GRITGRINDGRIZZ: Did I just witness the last home Grizzlies game of the season?
Sports, Page 12
Anyone can have great soil to grow in – if you follow a few simple principles.
Lifestyle & Culture, Page 6
VOL. 69, No. 11
March 12 - 18, 2020
Last Sunday was not my first time attending service at Pursuit of God in Frayser. Nor was it my first time attending services at 3759 N. Watkins, the former Bellevue Baptist Church.
The few times I went to Bellvue-Frayser, the crowds were sparse and on a couple of occasions, I remember viewing a feed of the service at the main Bellevue campus. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose – but I do distinctly remember feeling, “If I’m gonna watch a pastor on TV, I could do that at home.” Just being real.
Contrast to Pursuit of God Transformation Center, affectionately known in Frayser as POG. In my visits there, I was always struck not just by Floyd’s real-talk ministerial style, or the emotional performances of the choir. What struck me most were some of the people who came: single moms, ex-felons, the poor, the recovering addicts – basically what Jesus called “the least of these.”
There are many ministries that preach about serving “the least of these.” Some of them even
“Sometimes, I’m asked if we ever could have imagined this. And you know what our answer is? Yes,” said Sheila Floyd. “It was always in our heart. I mean don’t get me wrong, there’s no pride at all. We’re overjoyed, but yes, we imagined it. We dare to believe that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all else.”
have outreach programs to feed or clothe them – but for whatever reasons, you seldom see “the
SEE
In a struggle to remain competitive, a growing number of police departments are relaxing grooming standards to allow officers to wear beards and tattoos, staples of the millennial generation and younger people.
In a recent telephone interview with The New Tri-State Defender Memphis Police Association President Mike Williams said his organization for two years has pushed for relaxed grooming standards as a
good recruitment tool.
The issue recently was discussed during a Memphis City Council Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting.
Councilman Martavius Jones and others discussed whether Memphis is not passing over potential recruits because they are not clean-shaven, have tattoos or Afro-centric hairstyles.
The MPA’s Williams said, “A lot of departments are going to it (relaxing grooming standards) because it’s a sign of the times. We (recently) stated to the command staff that they need to get in compliance with police
departments across the country (by relaxing standards).”
Williams said relaxed standards would broaden the pool of potential recruits and help the department retain officers.
“There is a major push to recruit individuals and a lot of these young people, they have beards, they have tattoos,” he said.
A spokesman for the Memphis Police Department said the issue is under review by the command staff, including Police Director Michael Rallings.
SEE
While precautions are being taken in local church bodies and denominational organizations, the spiritual community largely is choosing to continue assembling in corporate worship.
At least that was the case Wednesday night as The New Tri-State Defender went to press amid multiple cancellations of events and gatherings in myriad parts of the city,
state, country and world.
“We must continue to assemble,” said CME Presiding Bishop Henry M. Williamson. “We will come together and pray for God to heal and deliver, just as we did for small pox, measles and every other communicable disease.
“We encourage our people to following the recommendations of the experts. Wash hands often and thoroughly, and seek medical professionals if they suffer any symptoms.
Memphis in May plans for ‘the show to go on’ amid concernsby Dena L. Owens Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Memphis in May International Festival officials said ‘the show will go on’ for 2020, despite nationwide coronavirus concerns.
MIM events, including the famous Beale Street Music Festival, May 1-3 in Tom Lee Park, are planned as scheduled. Meanwhile, MIM officials will monitor changes in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Memphis/Shelby County, which was one at The New Tri-State Defender’s print deadline.
“Local health officials report that the coronavirus threat is low in Memphis,” said Charles Ewing,
MIM 2020 board chair and president and founder of Ewing Moving & Storage.
“Memphis in May is seven weeks away … a lot can change in that time. “We have well-planned, well-thought-out policies if there’s a threat to our constituents. Safety is number one, so we’ll exhaust all opportunities to secure their safety.” World Health Organization officials Wednesday, because the virus as spread to more than 100 countries, qualified it as a global pandemic.
least of these” actually in those churches. They are loved, but often from a distance.
That’s not what I experienced at POG. Floyd squarely aims his ministry and his outreach where the pain is, and he makes no bones about it. That’s why Bellevue Baptist Church gifted its massive Frayser facility –debt-free and stocked with supplies.
And Floyd says it’s why more than 500 people packed the pews Sunday for POG’s first service in its new sanctuary.
“We respect people. We love people,” Floyd said Tuesday, during a break in POG’s annual job fair. “We don’t let dogmatic religion chase us away. My son was telling me somebody saw a video of a young man standing at the altar accepting Jesus Christ – but he had a hoodie on. And here’s what some dogmatic religious fruitcake nut said: ‘Dishonoring the house of God with a hoodie on his head!’
“And you know, I wanted to say, ‘Ma’am, you got a wig on yo’ head,” Floyd chuckled. “You get people who are so caught up in the way they think Jesus should be accepted or presented they will use hatred and bitterness and anger to run people away.”
POG’s big move largely grew out of the partnership and genuine friendship Floyd and wife Sheila share with David Jordan, President & CEO of Agape Child & Family Services, who sat in for my talk with Floyd. POG and Agape have partnered on many programs, including the job fair that was going on just two rooms away. Agape had considerable resources to help families and children, but lacked the direct contact and “street cred” that the Floyds had built up over the years. They decided to join forces to bring programs like the Job Fair and other needed services into
POG’s former campus on Dellwood across from MLK Prep.
“I love my brother, my sister, our partnership, our relationship,” Jordan said. “It really grows out of that Jesus blood over us. I mean, it does. God has woven our hearts and our being together, deeply into what’s in the future.”
Floyd makes a point to call it “relationship capital.”
“(Jordan’s) vision became part of my vision. My vision became a part of his vision,” he said. “And it really was the same vision of God – to transform a community, touch people, teach people, transform people, show people the love of God. To help people get liberated.”
As Floyd gave us a tour of the facility, he said that Bellevue’s leadership recognized that the building was under-utilized and that the ministry simply wasn’t connecting with people in Frayser. Jordan had introduced Floyd to Bellevue seeking funding for POG’s Husband Institute. After a meeting to discuss was canceled last fall, Floyd said he was discouraged.
“When it’s people and their money, you can’t get mad. I was disappointed, but not mad,” Floyd said. “But when the conversations picked back up, they said, ‘Be patient. We’re looking at something bigger.”
Floyd and his wife were thinking it might mean more funding. But later, when a senior Bellevue official floated the idea of donating the Frayser campus, Floyd said he was speechless. After presenting Bellevue a bold vision of how the building would be used . . . “And here we are,” Floyd said.
And Bellevue left quite a bit behind. Floyd showed us multiple rooms chock full of school supplies and crafts. A game room with billiards and ping-pong tables. Fully furnished conference rooms. A food pantry with racks and racks of canned goods. In the children’s church area,
there’s a puppet theatre for using hand puppets to teach youngsters.
And then there’s the full-size barbecue pit, the four-unit apartment building, the playground, the garden
area . . . but the main advantage that Sheila Floyd said the complex gives them is room to stretch out. Take the job fair. In previous years, they’d reconfigure the sanctuary to hold the
fair then have to break it down to put the sanctuary back together for service or other programs.
But not this year. At the new facility, Floyd cycled participants through a services fair in one room before they enter the main fellowship hall where prospective employers were. The sanctuary? It sat dark and unused.
“I was just thinking, ‘Wow, we didn’t even touch the spaces that we’re going to use for later. Isn’t that wonderful?” Sheila Floyd said.
“When everybody’s done, they can pack up, we can pack up a little cleaning, and we can go and be ready for it this evening. The additional space creates a better flow.”
And more opportunities to touch lives. Floyd said more than 250 people came through the job fair, which featured “felon-friendly” employers.
