S6E38 Memphis' Higher-Ed Institutions Create City Vibrancy

Memphis' higher-ed institutions play a critical role in city vibrancy.  Memphis’ colleges and universities are essential civic anchors shaping the region’s talent pipeline, stabilizing neighborhoods, driving research and innovation, and influencing long-term economic vitality. All of these factors play a critical role in employee readiness, attraction, and retention for local employers. This conversation, moderated by Dr. Joann Massey (EDGE), features Dr. Bill Hardgrave (University of Memphis), Jennifer Collins (Rhodes College), and Dr. Tracy D. Hall (Southwest Tennessee Community College).Resources mentioned in this episode include: Rhodes College University of Memphis Southwest Tennessee Community College Tennessee Promise Previous episodes on similar topics can be found here, here, and here. BONUS: Dr. Christopher Davis (LeMoyne-Owen College) shares how Memphis’ HBCU is anchoring talent in the city by creating job-ready, community-informed leaders here, and Ron Brandon (Christian Brothers University) discusses the impact of turning learners into leaders here. Note: This is a recording of a live Celebrate What's Right: Educating Memphis' Future that happened on February 24 at The National Civil Rights Museum for a conversation with presidents from Memphis-area institutions.

Memphis is a media oasis! The city has a vibrant, people-powered ecosystem with a wealth of public radio stations. Go behind the scenes of two of the city’s signature public stations with Jared "Jay B" Boyd (WYXR 91.7 FM - the host station for Meanwhile in Memphis) and Charles McLarty. (WKNO 91.1 FM) to learn what role they play in connecting the community through news, music, and future-focused missions. This episode first aired on November 18, 2025 (S5E46).Resources mentioned in this episode include: WYXR WKNO The Daily Memphian Previous episodes on similar topics can be found here, here, here, and here NPR PBS Morning Edition All Things Considered KLOVE Donate to WKNO and donate to WYXR The University of Memphis Crosstown Concourse Congress rolls back $9 billion in public media funding and foreign aid article from NPR Timeline: The History of Public Broadcasting in the U.S. Educational Television Facilities Act of 1962 Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Entrepreneurial spirit has shaped Memphis for decades, and the city still supports entrepreneurship today! This conversation has a strategic focus on attracting and retaining businesses — from small businesses to large-scale industry leaders — as well as exploring what makes Memphis a city of choice for entrepreneurs and innovators looking to launch a business. These leaders not only see what's possible, but they are also carving paths for the future of the city and positioning Memphis as a city of choice for changemakers. This conversation originally took place as a live event on August 26, 2026, as part of New Memphis’ Celebrate What’s Right series and was made possible by Tennessee Valley Authority, Kroger, and Servis1st Bank. We work very hard to make these events accessible, but we know that there are a myriad of reasons why members of our community had to miss this live event. In an effort to ensure that these leaders’ insights are disseminated far and wide, we’re bringing you their conversation on the radio waves this morning.Guests: Meka Egwuekwe | Co-Founder & Executive Director of Code Crew (moderator) Anthony Young | President & CEO of Epicenter Memphis Ido Sairig I Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation at The University of Memphis Gwyn Fisher I Chief Economic Development Officer for The Greater Memphis Chamber Trey Moore | Senior Small Business Specialist at EDGE Memphis

