‘Politics’ of the blues surfaces at International Blues Challenge. Lifestyle & Culture, Page 6
Now intersecting: Memphis music and Central Station Hotel. Perspective, Page 4
February 6 - 12, 2020
VOL. 69, No. 6
www.tsdmemphis.com
Transit needs:
$1.00
Listening to move forward
Memphis in May Unveils 2020 Fine Arts Poster Honoring Ghana Original work by local Artist Carl Moore Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Widely acclaimed Memphis artist Carl Moore was celebrated Tuesday evening at the unveiling of his Memphis in May International Festival poster honoring the Republic of Ghana in West Africa. Moore’s acrylic-on-canvas creation was inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape and the endless, pageantry of indigenous, colorful plant life, according to the artist. “I have never been to Ghana. So I did an extensive amount of research, quite a lot of research and sketches,” said Moore. “I had purposed in my mind to simply present Ghana in its best light.” So many elements could have been included, such as social justice, culture, humanitarianism and history, he said. “They send a message, but sometimes too many of those aspects all together can be
Led by Shelby County Commissioners Tami Sawyer and Mick Wright (in the background), an ad hoc public transit committee session generated questions and concerns, along with proposed solutions. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
by Erica R. Williams
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Monumental Baptist Church in South Memphis served as the gathering place Monday evening for the Shelby County Board of Commissioners first public transit ad hoc committee meeting. Dozens of citizens and elected officials convened for the in-the-community session led by Commissioners Tami Sawyer and Mick Wright. The goal is to develop a streamlined proposal to provide $10 million in county funding to the Memphis Area Transit Authority. The February 4 discussion marked the first in a series of four public meetings.
“We’re going to work together as a community towards this effort,” Sawyer said to the 40-plus attendees. She reiterated that the committee’s goal was to get something “sound” on the table for the Shelby County budget committee to review for the spring. Commissioners have already approved $1.5 million of the county’s capital improvement budget to be allocated to MATA. That came during their last meeting (Jan. 27); but the decision provides only a fraction of the amount MATA needs to improve infrastructure and routes. More than a dozen potential funding sources were presented at the first ad hoc meeting. That included Shelby County
Mayor Lee Harris’ plan to charge a $145 sustainability fee for addresses with three passenger vehicles. The fee would be added to the third. Harris was not at the ad hoc meeting. Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert, who has publicly raised questions about the effectiveness of Harris’ plan, was in attendance. She asked the commission to consider the impact the fee would have on her employees, who would have the additional task of collecting the payments. Offering another plan for consideration was Commissioner Brandon Morrison, who presented her resolution to raise ve-
SEE MATA ON PAGE 2
SEE GHANA ON PAGE 3
A job, new skills and a car:
Ways one group fights poverty in 38126 by Dena S. Owens
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Sonia Thomas was placed in a job by Advance Memphis. She works for National Guard Products, drilling holes in components for commercial doors. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
Without a job, you can’t pay bills or keep your dignity. Without skills, you can’t get a job. Without transportation, you can’t get to work. Advance Memphis, a nonprofit fighting local poverty, identifies barriers to employment and works to overcome obstacles – one person at a time – one ZIP code at a time – starting with 38126 (the poorest zone in
Memphis and Tennessee). Advance Memphis provides job placement, skills training, financial education, entrepreneurship classes and assistance with high school education (GED) completion. But help doesn’t stop there. Advance Memphis created a savings account matching program to help graduates buy a car – transportation to get to work (on time) and back home. Plus, while many adults cope with life’s traumas through family, church
or other means, impoverished citizens frequently lack a proper support system. Trauma, left unaided, can contribute to drug use, crime or reduced productivity, which might mean losing a job a worker wants (and needs) to keep. To help residents cope, Advance Memphis added a two-week trauma healing course to its six-week WorkLife Program (a “soft skills” course
SEE ADVANCE ON PAGE 3
Get TSD News, announcements and special promotions in your email! visit TSDMemphis.com to sign up, or scan the code at right!