Floyd and Jordan are already planning to expand Agape’s offerings at Pursuit of God. Floyd envisions a 24hour daycare to accommodate parents who work nights.
“Sometimes, I’m asked if we ever could have imagined this. And you know what our answer is? Yes,” said Sheila Floyd. “It was always in our heart. I mean don’t get me wrong, there’s no pride at all. We’re overjoyed, but yes, we imagined it. We dare to believe that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all else.”
Sunday’s service attracted 579 people, more than 50 of whom answered the altar call to accept Christ or join the church. And Floyd doesn’t see that slowing down – and being a pastor, he tells a quick parable about fish.
“How big does a fish grow? Some of them grow two feet, some grow eight feet,” he said. “What’s the difference? The one that grows two feet is in an aquarium. The one that grow eight feet is in an ocean.
“This is like we moved from an aquarium . . . to an ocean.”
MIM
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
quarantine 70 people in contact with the patient in order to avoid virus spread.
Across the U.S., more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases and 31 related deaths have been reported.
Austin, Texas cancelled March dates for its annual South by Southwest film and music festival due to growing COVID-19 concerns.
Miami, Florida postponed the annual Ultra Music and Calle Ocho festivals scheduled for March to avoid spread of the virus.
Like MIM celebrations, these events draw hundreds of thousands of travelers and residents.
Officials of other spring and summer festivals throughout the country are either considering cancellation, or deciding not to make a hasty judgment, hoping the crisis subsides prior to event time.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that elderly citizens and people with chronic or underlying illnesses are most vulnerable to COVID-19. Yet, any individual can carry and spread the virus.
“We’ll plan up to the wire,” says Ewing about the possibility of cancelling MIM 2020.
“Our hope is that the CDC will have a vaccine in the next several weeks. Ultimately, we’ll make decisions based on
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
“They (command staff) are considering making changes, we’re looking at the facial hair policy; possibly allowing beards,” said Officer Louis Brownlee, a department spokesman.
Brownlee said he does not believe any recruit has been turned away “as far as facial hairs and tattoos” being the only reason. He said Rallings is not against relaxing the policy, as long as it doesn’t interfere with an officer’s safety.
“His position is he is willing to do what needs to be done to hire qualified police officers and comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements,” Brownlee said.
Under the current regulations, to wear a beard an officer needs a doctor’s statement that says shaving creates skin problems, although a neatly trimmed moustache is allowed.
Tattoos are allowed as long as the uniform covers them, he said.
Lt. Karen Rudolph said, “ …right now the officers’ safety is the number one concern. In order for a mask to work properly they have to have a proper seal.
“With the coronavirus out there (the ban on beards) is not going anywhere right now.”
Rudolph said all policy is reviewed at least annually. The department develops its policies based on best practices, state law, along with standards of Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The Director of Police Services approves policies, she said.
Sgt. Chris Price, spokesman for the Afro American Police Association, said his organization did not push for a change in the grooming standards, “but we don’t have a problem with it.”
Price said it is fairly easy to get a doctor’s letter, called a “shaving profile,” for officers who want beards and some have them.
“You see so many beards out there,” he said. “In this day and age you see it everywhere. …
our constituents’ best interest.”
“There’s increased excitement,” says MIM vice president of marketing Robert Griffin, who attributes growing anticipation of MIM to the music festival lineup, plus Memphis’ low threat, so far, of COVID-19.
Music lovers are slated to enjoy three days of rock, rap, pop, blues and country acts on multiple stages.
Lil Wayne, Nelly, Weezer, The Lumineers, The Smashing Pumpkins and Memphis-born Three 6 Mafia and among famous live bands and artists scheduled to perform.
Ticket sales total more than $1 million currently.
Annually, MIM provides an estimated $111 million economic impact to the city and attracts more than 100,000 travelers, plus locals.
Event goers enjoy Memphis culture while learning the culture of MIM’s annual honored nation.
For 2020, MIM will salute Ghana – a developing country in West Africa.
Ewing, MIM president Jim Holt and other officials traveled to Ghana in October to initiate collaboration between Memphis and the African nation.
At that time, COVID-19 had not appeared.
This week, interested citizens of Memphis are travelling to Ghana for the at-cost, all-inclusive price of $4,000. (Annually, the opportunity to
It’s not going to determine if you are going to be a good officer if you are wearing a beard.
“My stand is relax the beard policy,” Price said. “If you can’t beat them, join them.
…There are more important things we can fight over. There are children out there being killed…”
Capt. Anthony Buckner, spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, said the department is not rejecting recruits because of tattoos, as long as the uniform can cover them up.
Like the Police Department, a deputy has to have a doctor’s order to have a beard.
At the Houston (Texas) Police Department grooming standards have been relaxed for a several months, according to HPD spokesman John Cannon.
“Officers are allowed to have beards, but there are strict guidelines,” Cannon said. “They are not going to be less than a quarter inch or more than a half inch in length.”
Cannon also said there will be specific “grow-in” periods for beards and that officers will have to obtain permission from their supervisors. “It’s basically in streamline with a lot of young men and some older men,” he said.
Cannon said tattoos are now allowed on areas not covered by the uniform, as long as they are in good taste and in appropriate places, for example, no tattoos on the neck or face.
“The chief has been considering this for some time,” he said about the policy switch.
Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said facial hair and tattoos have gained increasing popularity and acceptance over the last 20 years or so.
“We believe that police officers should be able to keep up with changing styles,” Pasco said in a statement. “It’s unfair to hold a 21st century police officer to a 20th century standard.
“That said, any rules governing personal appearance should be developed through good faith negotiation between the rank and file and management.”
preview MIM’s honored nation is offered to the public at cost.)
Randy Blevins, MIM’s 2020 director of programming, will guide 43 Memphians on the eight-day Ghana tour. Ewing and Holt will assist with leading the group.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery are among trip goers.
Prior to departure, each traveler was sent a letter recommending consultation with their personal physician on protecting themselves against disease and staying healthy while abroad.
Ghana has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at present.
According to the World Health Organization, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December. The global COVID-19 outbreak that followed caused artists such as Mariah Carey, Madonna and Miley Cyrus to cancel spring concerts in and out of the U.S.
Some St. Patrick’s Day Parades scheduled for March
have been cancelled across the U.S., as well as The UNICEF Ball in Beverly Hills and other observances.
In addition to Beale Street Music Festival, MIM sanctioned events include the World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest and Great American River Run and the month-long International Salute to Ghana showcasing the nation’s history, cuisine, art, education, economy, entertainment and traditions.
The CDC is not yet certain whether novel COVID-19 will be less active in warmer months as happens with some strains of influenza. However, the agency will track the possibility.
Next week, MIM will make an additional announcement about its new collaboration with Ghana, which promises further interest in the international festival.
(For more information about Memphis in May International Festival, visit https:// www.memphisinmay.org.)
Kamilah Turner has been on a straight path for nearly 20 years, starting fresh out of Xavier University and going straight to the University of Memphis Law School at 21.
She knew exactly what she wanted and then moved deftly and strategically to get it.
Due in no small part to the influence of both of her parents, she has become both a criminal defense attorney and an advocate for ground-up parity and balance in the criminal justice system.
Her dad, Melvin Turner, was a criminal defense attorney and her mother, Elaine Turner, owns and operates Slave Haven.
“I’m carrying on the legacy of both of my parents ... who were both involved in the Civil Rights Movement. As a child I was always in my father’s office, sitting in on meetings, going with him to the jail when I was probably too young to be going into the jail … but he seemed like he liked it.”
So, she picked up on this love of the law and ran with it.
At this point, a great many of us know that the criminal justice system has flawed from top to bottom. The systems in place for many years have created grave imbalances in the overall handling of black and brown and poor people.
“There are problems with every step of our justice system, from the initial arrest to the amount of bail that’s set to the trial to the sentencing to probation and parole to what happens after you complete a sentence…it’s all problematic,” Turner said.
