Two segments of Memphis voters will head back to the polls in November to cast ballots in Memphis City Council races that were not settled during Municipal Election voting on Oct. 3.
While seven council members were re-elected October 3,...
The Shelby County Commission on Monday approved $80,000 to go towards on-site testing at dozens of Shelby County Schools system sites where there has been detection of potentially dangerous amounts of lead.
The funds will be transferred to the Shelby...
By Montee Lopez, Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Meet Kelley Bynum. She, along with her husband, founded SKB Facilities & Maintenance, a local janitorial service that the couple has been working on for close to 10 years; all while working full-time jobs. “It was a process,” Bynum said. “It was a matter of finding out how to run a business, what it takes, funding – all those things.” The Bynums now have close to 200 employees and a contract with the City of Memphis. On Wednesday afternoon, she accepted the SBE (Small Business Enterprise) Champion Award, given during the second We Mean Business Symposium hosted by the City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance at the Tower Center Room at Clark Tower. While business is booming now for Bynum and company, she readily remembers the doubts and rough spots. Joann Massey, the director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development for the City of Memphis, is maneuvering to help more budding entrepreneurs succeed. “Often times, people don’t know where to start,” Massey said, referring to access to opportunities and funding for start-up businesses, especially ventures initiated by minorities. In Shelby County there are 49,000-plus African-American-owned business; only 784 of them have employees. Most are self-employed businesses, with many operating out of homes. “We’re trying to streamline the services offered to small, women- and minority-owned businesses and make access to them easier,” Massey said. That’s part of the reason why she developed “Propel.” It’s a 12-week program focused on helping existing businesses strengthen their models, the delivery services offered and engagement of customers – both public and private. “Businesses can’t afford to close their doors for a day going to offices, organization, filling out paperwork, and taking them places.” Last year, Massey, along with other city leaders, introduced the “We Mean Business Symposium” in conjunction with several other partnerships. She also oversaw the launch of a series of websites where people looking to start their own businesses can learn about specific licenses needed to operate. To get a contract with the city, a business must be able to supply a service the city needs - such as construction. However, the city can still help other business owners get on their feet. Helping minorities in Memphis is a passion for Massey. That concern is a way of life with roots in the New Chicago neighborhood where she grew up and experienced the effects of poverty first hand. “Being an African American, I know the challenges and the barriers we face,” Massey said, “and I’m all too familiar with them.” Massey has her sights set on helping to grow generational wealth for African Africans. She knows that increasing minority-owned businesses is crucial to that goal. Memphis, she said, moving in the right direction. “We’re not satisfied,” Massey said. “We’re not celebrating.”
Meet Kelley Bynum. She, along with her husband, founded SKB Facilities & Maintenance, a local janitorial service that the couple has been working on for close to 10 years; all while working full-time jobs. “It was a process,” Bynum said. “It was a matter of finding out how to run a business, what it takes, funding – all those things.” The Bynums now have close to 200 employees and a contract with the City of Memphis. On Wednesday afternoon, she accepted the SBE (Small Business Enterprise) Champion Award, given during the second We Mean Business Symposium hosted by the City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance at the Tower Center Room at Clark Tower. While business is booming now for Bynum and company, she readily remembers the doubts and rough spots. Joann Massey, the director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development for the City of Memphis, is maneuvering to help more budding entrepreneurs succeed. “Often times, people don’t know where to start,” Massey said, referring to access to opportunities and funding for start-up businesses, especially ventures initiated by minorities. In Shelby County there are 49,000-plus African-American-owned business; only 784 of them have employees. Most are self-employed businesses, with many operating out of homes. “We’re trying to streamline the services offered to small, women- and minority-owned businesses and make access to them easier,” Massey said. That’s part of the reason why she developed “Propel.” It’s a 12-week program focused on helping existing businesses strengthen their models, the delivery services offered and engagement of customers – both public and private. “Businesses can’t afford to close their doors for a day going to offices, organization, filling out paperwork, and taking them places.” Last year, Massey, along with other city leaders, introduced the “We Mean Business Symposium” in conjunction with several other partnerships. She also oversaw the launch of a series of websites where people looking to start their own businesses can learn about specific licenses needed to operate. To get a contract with the city, a business must be able to supply a service the city needs - such as construction. However, the city can still help other business owners get on their feet. Helping minorities in Memphis is a passion for Massey. That concern is a way of life with roots in the New Chicago neighborhood where she grew up and experienced the effects of poverty first hand. “Being an African American, I know the challenges and the barriers we face,” Massey said, “and I’m all too familiar with them.” Massey has her sights set on helping to grow generational wealth for African Africans. She knows that increasing minority-owned businesses is crucial to that goal. Memphis, she said, moving in the right direction. “We’re not satisfied,” Massey said. “We’re not celebrating.”
Ten people have put their name in to become the next board member of Tennessee’s largest school district.
The appointee will fill the seat Teresa Jones vacated following her recent appointment as a municipal court judge, and would serve until...
