participating in this call to action.”

Here’s how the program works: residents and businesses invest in their neighborhood by adopting two blocks for a year, and committing to clean up events four times a year. Adopt-A-Block’s website makes it easy to choose which blocks you want.

You simply click on a block on the map to adopt it and claim it as yours. To adopt a block yourself, visit www.adoptablockmemphis.org.

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In the nearly 50 years since our City of Memphis sanitation workers took the brave stand that remains one of the seminal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, we’ve come to admire their courage, commemorate their resolve and rally around them as a community.

Since in remembrance there is life, the City of Memphis constructed two permanent art projects, hosted several events and branded the city I AM A MAN. I AM MEMPHIS. in honor of these great men. Below is a recap of all of the events during MLK50 Season.

January – May 2018 Partnership Grant Program In honor of Dr. King’s legacy, Mayor Strickland and the Memphis City Council awarded grants to community members pushing Dr. King’s message in various ways throughout the Memphis. The grants were awarded to activities that impact poverty, youth, jobs/economic development, community empowerment, nonviolence, and justice/peace. Twenty different grants were awarded to community organizations.

February 24, 2018 I AM A Man Commemoration Orpheum Theater In the spirit of King and to honor the Sanitation Workers of 1968 the I AM A MAN Commemoration started off as a march to memorialize the I AM A MAN marches, but due to inclement weather the venue changed to the Orpheum Theater. The event featured live entertainment from the Tennessee Mass Choir, The Four Winner and Memphis native, Evvie McKinney, Stax Music Academy Alumni Band, Al Capone, the Royal Studio Band, as well as a host of speakers and community fellowship.

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March 24, 2018 MLK Honors: I AM A MAN Memphis Cook Convention Center Ballroom The City of Memphis honored sanitation workers from 1968 for their impact on the Civil Rights Movement as well as their courage for standing up for their beliefs. The Honors Ceremony included a seated dinner, concert and the distribution of the I AM Award and the Humanitarian Award. Ambassador Andrew Young, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and Entrepreneur John Hope Bryant were featured speakers at the honors event.

April 5, 2018 I AM A Man Plaza Located Adjacent to Clayborn Temple @ Hernando and MLK Blvd.

I AM A MAN Plaza was commissioned by the City of Memphis to pay tribute to the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike, a focal point of the Civil Rights movement in America. Since 1968, the phrase I AM A MAN is synonymous with the struggle of the working poor in Memphis and beyond. Designed by renowned artist Cliff Garten, the Plaza features a centrally located bronze and stainless steel sculpture of the iconic I AM A MAN slogan, surrounded by a granite ring and a black granite wall containing the names of all 1300 solid waste employees from 1968. Garten collaborated with Memphis-based landscape architect, John Jackson of JPA, Inc., for detailed design and construction. The project was commissioned by the City of Memphis through the Urban Art Commission and generous supported by the Plough Foundation. con’t on page 13

EDITORIALFEATURE

INSIDE THE 901: Amy Chinn Children’s Services Librarian

By Jericka Webster

Amy Chinn was recently awarded the Benjamin L. Hooks Distinguished Service Award, an honor awarded annually to a library employee who exemplifies the Library’s commitment to service and promotes the Library’s organizational goals through improvements in service delivery, processes, customer service, increased productivity, health and safety. Here is a look at Ms. Chinn and why she loves her job and working as a librarian for Children Services.

What is your position, and what are a few of your major responsibilities?

I am a Librarian in the Children’s Department of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. I develop and lead a weekly baby and toddler story time, serve as a DiscoverREAD consultant, assist with collection development projects, and provide daily reference and reader’s advisory assistance.

What has been one of your most memorable challenges while working at the Libraries?

The research, planning, and establishment of the Library’s DiscoverREAD centers took years. Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, this challenging, worthwhile initiative came to fruition in the Spring of 2017. These DiscoverREAD spaces, designed specifically for children from birth to age 5, encourage parental involvement and early literacy skill building through talking, reading, playing, singing, and writing. They have been extremely successful and the library is now working with partners to establish DiscoverREAD spaces at other library locations.