A lot of people finish a jail sentence and struggle to reacclimate because of current laws make it difficult to do so.
For instance, in Tennessee you have to apply to have your voting rights restored, including paying all of your court fees.
Some employers will not hire people with felony convictions. Depending on the kind of conviction, you can’t apply for public housing or a student loan.
Now, this is no Innocence Project. It’s not like Turner is representing choirboys.
“You don’t have to be innocent for me to represent you, but I believe in fairness and the Constitution applying equally to everybody. [However,] I don’t consider myself a social justice lawyer … that aspect just comes naturally when you’re trying to do that.”
Asked what is fulfilling about her work and what is challenging, she responded:
“It’s fulfilling to be a voice for those who may not have the legal vocabulary or knowledge to speak for themselves, but need an advocate. We don’t always win, but the win-loss record is irrelevant. It’s really about how well did you advocate.”
Of the challenges she said, “It’s challenging because we’re trying to navigate within a system that’s broken.”
Turner, who worked at the Shelby County Public Defender’s office for some years and still works part-time on the Juvenile Court side, represents many African-American children.
One of these cases became high profile. The defendant’s story made the front page of The Commercial Appeal because of Turner’s, who was his public defender, advocacy.
After being acquitted of all charges, the former defendant was trying to move forward, but found himself slogging through the negative coverage that surfaced every time someone looked him up. Only the charges were reported, not the acquittal, which raises the issue of selective media coverage.
Why was his acquittal not reported with the same vigor? Thanks to smart thinking and savvy maneuvering on the part of Turner, the rest of his story was revealed.
Turner reminds us that for every one or two cases you see in the media, there are hundreds of thousands of others.
“Anytime you tell someone’s story it awakens other people who may not know
who may not have the legal vocabulary or knowledge to speak for themselves, but need an advocate.” – Kamilah Turner
what’s going on. For people who do know it helps them see that they are not alone.”
Recently, she has been speaking out about children being questioned without their parents present. While it’s legal, it isn’t quite ethical and can lead to false confessions.
In another case she handled, Turner believes the youth was extremely frightened after being intimidated by the interrogating officers.
“His statement didn’t even match the witnesses who we knew were on the scene. I was amazed that they’d gotten this far with the evidence they had.”
She was able to get him cleared.
To that end, she advises parents to talk to
their children. They do not have to speak to the police without a parent or lawyer present, especially if they think they are a suspect. She also advises parents to talk to their children about decision-making and positive conflict resolution.
She also advises people, who have completed a sentence, look to government resources like the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Re-entry to help them get reacclimated into their communities.
We salute you Turner for being a voice for the voiceless and for making a difference in the lives of our young men.
To learn more about Kamilah Turner and her services, visit www.kamiliahturner. com.
Raymond Neal graduated from Hamilton High School in 1969 and worked about 35 years as a waiter. He recently came out of retirement to help a friend, who owns the new Mahogany Memphis Restaurant. Last November, he showed up at Memphis City Council seeking a sponsor for a resolution naming the late Robert R. Church Sr. the “Father of Modern-day Memphis.”
He reminded the council members that “Mr. Church” was responsible for restoring the Memphis City Charter after it was revoked following the yellow fever epidemic (around 1878) that caused a reduction in the city’s population and a loss of city revenues.
“It was Mr Church’s $1,000 city bond which restored health to the city’s coffers and qualified Memphis to regain its standing as a sustainable
municipality. Other people joined in following Mr. Church’s generous example, but it was due to his initiative that set Memphis back on sound financial ground.”
To Neal, an actor and self-published author, that certainly makes Mr. Church the “Father of present-day Memphis.” He sketched two benefits of passing such a resolution.
“Number one, it will put a cap on our tremendous celebration this year (2019) of the first 200 years of the existence of Memphis, Tennessee. And what better way to do that than to honor one of our greatest, albeit forgotten citizens, Mr. Robert Church, Sr.?
Benefit two, he said, would be the ignition of “a sense of pride and patriotism in our African-American youth to a degree that it would make a positive impact on their lives. …
“We have got to do something to rescue our children from this insanity of devaluing life. To you, sirs and
ma’am, I say thank you.”
Joe Brown, who has since term-limited off of the council, agreed to sponsor the resolution. When Neal return for the vote a month later, the resolution was passed without opposition. He was given a copy on official City Council stationary.
Married for 21 years, Neal and his wife have between them six children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. What inspired and drove him to make such a move on the council?
“Well, it’s been something that’s been in the back of my mind for years. I know that Robert Church Sr. and Robert Church Jr. were very, very prominent Memphis citizens… because I study. I read. I’m an avid reader. I’m a Memphis historian.”
In response to a question and without hesitation, Neal detailed the highlights of Robert R. Church’s life and contributions to Memphis (and
particularly African Americans), including the first African-American-owned bank and Church Park.
“There had been so many killings of our young people until I just had enough, and I decided that I (had) to be proactive… (had) to find out something to do to make our young people realize that they are valuable, that life is valuable; somebody to look up to that had done a tremendous job here in Memphis, for Memphis.”
So, he sat down at that point, wrote his speech to the council, went down there and gave it.
Reminded that Memphis has broken multiple barriers with the election of African Americans to high-profile public offices and that the problem-scenario he outlined exists nonetheless, Neal said, it remains his hope and prayer that the time for change is here. “I seem to think that if I was a young teenager and was taught
Raymond Neal showcases the proclamation that he secured designating Robert R. Church Sr. as the ‘father’ of Memphis. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
that one of my forefathers has been honored by being named ‘Father of Memphis,’ that would touch me. That would really touch me. …”
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood’s observation of Men’s Month is underway. Last Sunday’s celebration featured the artistry of Elder Jamel Strong.
The Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship, Incorporated will honor 12 Most Outstanding Women Saturday, April 11, 2020. Those honored this year will be women serving in ministry. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be held at Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.
The 12 Most Outstanding Women: Honoring Women in Ministry is designed to honor women in the ministry that are women of faith, prayer, good works, dedication, and are courageous leaders. The esteemed honorees are Rev. Dr. DeLois E. Broady, Rev. Dr. Lynn Bumpus Dandridge, Rev. Dr. DeBorah Luckett Day, Rev. Dr. Cozette R. Garrett, Rev. Christine Allen Glass, Rev. Mary E. Moore, Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Regina Nichols, Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Rev. Dr. Deborah B. Smith, Rev. Dr. Almella Y. Starks-Umoja, Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, and Rev. Dr. Terri Strong. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr.
Renita J. Weems, Ph.D. Dr. Weems is a distinguished biblical scholar, author, academic administrator, public intellectual, and ordained elder in the African American Episcopal Church (1984). Rev. Dr. Weems currently resides in Nashville, TN serving in ministry alongside her husband, Rev. Martin Espinosa, at Ray of Hope Community Church.
Tickets for the event are $65- Table of 10 is $650. Tickets can be purchased by calling (901) 314-6553 or through PayPal at midfellowship@comcast.net. Proceeds will benefit the Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship Scholarship Endowment Fund and The Back the Church School Crusade summer program.
The 12 Most Outstanding Women is a signature program of Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship, Incorporated
The honorees are Rev. Dr. DeLois E. Broady, Rev. Dr. Lynn Bumpus Dandridge, Rev. Dr. DeBorah Luckett Day, Rev. Dr. Cozette R. Garrett, Rev. Christine Allen Glass, Rev. Mary E. Moore, Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Regina Nichols, Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Rev. Dr. Deborah B. Smith, Rev. Dr. Almella Y. Starks-Umoja, Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, and Rev. Dr. Terri Strong.
(MIDFellowship). Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship, Incorporated was founded and chartered in January 1968 by Evangelist Nettie B. Rogers.
