The Tri-State Defender continued its commitment to community engagement by hosting the “TSD in the Community Forum” Wednesday, July 16, at First Baptist Church Broad. The forum welcomed parents, educators, community leaders and policymakers for a conversation on the state of education in Memphis and Shelby County.
Deidre Malone, vice president of the TSD Board, moderated the discussion among some of the area’s most influential voices in education and policy. Panelists were:
- Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari, known for her advocacy in education reform and youth empowerment.
- Dr. Tracy Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College and a champion for accessible higher education.
- Dr. Roderick Richmond, interim superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
- Dr. Christopher Davis, president of LeMoyne-Owen College, who focused on strengthening the pipeline for Black academic success.
The forum was an open invitation to the community to be part of the conversation, with attendees encouraged to ask questions and share their perspectives on how education can better serve Memphis families. Literacy, poverty and economic opportunity emerged as the central themes of the evening, each intertwined with the success and challenges within the local education system.
Literacy: Foundational building block
Literacy was recognized as the foundation for academic achievement. Akbari has consistently championed efforts to strengthen education by advocating for greater access to quality learning, increased public school funding, improved literacy rates and equitable opportunities for students, particularly those in underserved communities.
She said there is an urgent need to address literacy rates in early childhood education, noting how reading proficiency is a key indicator of long-term academic success.
“Reading proficiency is the single greatest predictor of high school graduation and career success,” Akbari said. “If students cannot read proficiently, their prospects for success in any area of life, whether college or the workforce, are severely limited.”
“Literacy is foundational; without it, students become trapped in cycles of low-wage labor with little opportunity for advancement,” she said. “This is not just a Memphis issue but a statewide crisis that requires urgent, targeted intervention.”
Hall highlighted the importance of providing pathways from high school to college and career readiness, particularly for underserved students. Richmond discussed current MSCS initiatives aimed at boosting academic achievement and closing equity gaps, while Davis emphasized the role of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in fostering leadership and economic mobility.
The panel agreed that early literacy efforts need to be prioritized to prevent children from entering middle and high school already behind their peers.
Richmond, who was named MSCS interim superintendent in January, pointed out unseen impediments to literacy and academic success. Children from low-income households often come to school already at a disadvantage, Richmond said, citing developmental delays linked to lack of prenatal care and early childhood resources.
“Our kids are playing catch-up from birth,” he said, stressing the urgency of early interventions in literacy education.
Poverty: Root of educational disparities
No discussion of educational challenges is complete without addressing the systemic issue of poverty. As Richmond points out, when students and families are stuck in cycles of poverty, they are often operating in survival mode. Basic needs of food, shelter and safety become paramount, pushing education further down the priority list.
“We can’t ignore the fact that survival mode impacts everything,” said Richmond. “Attendance, focus, engagement — these are luxuries when you’re wondering where your next meal will come from.”
Yet, within the challenge lies opportunity. The panelists supported the notion that education can be the single most transformative tool to break cycles of poverty. However, it requires a community-wide alignment of goals and priorities.
Richmond posed a bold challenge to the city: “We must move toward a common goal where every student, regardless of zip code, graduates high school ready for college, career and life.”
The panelists agreed there should be a shift from a culture of criticism to one of encouragement with community members, educators and parents leading with empathy and positivity, reinforcing healthy habits of communication and collective problem-solving.
“We have to start hearing each other,” Richmond explained. “Engagement should extend beyond social media debates into real, on-the-ground involvement — mentoring students, volunteering in schools and advocating for equitable resources. Families must be seen not just as stakeholders but as active partners in student success. When communities are engaged, students perform better.”
Economic mobility: Preparing for high-value careers
Hall said it’s not enough to push students toward higher education. Colleges and universities must ensure that their training leads to postgraduate economic mobility — graduates earning more overtime.
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we preparing our students for high-value, high-opportunity career fields? Are we graduating them into economic prosperity, or into poverty?’” she said.
Southwest is working to address the skills gap on workforce readiness. The school is evaluating programs on their ability to lead to family-sustaining wages and offering boot camps in fields such as cybersecurity and apprenticeships that give students tangible career pathways, Hall said. These initiatives link education directly to economic mobility and make learning feel more relevant to students, she added.
“If a student can graduate with an associate degree and still earn less than someone without one, why would they choose college? Our challenge is to connect education directly to economic outcomes,” she said.
Her remarks highlighted the need for stronger ties between K-12 schools, community colleges and local industries — ensuring that educational programs are aligned with the jobs of today and tomorrow. “We need programs that don’t just educate students, but equip them with skills that translate to sustainable, livable wages,” she said.
Bridging the gap: A call for seamless educational alignment
Davis, of LeMoyne-Owen, suggested that Memphis has a unique opportunity to create a “seamless pipeline” from pre-K through postsecondary education into meaningful careers. “When we align K-12 schools, community colleges, universities and industry partners, we build a city where students don’t just graduate, they thrive,” he said.
Speaking of LeMoyne-Owen, Davis said, “We don’t just educate black students. We affirm them. We see them. We build their confidence as much as their competence.” He pointed to a broader philosophy among some institutions, especially HBCUs, that education must address the whole student — not just their academic needs, but their identity, self-worth and future pathways.
Historically black colleges and universities like LeMoyne-Owen play a crucial role in not just educating but providing environments where students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, can thrive. But these institutions face sustainability challenges and need continued investment to fully support their mission. Davis called for increased investment in services beyond academic preparation to improve college retention and graduation rates.
Moving Memphis forward
By the end of the evening, one theme was clear: Memphis cannot afford to allow another generation of students to be underserved by systems that don’t address their most pressing needs.
“We already know what the problems are. We have diagnosed them repeatedly,” said Hall.
The solution? It’s aligned action, breaking down silos, committing to collective impact and holding ourselves accountable to results rather than rhetoric.
“Education is not just about passing tests, it’s about changing lives,” said moderator Malone. “If we commit to prioritizing literacy, eradicating poverty and expanding economic pathways, we can redefine what success looks like for our children.”
For more community events and continued coverage on education in Memphis, visit tsdmemphis.com.
