Weekly Update

Friends,

 

Earlier this week, we lost a great American leader with the passing of former Secretary of State Colin Powell. In a time filled with such uncertainty, unsustainable political partisanship, and general distrust in government, we need more people with his level-headed demeanor, his dedication to service, and his love for our country.

 

Over the course of his life, Secretary Powell formulated a set of 13 leadership rules. I have tried to incorporate these rules as mayor.

 

No matter what your career—public or private, we can all take heed. 

 

 

Rest in peace, Secretary Powell. We thank you for your lifetime of service to our nation.

 

HOPE Global Forum: This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to participate with the HOPE Global Forum hosted by Operation HOPE in Atlanta. The group’s focus is financial dignity and inclusion. They work to equip young people and adults with the financial tools and education to secure a better future—coaching them through their personal aspirations and life’s challenges, and facilitating their journey to financial independence.

 

The health and wellness of our employees has been a top priority since coming to the Mayor’s Office. Since 2016, we have successfully established comprehensive wellness programs including physical, emotional, and financial health. In May of 2019, we announced the HOPE Inside partnership offering employees free financial empowerment education and coaching. So far this year, we’ve had 1,130 attendees at our financial workshops.

 

In addition, we are partnering with Operation HOPE in its effort to create one million more black-owned businesses across the country. We are tying this effort into our success in growing the City’s MWBE spend the and the 800 Initiative.

 

The Most Innovative Public Library: Time and time again, your Memphis Public Libraries continue to deliver the best of the best. In the November addition of the Smithsonian magazine, the Benjamin L. Hooks Library is touted as the nation’s most innovative public library. It’s a great story and well-deserved notoriety. If you get a second, pick up a copy or read the online version.

 

 

Congrats to Keenon McCloy and her team on this national coverage of the services they’re providing to our citizens day-in and day-out. And, thank you to the Memphis City Council for their partnership. Starting in 2016 with reopening neighborhood libraries, we have greatly increased funding, hours of operation programming and attendance in the last five years.

 

Welcome to the boom: According to a recent report from Morgan Stanley on the recovery of cities in the wake of the pandemic—Memphis is booming.

 

Their study analyzed cellphone ping data at the zip-code level in 46 metro areas, while also factoring for apartment rents by geography, office rent growth and sublet availability. From that data, they grouped these metros in to four categories: booming cities, rebounding cities, steady cities, and lagging cities. The other four booming cities along with Memphis were Jacksonville, FL.; Phoenix/Mesa, AZ; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Atlanta, GA.

 

Check out the article when you have a minute.

 

Enjoy your weekend and go Tigers!!

 

Yours,