For 52 years, MID Fellowship has been a champion for youth, the marginalized, education and race relations through its
longstanding programs and services. A 501(c)(3) organization, its primary purpose is to “build spiritual and moral fiber, promote Christian and public education; eliminate crime and juvenile delinquency, reduce illiteracy, improve race relations, and increase human kindness.”
(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
Anyone can have great soil to grow in – if you follow a few simple principles
by Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.comTo me, the beautiful thing about planting seeds is that in the presence of the proper conditions –good light, good seed, good soil and good water – literally anyone can succeed.
At the risk of stating the obvious, the health of your soil will have everything to do with how your garden grows. Not all soils are the same, and some are better suited to different types of plants.
Ideally, you’d want a “loam” type of soil, that’s an excellent mixture of humus soil (that’s that GOOD, BLACK soil), clay and sand. Here in the Mid-South (Zone 7A), it’s not uncommon to have a soil with a heavy clay component.
When people think of the back-breaking work of breaking up soil to plant something, this is the reason why. This is that “hard earth” that when you hit it with a shovel, it feels like it’s hitting you back.
Some clay is fine, maybe even desirable. But the problem is that when it gets wet, it clumps together, making it harder for the sprout to grow into deep roots. Also, clay isn’t known for its nutrients either, so there’s that.
I’m not saying you can’t grow in this type of soil, but the work will be harder, the plant will not be as robust as it otherwise could be, and all of that means a less fruitful harvest.
And if you’re just starting out, a less fruitful garden doesn’t give you the boost of confidence you need to know that you can succeed at this gardening thing. The trick then is to make sure your soil is healthy and optimal for growing.
If you’re super serious about getting your garden right, you can always have your soil tested. Many states, including Tennessee, offer soil testing for a fee. The test checks multiple submitted samples for all kinds of nutrients and micronutrients for crop success. Armed with that knowledge, you’d know exactly what you need to do to optimize your soil.
Most home gardeners are not growing at a scale – that is, to sell at market – where that type of testing is essential. If you understand a few basic principals, you’ll be able to amend your soil just fine. Check these out:
Organic matter: Here’s a funny side effect of how a little bit of knowledge changes your perspective: I can’t look at bagged leaves by the side of the road without wishing I had a truck to pick them up.
Why? Because as those bagged leaves decompose over time, it will become that black humus soil I mentioned earlier. Have you ever had a pile of leaves sit too long and then when you move it, you notice there’s black soil there? That’s why!
If you have leaves in your own yard, use ’em. If your neighbor has bagged leaves on the curb, use ’em! And quiet as it’s kept, you don’t have to wait for it to break down – you can actually plant seeds in the leaf mulch.
Manure: Any farmer will tell you that manure – cow, horse, goat, chicken – helps contribute to soil health. Some people invite their chicken farmer friends over to let the yardbird scratch around – which naturally mixes in their poop into the soil, thank you.
If you have a small garden, it might be easiest just to buy it at a local nursery or garden shop. But cattle farmers and horse owners often will give the manure away.
Lee Eric Smith
Here in Memphis, take a cruise through the Carriage District on North Second Street. That’s where the stables for the horse and carriage drivers go and sure enough you’ll see the sign: “Free manure.”
Worms. If you’ve already got worms in your yard, congratulations! That’s a sign of healthy soil! Earthworms eat their way through the organic matter, leaving their casings as they go – the kind of slimy stuff you’ll see on their trail. Well, those casings are chock full of the nutrients plants need to grow, so the more worms the better!
But where? Well, you could go digging for them. Or you could be lazy like I was and find a fish-and-tackle shop. That’s where I picked up a couple dozen red crawlers for just a couple of bucks.
Perlite or twigs: One of the things we’re trying to create here in amending the soil is space – space for water to move, space for the root to go where it needs to go, space for the roots to get some oxygen. That’s why too much clay in your soil is bad.
Some home gardeners use perlite in their soil. Perlite (the little white rocks) offers no nutritional benefit, but is there to help aerate the soil. Then again, nature had all this figured out before perlite.
As you’re mixing the leaves and manure into your soil, also make sure to mix in a few larger pieces of brush –think twigs, limbs, even branches. And, of course, wood chips. The object here is that these things will decompose at different rates over time – which will help aerate your soil while steadily making your soil that much more fertile for years to come.
The bottom line is that with those key ingredients, you can pretty much MAKE high quality fertile growing medium that you can use to enhance your plot of land or use in raised beds. And once you’ve got good soil . . . it’s time to grow.
Are YOU a gardener or urban farmer in Memphis? Do you know one? Do you have a specific question or problem with your garden that you need help with? If you answered yes to any of those, email me at lesmith@tsdmemphis.com!
(Lee Eric Smith is an NNPA award-winning columnist and co-founder of Abundant Earth Global CDC, a nonprofit aimed at blending eco-friendly home construction, urban farming and waste-to-energy production to regenerate neighborhoods. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @l3esmith.)
Many high school girls look forward to looking and feeling astonishing for their special night at prom. Sometimes, however, the price tag for obtaining that goal is anything but pretty.
With the help of a heartfelt community, though, Couture Cares presents ‘HER Prom Closet’.
Davina Jones of Memphis founded Couture Cares to embody her vision to plant seeds of change in the minds, hearts and lives of youth in this city, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
Brianna A. Smith
HER Prom Closet is among the many initiatives Jones began under her nonprofit Couture Cares It allows young ladies the opportunity to have their fairy tale evening, by providing free prom dresses, accessories, shoes, and makeup.
“Everybody’s situation is different,” Jones said. “We try to provide as much service as we can to these young ladies, so that they are able to attend prom — all which are donations from the community.”
On Saturday, March 7, East High School’s gym was transformed into an enormous boutique to make sure local young ladies have an unforgettable prom night.
HER Prom Closet provides formal wear to girls who could not otherwise afford to attend their prom. Through donations of new and gently used formal dresses and accessories, ‘HER Prom Closet’ “Turns Dresses Into Dreams” for juniors and seniors, in the Memphis and MidSouth area.
Several rows of elegant formal gowns, prom dresses and pageantry-wear clothing lined the middle of the gym, along with heels, clothes, and jewelry. Private dressing rooms lined the walls and each girl was given a personal shopper to help them navigate through the numerous gowns, shoes and accessories.
The moment the young ladies entered the gym they were greeted with grace, love and respect.
Representatives of local colleges were there to provide information to any young lady with questions regarding college.
The ladies also had the pleasure of hearing
Davina Jones
words of wisdom from guest speaker minister Karen D. Todd.
“It is our mission that the girls leave knowing they are cherished,” Davina Jones said.
Even more than a dress, HER Prom Closet provides an unforgettable, amazing experience for not only the girls, but also their guardians.
While the young ladies were busy finding the perfect dress, the parents were given the opportunity to attend an employment readiness, financial literacy and homeownership workshop.
Lunch was provided for the girls and their guardians. Sweet treats and goody bags also were given to each of the ladies and raffle prizes awarded throughout the event.
“‘HER Prom Closet’ was an amazing experience. We laughed, joked and had real conversations,” said Tayla Jenae, a recipient. “It was just an amazing feeling being there, having this opportunity and walking out with a big smile.”
The event has been running on donations since 2014. ‘HER Prom Closet’ has assisted more than 1,000 young ladies attend their prom in style.
Jones, its founder, continues to exemplify integrity, passion and hard work.
“My overall goal is providing the community with deep knowledge and creative solutions to address needs and opportunities,” Jones said.
(‘HER Prom Closet’ accepts dresses and monetary donations year-round. Visit www.CoutureCares.org for more information.)
A sea of people.
That’s what you saw, overlooking the crowd at the rally you attended. More people, perhaps, than you’d ever seen in one place before, all gathered together for one ultimate cause. Or were they? In the new book “Hood Feminism” by Mikki Kendall, look again: was that sea of people mostly white?