By Montee Lopez, Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With the unanimous consent of those voting, the Memphis City Council has ended the life of the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority (BSTDA). Council members – with District 5’s representative, Edmund For Jr., recusing himself – embraced a resolution on Tuesday that was first introduced at a council committee meeting in March. Ford is a non-voting member of the BSTDA. Created in 2015 under the tenure of former Mayor AC Wharton Jr., the 13-member BSTDA was authorized to design and maintain the attractiveness of the Beale Street Entertainment District while also seeking proper management. The Downtown Memphis Commission now controls the entertainment district on an interim basis. The responsibility of selecting new management of the district is now in the hands of the City of Memphis. Tuesday’s resolution, sponsored by Councilman Martavius Jones and Councilwoman Patrice Robinson, reflected the Council’s conclusion that BSTDA had failed. “They didn’t do what they set out to do,” Jones said, pointing out that BSTDA had two years to find management for the street. He linked the absence of a manager to the possibility that BSTDA had unrealistic goals. “I think they went in with the expectation a national group would come in and pitch a proposal to manage the street,” Jones said. The Beale Street Entertainment District isn’t big enough to attract a national managing company, said Jones, who associated the matter with what he sees as the council erroneously doling out powers and responsibilities they should retain. “In the time I’ve been on the council, what I’ve found … is the council (has) delegated its authority to committees not accountable to taxpayers,” Jones said. “That reduces transparency.” The elimination of the BSTDA is a step towards the restoration of transparency, he said. Meanwhile, several pending lawsuits loom that could affect the future of the entertainment district and the connectivity of the Beale Street Merchants Association, The Beale Street Historic Development Corporation, the Downtown Memphis Commission, and other entities. The timetable for selecting a permanent manager for the district is uncertain, but Ken Taylor with the Beale Street Merchants Association said the longer Beale Street district goes without management, the more money it loses. “The longer we hold on finding a manager for the street, the more potential investments we lose,” Taylor said, noting the potential of less income being generated from Africa in April and the Beale Street Music Festival – two big moneymakers with upcoming festival activities. Both Taylor and Jones want the same thing - positive and constantly improvement of Memphis’s most memorable tourist attraction. “I want a management group who can continue to uphold the image and historic values of Beale Street.” The New Tri-State Defender reached out to Mayor Jim Strickland concerning comments on finding management for the street. We are still awaiting a response.
With the unanimous consent of those voting, the Memphis City Council has ended the life of the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority (BSTDA). Council members – with District 5’s representative, Edmund For Jr., recusing himself – embraced a resolution on Tuesday that was first introduced at a council committee meeting in March. Ford is a non-voting member of the BSTDA. Created in 2015 under the tenure of former Mayor AC Wharton Jr., the 13-member BSTDA was authorized to design and maintain the attractiveness of the Beale Street Entertainment District while also seeking proper management. The Downtown Memphis Commission now controls the entertainment district on an interim basis. The responsibility of selecting new management of the district is now in the hands of the City of Memphis. Tuesday’s resolution, sponsored by Councilman Martavius Jones and Councilwoman Patrice Robinson, reflected the Council’s conclusion that BSTDA had failed. “They didn’t do what they set out to do,” Jones said, pointing out that BSTDA had two years to find management for the street. He linked the absence of a manager to the possibility that BSTDA had unrealistic goals. “I think they went in with the expectation a national group would come in and pitch a proposal to manage the street,” Jones said. The Beale Street Entertainment District isn’t big enough to attract a national managing company, said Jones, who associated the matter with what he sees as the council erroneously doling out powers and responsibilities they should retain. “In the time I’ve been on the council, what I’ve found … is the council (has) delegated its authority to committees not accountable to taxpayers,” Jones said. “That reduces transparency.” The elimination of the BSTDA is a step towards the restoration of transparency, he said. Meanwhile, several pending lawsuits loom that could affect the future of the entertainment district and the connectivity of the Beale Street Merchants Association, The Beale Street Historic Development Corporation, the Downtown Memphis Commission, and other entities. The timetable for selecting a permanent manager for the district is uncertain, but Ken Taylor with the Beale Street Merchants Association said the longer Beale Street district goes without management, the more money it loses. “The longer we hold on finding a manager for the street, the more potential investments we lose,” Taylor said, noting the potential of less income being generated from Africa in April and the Beale Street Music Festival – two big moneymakers with upcoming festival activities. Both Taylor and Jones want the same thing - positive and constantly improvement of Memphis’s most memorable tourist attraction. “I want a management group who can continue to uphold the image and historic values of Beale Street.” The New Tri-State Defender reached out to Mayor Jim Strickland concerning comments on finding management for the street. We are still awaiting a response.
The Tennessee Supreme Court will not consider an appeal related to Memphis' removal of statues of Confederate leaders Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis from two parks.
City officials circumvented a state law limiting the removal of historical memorials from...
By Madeline Faber, High Ground News
This story is a collaboration between HuffPost and High Ground News.
Karen Crouch’s son never told her that he was contemplating suicide.
“He never said that he felt like he was losing a grip. I could...
An independent analysis of technical problems that disrupted Tennessee’s online testing program this spring is challenging popular opinion that student scores were significantly tainted as a result.
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said Wednesday that the disruptions to computerized testing had...
Emerging from the shadows since federal agents raided several Latino neighborhoods in Memphis, immigrant families were greeted Monday by cheering neighbors and educators as they brought their children back to school amid assurances of protection.
Holding signs such as “Bienvenido”...
Shelby County Schools officials are riding high, fueled by a dramatic swing from operating in the red to landing solidly in the black in the new fiscal year that begins Saturday.
But they say the district still doesn’t have enough...