Memphis builds community through collaboration. Habitat for Humanity's initiatives to build homes, help citizens age in place, and showcase leadership through volunteerism create a more vital and prosperous 901 for today, tomorrow, and generations to come.  Guests: Dwayne Spencer (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis) Michael Scarbrough (Matter Health Care) Resources mentioned in this episode include: Habitat for Humanity CEO Build Matter Health Care Plough Foundation Aging in Place Social Determinants of Health Varsity Spirit Chelsea Avenue Development Previous episodes on this topic include: S3E29 and S3E18 Dwayne Spencer's TEDxMemphis Talk Housing and Community Development (HCD) Community Redevelopment Agency City of Memphis Hyde Family Foundation Assisi Foundation This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Downtown Memphis is a vibrant place to live, work, play, and thrive! Adding to downtown's appeal is an immersive experience, Baron Von Operbean and the River of Time, affectionately known as BVO. The attraction has been noted as a "jewel of an asset" and is playing a role in the forward momentum of the city's vision. Guests: Chandell Ryan (Downtown Memphis Commission) Jee Vahn Knight (Baron Von Opperbean) Resources mentioned in this episode include: Downtown Memphis Commission Baron Von Opperbean Christopher Reyes' "Live From Memphis" Meow Wolf Mid-South Coliseum  Court Square Pyramid Pedestrian Bridge to Mud Island This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Memphis is fighting blight through teamwork! While preventative measures are being taken to stop the progression of blight throughout the community, the city is also working collaboratively to create long-term solutions through legal support and community-informed efforts. Tune in to learn how the City of Memphis is collaborating to help Memphis reach its fullest potential!Guests: Mayor Paul Young (City of Memphis) Melanie Neal (City of Memphis) Lani Lester (City of Memphis) This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Memphis is made vibrant by its green spaces and the wildlife that inhabit them. Those spaces exist, and wildlife populations persist thanks in part to the organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving them, including today's guests from Ducks Unlimited and Wolf River Conservancy. From Ducks Unlimited's work conserving more than 20 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America to Wolf River Conservancy's work planting more than 60,000 trees and protecting upwards of 20,000 acres of land, there's a lot to unpack in today's conversation. Joining us from Ducks Unlimited is Chief Operating Officer Karen Waldrop, and joining from Wolf River Conservancy is Chief Conservation Officer Ryan Hall. 

A proven model of success is helping students in Memphis persist to graduation and launch careers in the Mid-South thanks to an impact-driven collaboration between tnAchieves and MDRC. Listen in to learn how a state-wide program is taking a tailored approach to help students in Memphis succeed!Guests: Krissy DeAlejandro (tnAchieves) Sonia Drohojowska (MDRC). Resources mentioned in this episode include: tnAchieves MDRC MEMcomplete MDRC Post Secondary focus Tennessee Promise Slingshot Memphis MEMworks Southwest Tennessee Community College Previous Meanwhile in Memphis episodes on related topics can be found here , here , here , here , and here This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Whether it's Giving Tuesday or just a regular Tuesday, nonprofits play a vital role in the Memphis community. The 901 is repeatedly ranked as one of the most philanthropic cities in the U.S., but is everyone clear on what a nonprofit is? Why do they matter? This conversation covers the fundamentals of nonprofits: What makes these organizations unique? Who governs them? How do they operate? We’re getting answers to all of these questions and more with Tennessee Nonprofit Network's Kevin Dean.This episode originally aired on December 4, 2024.Resources mentioned in this episode include: Tennessee Nonprofit Network "I was told there would be snacks..." A Nonprofit Podcast Hope House Literacy Midsouth National Council of Nonprofits University of Memphis' Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership CARES Act 2020 Memphis Zoo Arrow Creative Hattiloo Theatre Children's Museum of Memphis LiveGive MidSouth Community Foundation Volunteer Odyssey New Memphis activation work This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

The challenges of daily life aren't organized by a single department or eligibility category, so it stands to reason that the resources shouldn't be siloed either. Today's conversation digs into a statewide initiative to create an easily accessible solution for Tennesseans. Here to share more about the Human Flourishing Initiative are David Jordan and Jeff Piker. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Agape Memphis Restore Hope Human Flourishing Initiative Science of Hope Powerlines Community Network HopeHub The Tennessee Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiative Tennessee Division of Labor and Workforce Development Memphis Leaders Unite Around New Human Flourishing Initiative Memphis Hope Summit One By One Ministries Porter Leath Hope Research Center at University of Oklahoma This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.