Chances are, says Kendall, if it was a women’s event, many were. White feminists “can lean in,” but they sometimes don’t “show up when black women” have different issues to deal with. Feminism, she says, can’t “forget that a movement that claims to be for all women” must “engage with the obstacles women who are not white face.”
“And when we act as allies,” she says, “feminists have to be willing to listen to and respect those we want to help.”
That includes understanding that guns have a lot to do with feminism because poor women and women of color (WOC) are “more likely to be victims of gun violence.” It includes knowing that hunger and homelessness are painful realities for many black women, and that it doesn’t help to make either seem like they were the result of “bad choices.”
Respect means that victims of abuse and sexual harassment are not blamed for their clothing, job, or hairstyle. It means never asking what they were drinking when they were assaulted. It means the end of hypersexualizing young black girls and women. It means accepting their unique beauty, without politicizing hair or body shape, and without comment. This also, by the way, extends to trans women of any color.
Feminism for all means that we ignore fear and misconceptions of “the hood.” It means that we must “unteach the normalization of violence against women.” It demands that we confront family and friends who hold racist ideals. It means supporting health measures for women and their children. It means voting for the good
“Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot” by Mikki Kendall 2020, Viking, $26, 267 pages
of all women, and it requires that allies occasionally “stop, step back, and realize they are still part of the problem.”
In tackling “Hood Feminism,” there may come a time when a reader finds it necessary to split the narrative.
On one hand, author Kendall offers exactly what she promises: an uncomfortable truth, because it’s necessary and because she’s kind, and laying out this information is a sort of kindness. The things she points out are vital for people who profess to be “feminists” to know, and while that may not be any fun, neither is ignorance. Fingers out of your ears, think of this book, maybe, as consciousness-raising workshop plus personal intervention.
On the other hand, however, Kendall paints white women with a milewide, 10-foot-tall brush of condemnation, that may or may not be fair. Yes, these are words that white women need to hear ... and yes, they’re also somewhat overgeneralized.
Still, keep in mind that this is a book to help, not to censure, and even though it stings, you’ll be glad you read it. Find “Hood Feminism.” It offers an ocean of thoughts to ponder.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Memphis Chapter is gearing up for its annual “Men Who Cook” fundraiser.
Male chefs will showcase their chosen dish during an evening that allows for the community to sample the creations – that will include appetizers/salads, entrees and desserts – and vote on a winner.
The fun is scheduled for March 22nd at 3 p.m. at Southbrook Town Center, 1254 East Shelby Drive.
Tickets are $20 and are available at NCBWmenwhocook2020.eventbrite.com; or, go to memphisncbw.org.
The Young Women of Excellence Conference (YWOE), hosted by The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Memphis Chapter, is scheduled for March 28th at 8:30 a.m. at Southwest Tennessee Community College, Whitehaven Campus.
Produced by the NCBW Education Committee, the annual conference is designed especially for girls ages 10 -18. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend and participate in break-out sessions and to do tech coding.
The 2020 theme is Rise Up and be B.A.D.D. Brilliant, Articulate, Dynamic, Divas.
The event is free, with breakfast and lunch served.
To register, visit NCBWmemphisYWOE2020.eventbrite.com or go to memphisncbw.org.
Led by University of Memphis students, the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change is releasing a short video series focused on civil rights history.
The video series, “Civil Rights: Stories to Inspire Change,” will release weekly on the Hooks Institute’s YouTube page and run for seven consecutive weeks. Each week, a UofM student will share a story of people who worked to create a more just society, proving that it is possible for ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
The first installment, which spotlighted Tom Lee, was released March 10 and led by Jeremiah Jones, a senior journalism student.
Other subjects to be featured and the UofM undergraduates who will lead the videos include:
• 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike, March 17 – Thomas McDaniel, History, senior Orange Mound, March 24 – Carl Bledsoe Jr., African and African American Studies, sophomore
• WDIA, March 31 – Amanda Campbell, African and African American Studies, senior
• First Beale Street Baptist Church, April 7 – Jazmyne Wright, Political Science/African and African American Studies, freshman
• Mason Temple, April 14 – Anna Weiner, History and Psychology, sophomore
• Burkle Estate, April 21 – Makayla Bommer, Biology, freshman
The series is produced by Nathaniel C. Ball, Hooks media and programs coordinator, and Rebekkah Mulholland, Hooks graduate assistant, with executive producer Daphene R. McFerren, executive director of the Hooks Institute.
UofM students interested in participating in future videos are encouraged to contact Ball at ncball@memphis.edu.
BRIEFLY: The Christian Community Foundation awarded 11 local organizations a total of $255,000 during the fall granting cycle of its Hope for Memphis Fund. New Hope Christian Academy, Visible Music College, Citizens for Community Values, Inc., Memphis Leadership Foundation, Asha’s Refuge, Urban Community Ministries, Families Matter, Arise to Read, Memphis Dental Society, Life Choices of Memphis and Restore Corps will receive funding to enhance and expand programming to meet a diverse range of community needs. The Hope for Memphis Fund will accept new applications in early 2020. To apply or learn more about the grant, visit http://www.ccfmemphis. com/hfm-fund/
Millennial voters are expected to have a major impact in the upcoming 2020 presidential election, after a historic voter turnout in the 2018 midterms.
More than 100 of the demographic group convened last Saturday at LeMoyne-Owen College for the second regional Black Millennial Political Convention (BMC).
While the group represented different backgrounds and varying experiences, they were unified by one goal: Developing ways to use their voting power to implement changes both locally and nationally.
Local panelist included Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas, and Shelby County Commissioners Tami Sawyer and Mickell Lowery.
The event comes at a critical time during the political landscape -- on the heels of Super Tuesday and during a vital upcoming election to select the next President of the United States.
Millennials and their younger counterparts, Gen Z, are projected to make up 37 percent of voters in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center. The groups, ranging from ages 24 to 39, are believed to be more racially and ethnically diverse than all other age groups, and are more likely to be Democrats.
It’s something that attendees at the BMC said they plan to use to their advantage.
“Millennials have a lot of power when we vote,” said LaTricea Adams, the lead organizer for the BMC Tennessee regional convention.
“With an event like this, it brings things full circle. It’s not just about listening to people’s stories, but also getting the skillset and capacity to understand the political process and the importance of voting.”
Adams said now, more than ever, millennials are engaged in politics and social justice issues. The question is whether that energy will trans-
fer to the polls? While turnout rates for millennials soared in 2018, only 42 percent of eligible millennials turned out to vote. That’s compared with 64 percent of baby boomers and older voters, Pew Research Center results showed.
Rhodes College Professor Dr. Charles McKinney served as the BMC’s keynote speaker, reiterating the importance of millennial voting, pointed out the need for more engagement between elections.
“When we boil politics down to elections every two and four years, then we’ve already lost,” McKinney said. “Political education culminates in elections, but should be year round.
If you want people to mobilize and get out to vote, you have to educate them so that they have the tools to grapple with the titanic issues of the day.”
Many of those issues were front and center at the BMC. Topics such as hip-hop’s role in politics, how to run for elected office, and engagement in social and environmental justice were on the extensive agenda, which boasted a
When Tennessee state Rep. Barbara Cooper launched the Living Legends Awards three years ago, she had no idea that Sunday’s 2020 program would garner an overflow crowd at the National Civil Rights Museum.
“We just had not expected the number of people that came out on Sunday,” she said. “There were only 50 people at our first recognition program, and last year the gathering was a bit larger. But hundreds of people came out Sunday. People were standing because there were no more seats. That blew me away.”
President George H.W. Bush proclaimed March 10 “Harriet Tubman Day” in 1990. She died on March 10, 1913. State Reps. Barbara Cooper and the late Ulysses Jones started the Cooper-Jones Initiative to commemorate the day. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired the tenor of the project.
“We wanted to recognize Harriet Tubman Day and create an event to help our people,” Cooper said. “We had sessions on education, health care, economic development — things like that. But they weren’t well attended.