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EDITORIALFEATURE

Amy receiving her award with Jacqueline Wallace, Friends of the Library President, Chris Marszalek, Deputy Director of Libraries, Keenon McCloy, Director of Libraries and Dr. LeMoyne Robinson Chairman, Board of Trustees.

What would you like Memphians to know about the Children’s Libraries that they might not know?

I would like Memphians to know about and take advantage of all the free programming offered for children, teens, and adults throughout the library system. An events calendar can be accessed through our website memphislibrary.org for up- to- date program offerings.

What is one activity, you’ve seen, impact children you work with the most?

I believe story times are extremely impactful. They provide an inviting space for children to enjoy interactive, literacy-rich experiences and allow librarians to work with parents and caregivers to instill behaviors and practices that will allow them to enhance learning and literacy at home.

What do you hope to bring to your role as a librarian for the central library?

I hope to bring a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

What skills have you prepared you for your current position?

I have Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. As a former educator, I developed excellent communication, technical, and organization skills. These skills and my experiences working with children in various settings have served me well at the library.

What motivates you personally?

Helping others grow is where my true passion lies. Whether it be teaching a child or mentoring an adult, it is very rewarding to know that someone benefited positively in some way from your knowledge and experience.

What advice would you give someone seeking a career as a children’s librarian?

I would advise someone interested in becoming a children’s librarian to obtain a Master’s degree in Library Science or a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education. Future children’s librarians must also enjoy working with children of all ages, possess strong customer service and organizational skills, exhibit knowledge of children’s literature and an understanding of current trends in early literacy practices.

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NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK KICK-OFF WEDNESDAY- MAY 23, 2018 - 10AM-2PM CITY HALL- CIVIC CENTER PLAZA RAFFLES-FOOD TRUCKS-DISPLAYS!

Interesting Updates Memphis Heritage Trail opens Mayor Jim Strickland and the Division of Housing and Community Development recently opened the Memphis Heritage Trail (MHT) and launched the Memphis Heritage Trail app. This project highlights newly installed wayfinding signage, the user-friendly mobile application, beacon technology, art installations, historic markers, and a driving brochure.

The MHT app can be downloaded for free via the App Store and Google Play. The app gives the viewer historical context and videos about African American people and places in Memphis, both past and present.

For more information, visit www.memphisheritagetrail.com

Pre K Funding Mayor Jim Strickland and members of the Memphis City Council announced a City plan to take a significant step toward fully funding needs-based Pre-Kindergarten for Memphis children.

Using money from expiring tax incentives and dedicating the equivalent of revenues from one cent of the current property tax rate toward a Pre-K fund, the City plan will generate $6 million per year of City of Memphis funding toward Pre-K by 2022.

Mayor Strickland and council members have long championed early childhood education as a

critical component of addressing Memphis’ challenges such as poverty and crime. Studies have shown that a child that can read at a third-grade level by third grade has a 90 percent chance of graduating high school — thus achieving a better outcome in life. The City has initiated literacy programming and after-school tutoring in community centers and has called for citizens to tutor secondgraders as part of a Shelby County Schools program.

Welcome to your new City website The redevelopment of memphistn. gov is something Mayor Jim Strickland initiated shortly after arriving in office.

Among the site’s new or enhanced features: The site is responsive to all devices — from desktop to tablet to smartphone — for the first time.

The “Your City At Work” feature on the homepage highlights the expansive work the City of Memphis does every day — from paving miles to potholes filled to 911 answer times.

A new Office of Communications one-stop shop for reporters and citizens alike offers fast access to a trove of public documents and other useful information.

Easier and more intuitive access is provided to some of the more common uses for the site — filing a 311 request, applying for a job, or making a payment, for instance.

In fact, the top-line navigation items — Government, Business, Parks, Animal Services — were chosen based on traffic history.

City and civic events will be collected and displayed in a new calendar feature.

Hire Memphis Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced the launch of HireMemphis, his new youth employment initiative that will provide local youth ages 16-24 with job opportunities.

