Weekly Update

Friends,

For Memphis to be all it can be, we know we must invest in our people. And while we spend a lot of time here discussing children and youth, I wanted to share a bit about a program that invests in men in our community.

It’s called Manhood University, and it’s run by Ken Moody and his staff in our Office of Community Affairs. In partnership with eight churches over the course of six weeks, Manhood University teaches men life skills such as financial literacy and conflict resolution to ensure they’re better fathers, husbands, sons and members of our community. It’s mentoring at its finest.

Last Saturday, 75 men graduated from the second class of Manhood University, and I was proud to be there to speak. WMC-TV was there, too, and had a nice story on it.

A few days after the program, we received a nice note from Nehemiah Hicks, one of the graduates. He just got a job as a demand planner at Ledbetter Foods! “I couldn't have done it without you or Manhood,” he wrote to Ashley Davis, one of our staffers instrumental in the program. “Please, whatever you do, let Mr. Moody know that this program is the difference between surviving and living.”

Improving housing: Having safe and healthy housing is important to me and to all of Memphis. That’s why we were so eager to sign on to the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, spearheaded locally by our friends at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. The Memphis Daily News takes a closer look here.

Seasons greetings: Hanukkah started earlier this week, so I’d like to send a Happy Hanukkah wish to all who celebrate!

Yours,