“In 2018, we added a recognition component. I wasn’t sure we would do it every year, but that quickly changed. It is important to recognize the people who are making a real difference in our communities.”
A tribute by Beverly Robinson, Greater Memphis Chamber executive director, called honorees “beacons of light” and offered five points of advice to aspiring legends: Dream big. Develop a plan. Pursue the plan with passion. Make wise choices. Make sure your personal package and appearance is together. Remember, it’s never too late to embark on the legendary.
National Civil Rights Museum Marketing Director Faith Morris felt “honored to be consid-
ered a living legend inspired by two civil rights powerhouses.” She was presented a Leadership Award.
“Because Dr. King and Harriet Tubman lived their lives for the betterment of others, this is a high honor,” she said, “and I congratulate the exceptional icons and new movement makers who share in this honor with me.”
Citizens For Better Service Founder Johnnie Mosley was also recognized for leadership.
“As the son of a father who was a sanitation worker in 1968 and a mother who was a church missionary, I am in a real sense a reflection of them. Their values inspire me as I advocate for the least among us.”
Mark Stansbury, a Community recipient, was recognized for his work at radio station WDIA.
“First, I must tell the Lord ‘thank you’ for this awesome award presented by State Rep. Barbara Cooper,” Stansbury said. “Yes, I have received many awards, but this one means so much, coming from a legend herself. I have been involved in community activities for decades, not to get an award, but to represent those who could not represent themselves. I thank God for blessing me to make contributions to my community, city and state.”
Forty-five recipients were presented Tennessee House Proclamations honoring their work
diverse blend of panel discussions and information sessions. Convention attendee and millennial voter, Jessica Tucker said younger voters tend to go to the polls when issues they care about are at stake.
“We’re going to play a major role in the upcoming presidential election, and it’s because the candidates are talking about things that matter to us,” Tucker said. “We saw how Biden attracted a lot of millennials because he was talking about issues they care about -- like eliminating student debt.”
Event organizers said they hope attendees take the information back into their homes and communities to encourage other young voters to cast ballots.
“Millennials leading movements have reshaped and re-centered police brutality and other civil rights issues,” McKinney said.
Adams agreed. “We cannot wait. If we don’t see the change that’s needed in our communities, it’s up to us to make it happen.”
in five areas: Leadership, Health, Economic Development, Environmental and Community.
Honorees, or “Honorary’ Harriett Tubman Conductors,” were chosen by the Living Legends Awards Planning Team.
Four “Student Conductors” were honored: Christopher Clark, Stax Academy; Joyce Gardner, legislative intern, LeMoyne-Owen College; Aaron Lewis III, major electrical engineering, Tennessee State University, and Zambia Shores, a scholarship recipient, Tennessee State University.
A Candle Lighting Memorial also honored 12 Legends who have died.
The legendary Tubman, who was born into slavery, is known for heroic efforts to help slaves escape to free freedom and her political activism.
Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer (right) addresses the Black Millennial Political Convention as one of several panelists during the gathering held on the campus of LeMoyne-Owen College. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises) State Rep. Barbara Cooper (left) has seen the Living Legends Awards grow into an overflow event in three years. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku) MPD Director Michael Rallings was honored as a Living Legend. Janet White accepted an award on behalf of her late husband, the Rev. Ralph White. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) Faith Morris (right) of the National Civil Rights Museum accepts her award. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
GOLDEN CHOIR
DATE: 3/12/20
STARTS: 7:00:PM
WHERE: 70 North Bellevue Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38104
DESCRIPTION: Tuskegee University Golden Choir Performing Live at Mississippi
BLVD Christian Church March 12th @ 7 p.m.
Free Admission AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
DATE: 3/13/20
STARTS: 8:00:PM
WHERE: 51 S. Cooper St. Memphis, TN
DESCRIPTION: A tribute to the Harlem Renaissance and the black musicians, like Fats Waller, that defined a significant era in American music comes home to The Circuit Playhouse. Through the 1920s and 1930s hits like “T Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” and “Fat and Greasy” filled Manhattan nightclubs and caused a spark across the nation!
Making her Playhouse on the Square directorial debut is Lar’Juanette Williams (Dreamgirls). Williams is also the Executive Director of The Memphis Black Arts Alliance is Soulsville, USA. Along with her, in the journey through black musical history are Playhouse on the Square Resident Company Member Breyannah Tillman (Junie B. Jones the Musical, Dreamgirls), Zan Edwards (Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls), Juistin Allen Tate (Memphis, Kinky Boots), and Steven Prince Tate, making his Playhouse on the Square debut. Prince Tate also serves as the production’s choreographer. FREE JAZZ FRIDAY –
MUSIC ACADEMY JAZZ ENSEMBLE
DATE: 3/13/20
STARTS: 6:30:PM
WHERE: 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
DESCRIPTION: The Stax Jazz Ensemble is a
1st Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Church will have a Living Legacy Benefit Brunch at the Esplanade Banquet Center. The event will provide financial support needed to complete the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased by contacting JoAnn Jones at 901-345-4114.
RECEPTION & GALLERY TALK FOR TRIBUTARIES:
SOPHIE GLENN
DATE: 3/15/20 STARTS: 3:00:PM
WHERE: 374 Metal Museum Drive, Memphis, TN 38106
DESCRIPTION:
Sophie Glenn is a furniture maker and metal worker from New York City, NY. In her series, “Rust Never Sleeps,” Sophie challenges traditional norms in furniture making through her use of material and color. Designs, which appear at first to be made of wood, are revealed to be fabricated in steel. Sophie’s work charges the audience to abandon our preconceived notions and to look more closely before drawing conclusions.
WKNO PBS KIDS SPRING BREAK CAMP
DATE: 3/16/20 STARTS: 7:00:AM
WHERE: 7289 US-64, Memphis, TN 38133
DESCRIPTION: Discover Memphis Spring Break Camp
DATE:
DATE:
STARTS:
WHERE:
SCHOOLHOUSE
DATE: 3/14/20
STARTS: 2:00:PM
WHERE:
Shulie, and Kylan Owen (Junie B. Jones the Musical, Kinky Boots) as Joe. Rounding out the cast are Playhouse on the Square Associate Company Members Isaiah Rosales (Indecent, Kinky Boots), Hope Schafer (Indecent, Peter Pan), and Haley Wilson (Memphis, Kinky Boots).
LIVING LEGACY BENEFIT
BRUNCH
DATE: 3/14/20
STARTS: 10:30:AM
WHERE: 901 Cordova Station Ave.
Cordova, TN 38018
DESCRIPTION:
From Peabody Ducks to the RiverBoat Cruise… From Jazz, Blues and Rock N Roll to W.C.Handy, B. B. King and Elvis Presley… From the Loraine Motel to the Stax Museum… Memphis has such a rich history to explore and we plan to do just that this week during our Discover Memphis Spring Break camp. Register your child today for this educational stay-cation as this journey through Memphis will be filled with fun, excitement, and interesting facts about this fascinating community in which we live. Your child will never look at Memphis the same.
Date: March 16-20
Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(All students must be picked up by 5:30 PM)
Location: Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church (7289 HWY 64/Stage Road in Bartlett, TN)
Camp is for ages: 4 - 11 years old
Cost: $75 per child (Payment is accepted in Cash/ Check/All Major Credit Cards)
Register online: https://www. wkno.org/wknokids/kids-camp/ More information: Email Felicia Peat at fpeat@wkno.org or call (901) 729-8725
CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING
DATE: 3/18/20
STARTS: 8:00:PM
WHERE: 2119 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
DESCRIPTION: Tickets: $10
JAMES MCMURTRY
DATE: 3/19/20
STARTS: 8:00:PM
WHERE: 2119 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
DESCRIPTION: James McMurtry brings decades of Folk/Americana Songwriting to LaFayette’s Music Room FREE JAZZ FRIDAY –AFRICAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
DATE: 3/20/20 STARTS: 6:30:PM
WHERE: 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
DESCRIPTION: The African Jazz Ensemble is a 10-piece band made up of some of Memphis’ finest musicians. The core of the band began in the early 70s as the soul group the Exotic Movement, and later changed their name to Galaxy. They’ve played together for over 40 years, and members have toured the world with Michael Jackson, Al Green, BB King, Eric Clapton, the Dells, Luther Allison, and Rufus and Carla Thomas. They formed the African Jazz Ensemble as a way to incorporate African influences into more traditional jazz, soul and R&B.
