Leveling the playing field
Although I am an attorney by trade and hold a master’s degree in policy, my biggest professional accomplishment is opening the doors to Freedom Prep and ensuring that kids in Westwood get a college preparatory education that will prepare them to attend the university of their choice; thereby, providing them with myriad life choices. At the young age of 6, I realized unfortunately, that race and socioeconomic background mattered. Since that time, I have strived to work toward ways to level the playing field between black and white and rich and poor. I dedicated my life toward working on civil rights issues and I believe that I am accomplishing just that by giving my students the tools (through their education) to strive toward a level playing field with students who may come from more affluent, fortunate backgrounds.
Q: What can you find in Memphis that you can’t find anywhere else?
A: A big city with a “small” town feel. It always feels like 1 degree of separation. Everyone is connected in some way.
Q: What current local initiative excites you most?
A: The intense focus on strengthening public education.
Q: What is your favorite local festival?
A: Africa in April is my favorite local festival, but I also really enjoy the Cooper Young Festival.
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Flight
Q: Favorite building in Memphis?
A: All of the buildings on the campus of Rhodes College (“my alma mater”)
Q: Memphis’ most underrated trait?
A: The expansive and beautiful riverfront. Every visitor comments on its beauty.
Q: Favorite “secret” place or hidden gem in Memphis?
A: The Coro Lake area in Southwest Memphis is absolutely beautiful and most people have no idea that it exists. “I Choose Memphis” is a biweekly series that spotlights Memphians who are passionate about calling this community home. New Memphis Institute provides the profiles.
Lindsey Turner, a Covington native and a sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Martin, was honored with an American FFA Degree at the 85th National FFA Convention and Exposition held Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis, Ind.
American FFA Degrees are awarded annually to those FFA members who show dedication to premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The award recognizes ability and achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.
The following local residents departed for Italy to spend a threemonth semester studying at Harding University in Florence (HUF):
Rebecca Conder, a junior psychology major from Collierville; Chelsea Sims, a junior communication sciences and disorders major from Germantown, and Victoria Willis, a sophomore biology major from Southaven.
As part of the HUF curriculum, the group will spend the semester immersed in Italian culture. Students will have the opportunity to visit locations such as Pisa, Rome, Pompeii, Sicily, Siena and other historically significant areas. The group will be living together in a 16thcentury villa much like a typical Italian family, cultivating new relationships with fellow students.
Melanie Nesbitt of Memphis has graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in Dentistry.
Carey Blakley of Memphis made the Dean’s List for the summer semester 2012 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Undergraduate students earning a 3.00 or higher academic average make the Dean’s List.
The University of Memphis has selected students to participate in this year’s Emerging Leaders Program. They include:
Ryan Bailey of Millington,
lexis Bingham of Cordova,
Hannah Brandon of Olive Branch,
Grace Burgess Bartlett,
Anthony Burton of Cordova,
Melissa Byrd of Memphis,
Christine Cabrera of Cordova,
Jack Dodson of Memphis, Tuan Duong of Cordova, Jay Fearnley of Germantown, Louis Focht of Cordova, Addison Janz of Germantown, Paaton Karel of Eads, Spencer Lee of Memphis,
Mandy Lowery Southhaven,
Taylor Martchek of Munford,
Theodore Mayhall, Jr. of Southhaven,
Megan McDivitt of Brighton,
Jaye Oakley of Hernando,
Thomas O’Bryan of Memphis,
Tierney Palmer Memphis,
Chandler Peacock of Arlington,
Cassandra Pennington of Arlington,
Kaitlin Redick of Arlington,
Emilee Robinson of Arlington,
Amber Smith of Horn Lake,
Jessica Tatum of Germantown,
Jessica Tigner of Collierville,
Lauren Tucker of Memphis, and
Kayla Young of Brighton.
he Emerging Leaders Program is a comprehensive scholarship program designed to contribute significantly to a balanced, well-rounded college experience. Participation in this program is limited to 50 first-year students each year. More than 600 students have benefited from the program since its inception in 1983.
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