“In Memphis alone, there are 30,000 youth ages 16-24 who are neither employed nor in school,” Mayor Strickland said. “No longer can we stand aside and let our youth believe it’s too hard to thrive in Memphis. My hope is for this website to be the place to go to find information for professional growth, employment or internships citywide.”

Posting jobs is free, and only Memphis-area youth can apply for open positions.

Mayor Strickland also stressed that this initiative cannot be one-sided but should cater to both employers and youth. That’s why all job postings on HireMemphis. org will include each company’s age requirements for hiring (ages 16-17, 18-20, 20-21, or all the above), along with if transportation is provided.

Also, the website will offer tools to help with creating resumes, writing cover letters and interviewing.

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April 2, 2017 MLK Luminary Awards Cannon Center Hosted by Mayor Jim Strickland and businesswoman Gayle Rose, the “MLK50 Luminary Awards honored the Memphis’ 1968 striking sanitation workers. Mayor Strickland distributed “The 2018 Luminary Award’’ medallions to the 30 surviving sanitation workers. The concert featured a special performance by surviving members of the 1968 Prairie View A&M a cappella concert choir that gave a chance, midnight performance for King and his staff in a smoke-filled meeting room at the Lorraine days before his death.

April 6, 2018 MLK Reflection Park Located at the corner Second St. and MLK Blvd.

The MLK Reflection Park occupies land at the northwest corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Second Street. Uniquely positions a few blocks from Clayborn Temple, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, and Beale Street, the MLK Reflection Site will be a focal point for those seeking to understand Dr. King’s impact on Memphis and the world. The reflection park is comprised of the relocated bronze sculpture “Mountaintop” created in 1977 by Richard Hunt. The park also includes images of never seen photos from the Withers Collection. At the ribbon cutting, there was also the unveiling of “My Eyes Have Seen”, an original painting that was commissioned by the City of Memphis. The painting will be placed in the newly constructed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. conference room at City Hall.

April 26, 2018 Music for Martin Cannon Center Students, supporters, families, and friends gathered to experience an original production “Music for Martin.”

This MLK50 celebration was presented by Mayor Jim Strickland, Memphis Youth City Council, and Memphis Office of Youth Services and the University of Memphis Rudi Scheidt School of Music. The production featured performances by Ballet on Wheels Dance School and Company, 901 Big Band, Chamber Choir, Chamber Strings, the Memphis Boys and Girls Choir, and a performance of an excerpt from the opera “The Promise” by John Baur, based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event also featured the world premiere “Echoes of a King: A Hip Hop Symphony.”

The event raised over 1,339 lbs. of food, and 1,116 people will receive their next meal due to those donations.

Donated items were given to the Mid-South Food Bank.

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COMPLIMENTARY GREENS FEES

City of Memphis Employees 2018

MAY

MONDAYS  FRIDAYS & AFTER 12 PM ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS

THE LINKS AT AUDUBON 9016836941

THE LINKS AT RIVERSIDE 9015764296

THE LINKS AT DAVY CROCKETT 9013583375

THE LINKS AT WHITEHAVEN 9013961608

THE LINKS AT FOX MEADOWS 9013620232

THE LINKS AT OVERTON PARK 9017259905

THE LINKS AT PINE HILL 9017759434

THE LINKS AT GALLOWAY 9016857805

CART FEE: $8 FOR 9HOLE $16 FOR 18HOLE PLEASE SHOW CITY ID FOR ENTRY CALL GOLF SHOP FOR ADVANCED TEE TIMES

KICKBALL $5 DENIM DAYS

MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Fridays starting May 18 – August 3

• Monetary donations

SPREAD THE LOVE PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE

• Participate in Division sponsored events.

Wednesdays starting May 16 – August 1

• Participate in Denim Fridays and Spread the

$5 AIRPLANE TICKET RAFFLE Enter at www.crowdrise.com/kickhunger or see your division liaison

KICK HUNGER KICKBALL GAME June 22, 2018 from 12 PM - 5 PM at Tobey Park

Love events.

• Bring

non-perishable

food

items

designated areas. Peanut butter is best.

to