THE SPACE IN BETWEEN
DATE: 3/21/20
STARTS: 7:00:PM
WHERE: 225 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
DESCRIPTION: In a grey town where the rain falls continuously stands a man at a bus stop, on the brink of heaven and hell. This dreamlike place is the setting for Ballet 5:8
Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s The Space in Between, called “exceptionally well done” by Lauren Warnecke of See Chicago Dance. The one-act ballet inspired by C. S. Lewis’ novel The Great Divorce explores the nature of eternity and the joy found on its shores. Also included: Slager’s
popular work Meditations, on light and perspective, based on C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditations in a Toolshed, and Slager’s Of Splendors and Horrors, inspired by C.S. Lewis’ book The Weight of Glory.
CREATIVE AGING’S SENIOR ARTS SERIES
DATE: 3/25/20
STARTS: 1:30:PM
WHERE: 2400 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
DESCRIPTION:
Creative Aging kicks off the 5th Annual Senior Arts Series at Lindenwood Christian Church’s Stauffer Hall with an abridged rendition of Playhouse on the Square’s Ain’t Misbehavin’. The program is followed by a complimentary reception. More information and advance purchase general admission tickets are available at https://www. creativeagingmidsouth.org/senior-art-series-link. Limited tickets will be available at the door for a minimum donation of $5 (cash or check).
FREE JAZZ FRIDAY –JOYCE COBB AND THE RHODES JAZZ BAND
DATE: 3/27/20
STARTS: 6:30:PM
WHERE: 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
DESCRIPTION:
Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and reared in Nashville, Joyce Cobb first sang in her grandmother’s church. Joyce’s career spans from live orchestrations for Nashville’s WSM radio and television stations, to live performances in Europe.
TALKING WITH CHILDREN
ABOUT RACIAL INJUSTICE
DATE: 3/28/20
STARTS: 10:00:AM
WHERE: 1567 Overton Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
DESCRIPTION:
Dr. Marietta Collins and Dr. Marianne Celano will present a workshop for parents and educators based on their award-winning book Something Happened In Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice. Parents and teachers of elementary age children are invited to participate in a discussion on why it’s important to talk to children about racial injustice, how to use children’s literature to facilitate discussion, and how to overcome anxiety about tackling sensitive topics. Books will be available for signing & purchase, and childcare is available. Location: Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 1567 Overton Park Ave., 38104.
MAKE YOUR OWN: RECYCLED TIN JEWELRY
DATE: 3/28/20
STARTS: 12:00:AM
WHERE: 374 Metal Museum Drive, Memphis, TN 38106
DESCRIPTION:
Learn how to use a circle cutter and dapping punch to turn
recycled
registered with them)
THE FLYING KARAMAZOV BROTHERS
DATE: 3/29/20
STARTS: 7:00:PM
WHERE: 60 Perkins Extended, Memphis, TN 38117
DESCRIPTION:
Ticket Price: $35 for adults, $30 for students
OPENING RECEPTION & GALLERY TALK FOR TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
DATE: 3/29/20
STARTS: 3:00:PM
WHERE: 374 Metal Museum Drive, Memphis, TN 38106
DESCRIPTION:
Join the opening reception of Tradition of Excellence: Japanese Techniques in Contemporary Metal Arts and a gallery talk by the curator, Hiroko Yamada. Curated by Hiroko Yamada, Director of HYART Gallery (Madison, WI), and originating from Penland Gallery at Penland School of Craft (Penland, NC), Tradition of Excellence explores a wide range of Japanese metalworking techniques and materials. The exhibit brings together both Japanese and American artists, honoring the profound skill and knowledge of these makers and highlighting the influence of Japanese metalworking within the contemporary metal arts field. Hiroko Yamada’s gallery talk will begin at 3:30pm. The exhibition will be on display from March 29 to September 13, 2020.
STORY FEST 2020
DATE: 4/15/20 STARTS: 7:00:PM
WHERE: 225 South Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
DESCRIPTION: An intergenerational group of participants from across Memphis have collaborated with the Orpheum Theatre Group to create original documentaries and theatrical performances sharing their stories in their own words.
Story Fest features FREE shortfilm screenings, live performances, and community reflections at the Halloran Centre Wednesday, April 15 at 7p.m. and Thursday, April 16 at 7p.m. All performances will be interpreted in American Sign Language by BridgesWEST.
SHALOM CONFERENCE 2020
DATE: 4/17/20
STARTS: 12:00:AM
WHERE: 3700
Southwind, Memphis, TN 38125
DESCRIPTION:
WHAT: Agape Kids Classic Golf
Tournament sponsored by Dun-
bar Mechanical Contractor
WHEN: Monday, April 20 (12:00
noon tee time)
WHERE: TPC Southwind (3325
Club at Southwind, Memphis, TN 38125)
COST: Individual registration is $500 and a team of four may register for $2,000. Sponsorships range from $2,500 - $5,000 and include a variety of benefits and recognition. Hole sponsorships are also available for $750 each.
TO REGISTER: Register to play and/or sponsor by April 13 at
FREE
DATE: 4/24/20
6:30:PM
WHERE: 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
DESCRIPTION:
Clayburn’s band Soul Scrimmage mixes soul and funk tunes with afrobeat and reggae, which is intended to create an energetic and uplifting atmosphere. The band features Hope on sax and flute. She also provides vocals and serves as composer. Robert Allen Parker Jr., creator of the The Broken String Collective, plays on the guitar. Public Enemy’s lead guitarist Khari Wynn is on bass.
V&E GREENLINE ARTWALK DATE: 4/25/20
11:00:AM WHERE: 1625 Tutwiler AveMemphis, TN 38107 DESCRIPTION: The 9th
Artwalk is happening Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Kirby Station on the V&E Greenline. Local artists, food, music, craft beer, wine and more. Children’s area and Metal museum demo all day. Artwalk benefits the V&E Greenline going to pay for trail operations and maintenance throughout the year.
4/25/20
STARTS: 8:00:PM
WHERE: 1350 Concourse Ave Memphis, 38104
DESCRIPTION: Ruthie Foster has been nominated for three Grammys and has won multiple Blues Music and Austin Music Awards, plus the Grand Prix du Disque from Académie Charles-Cros in France. Doors at 7 p.m. | Show at 8 p.m. | $40
OUR STORIES MATTER
LAPS-FOR-LITERACY WALKATHON
DATE: 4/25/20
STARTS: 9:00:AM
DATE: 4/23/20
WHERE: 4145 Southern Avenue
DESCRIPTION:
Our Stories Matter Laps-for-Literacy Walkathon Audubon Park (Carolyn Dobson Walking Trail) 4145 Southern Avenue, Memphis
TN Saturday, April 25, 2020, 9-11a.m.
Adults: $25
College Students: $15
School Youth: (Ages 4-18) $10 Fee includes Reecy Reader event t-shirt if registered by April 18th Black Children’s Books and Authors (BCBA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to promote
Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E.
President and CEO
Memphis-Shelby County Airport
PM in the Authority’s Board Room located on the Mezzanine Level, Terminal B of the Memphis International Airport, 2491 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38116. Only those attending will be allowed to submit responses to this RFB.
All Bidders are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give a preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. The successful Bidder must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding the Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Bids in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Bids; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies.
The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.
