June 2017

 by Anasa Troutman Last summer, I made public a dream that I had held close to my heart for over 10 years. In a vintage theater on Martha’s Vineyard with no air conditioning, in front of a modest audience of 100 people, I shared my vision of building Shelectricity, a space where black and brown […]

by Amber Hamilton In June 2017, I had the privilege of accompanying four MMI Works students on an externship to Ireland. The students, who earned the externship by participating in our summer program last year and applying through a competitive application process, were able to experience a curated trip packed with meaningful experiences. The students […]

by Aliciah D. My first trip out the country can be considered one of the most noteworthy chapters of my life. The country the I got to explore was none other than Ireland, a place known for particular beverages and plants with four petals.  I have traveled out of the country of my origin to […]

by Tawanna Brown It was a stormy Saturday morning in April, but the rains did little to deter the more than 100 middle school girls, parents and girl allies who showed up for Shelectricity’s Memphis Listening Party.  It was a festive affair that included girl-power music, from Alecia Keys to Aretha Franklin, spun by DJ […]

by Deron Hall For more than 50 years, the NEA has been tasked with ensuring arts-based funding across every congressional district in the United States. This year was no different, with $148 Million allocated to arts and culture programs across the nation through state arts agencies, regional arts agencies, and grants directly from the National […]

  by Kwayera Archer Cunningham  Leadership is a gift to be handled with care, as if a fine piece of porcelain. I have received many awards, acknowledgments, and praise for my leadership, but even more notable than the accolades was the permission of those who allowed me to lead and represent them. Understanding that leadership […]

by VCMS Staff At Visible Community Music School, we’ve just finished our first semester working with kids in the Berclair/Graham neighborhoods through a partnership with Su Casa Family Ministries.  With the help of Su Casa staff, Tim Jewett and Ceci Fortier, we were able to give piano and guitar lessons to 15 eager and excited students […]

by Allison R. Brown He was 14 years old when the school resource officer hit him so hard in the face, he knocked his front tooth out. This happened at school. It is unclear what the student’s transgression, or supposed transgression, was. I posit that it does not matter. When children go to school, they […]

  by Morgan Beckford When I first returned to Memphis after teaching in Virginia, I worked for Opera Memphis as the Coordinator for Education and Outreach. My charge was simple: find opportunities for local students to engage with Opera Memphis. I accepted the challenge; over the first month, I drafted an email list that included […]

Memphis Music Initiative (MMI) invests in youth, local communities and Memphis’ musical legacy by broadening and strengthening existing music engagement offerings in and out of schools and supporting youth-centered, community-based music education. Our approach is three tiered–Through various unique interventions, MMI seeks to: 1) sustain existing in-school music education and expand instruction through partnerships with […]