By order of:
“In this time when we are all affected by the coronavirus, whether directly or indirectly…it may be helpful to remember that we’re in this together. …Jesus came to show us how to be in a relationship with God and in relationship with each other…so look out for your neighbors and look out for each other. …Listen to those who have the knowledge to guide us medically…”
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
In such case, they should not assemble with others,” he said.
“The church will march on, trusting God as we pray for deliverance.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website on Wednesday, the U.S. had 1,275 confirmed and presumed cases of the COVID-19 virus with 37 fatalities. Globally, nearly 126,000 cases had been reported with 4,613 deaths.
Large-scale conventions, concerts, and individual travel have been cancelled and postponed in the wake of rapidly spreading infection. Some colleges and universities (including some in Memphis) already have chosen to suspend in-class instruction and others were huddled in discussion about their next steps.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopalian Church sees this health crisis not as a time for pulling away from one another, but a time for unity and coming together.
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“In this time when we are all affected by the coronavirus, whether directly or indirectly…it may be helpful to remember that we’re in this together. …Jesus came to show us how to be in a relationship
— Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
with God and in relationship with each other…so look out for your neighbors and look out for each other. …Listen to those who have the knowledge to guide us medically…”
The three Episcopalian bishops of Tennessee issued a joint statement that advocates caution during assembly but not cancellation of services and events. It reads in part:
“Our respective Dioceses are working together to stay informed and supportive of our faith communities across the state. …The most important way to minimize the spread of infectious diseases is for people who have symptoms such as fever, upset stomach, or frequent coughing or sneezing, to stay home and to seek medical attention as symptoms warrant. This includes clergy… Frequent hand washing is another way to minimize spread of the virus…”
The three bishops are the Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee; The Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf of West Tennessee; and The Rt. Rev. Brian L. Cole of East Tennessee.
“We want to show that the three of us are putting forth a collaborative effort to keep our state safe from the spread of the coronavirus,” said Bishop Roaf. “We are united in our statement and put forth these
recommendations with one voice.”
Additional advisements in the joint statement said parishioners while assembled should avoid direct contact and greet each other with the touching of elbows. The Holy Eucharist, called The Lord’s Supper in some denominations, should be considered complete if only the bread is taken. The normal practice is for everyone to drink from a common cup.
A receiving line for after-service fellowship should include conversation without physical contact. Any food or refreshments served during a gathering should be served by individuals who have thoroughly washed their hands and are using protective gloves
and tongs to handle food. The bishops also advised that individual congregations should consider canceling any large gatherings, if possible.
Presiding Bishop David P. Talley of the Memphis Catholic Diocese of Memphis forwarded a letter to all pastors, administrators, and chaplains.
“…For each mass celebrated, plan to offer only the species of bread for Holy Communion. Additionally, during these days of concern about this ‘new’ virus, during the ‘exchange of Christ’s peace,’ parishioners instead of shaking hands could turn to their neighbors in the pew, nod, and verbally wish them Christ’s peace.”
The New Tri-State Defender, March 12 - 18, 2020, Page 12
GritGrindGrizz:
EDITOR’S NOTE: Indicative of how fast-moving the coronavirus crisis is, news broke at TSD deadline that the NBA had suspended games indefinitely upon learning that Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert was confirmed to have the virus – likely bringing an abrupt end to the NBA season. For updates and analysis, visit TSDMemphis.com. (Photo: Warren Roseborough)
If I’m being completely honest, I was on the fence about attending Tuesday’s Grizzlies-Magic game, which the Grizzlies lost 115-120. Without any heightened stakes, it had all the makings of a game I’d get someone else to cover.
But then – like it’s happening everywhere these days –COVID-19 happened. Or more specifically, the FEAR of coronavirus happened.
Big money events like SXSW and Coachella have been canceled or rescheduled. The entire nation of Italy is under quarantine. Even as I was writing this column, news broke that the NCAA would play March Madness without fans in arenas. Without fans to generate madness, suddenly March may just be . . . March.
Just in the past week, the NBA informed teams to begin formulating plans for playing games without fans in arenas, and joined the NFL, NHL and MLB in limiting media access to players. In the NCAA, one league has canceled its conference tournament and two others will play theirs without fans. Some universities on the West Coast have canceled the remainder of the semester.
And with the Grizzlies not set to play another game at FedExForum for another week after Orlando – see above for what can happen in seven days – it hit me: that sleepy little Tuesday game against the Orlando Magic could well be the last home game played in front of fans this season. Or it could NOT be. A gaping hole of knowledge about this particular strain of coronavirus is a huge source of the fear. As the official start of spring approaches, there are many viruses that do not thrive as temperatures rise. We do not yet know if COVID-19 is one of those viruses. Add with a scarcity of reliable tests for the virus and the absence of a proven treatment . . . well, understandably,
Lee Eric Smith GritGrindGrizz
people start freaking out.
NBA officials were conferencing on Wednesday to plot a way forward. Sources told ESPN that the NBA was seeking ways to avoid spectator-less games. Among the options: moving games to the lower risk arena or to neutral sites.
For instance, if Oregon had more confirmed cases of coronavirus, the Grizzlies upcoming away game against the Blazers would be moved back to Memphis – a bonus home game, so to speak. Or the same game being played in Jackson, Miss., which has no reported cases – yet.
But the dominos toward fan-less games are officially falling. On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors announced they will play upcoming games without fans – in compliance with a City of San Francisco ban of events of 1,000 people or more.
We’re not quite there yet in Memphis. Or at least we weren’t Tuesday night. On the drive in to FedExForum, I knew things would be different – some of my colleagues in sports radio were talking about how Tuesday’s shootaround availability was adjusted to keep some distance between media and players.
But upon entering the arena, my first clue was the spray can of disinfectant and the not-so-faint smell of Lysol on the elevator. “I been spraying up and down,” joked one employee. “I ain’t messing around with this.”
I noticed the requisite signs about handwashing, and hand sanitizer dispensers had magically appeared on walls. The thing that really threw me though was the media dining area.
Gone were the usual round banquet tables that facilitate chatting while you eat. Instead, the room was set “class-
room” style – which I learned is a really awkward way to talk to someone over dinner. But despite, y’know, LOSING, the game itself was what we’ve come to expect with these young cubs – fast, fun, exciting.
But everything about the postgame routine was different. Usually, after the coach’s press conference, media usually enter the locker room to talk to players. But this time, we stayed put after Taylor Jenkins’ remarks as Ja Morant, Tyus Jones and Dillon Brooks were each individually brought out. Ordinarily, we pass the mic from journalist to journalist, but this time, Grizz PR politely but firmly told us they would be holding the mics as we asked questions.
It bears some looking ahead as well. I compared the Grizzlies schedule to a USAToday.com map tracking the outbreak. Before returning to Memphis to play Oklahoma City next Tuesday, the Grizzlies will play in Oregon (15 confirmed cases); Utah (two cases); and Texas (13 cases). Who knows what those numbers will look like in the days to come, but we’re about to find out.
As the game was getting underway, I was debating with a colleague about whether media would still be able to attend games even if fans weren’t. “I mean, you still gotta cover the game, right?” he said. “Shoot photos, postgame interviews, right? They’d still need to grant media access to watch the games.”
I thought about it for a second.
“If there’s a game being played and ain’t nobody in these stands,” I replied. “That would be the very definition of news. We’d have to cover that, and they’d have to know that we’d have to cover that. I think that means access.”
That’s what I hope, anyway. There’s a lot we don’t know about the coronavirus but there’s one thing we do know –we’re closer to the beginning of this crisis than to the end. So, wash your hands for 20 seconds and . . .
GRIND ON!
The Grizzlies’ evolving star Ja Morant eyed at least three Orlando Magic defenders and made his way to the hoop in what has become signature fashion for a league now on pause because of COVID-19 concerns. (Photos: Lee Eric Smith)