Weekly Update

Friends,

 

As we move into the holiday weekend and the spirit of giving the season brings, I want to pause for a moment to thank our city employees. I am thankful for them and want you to know that there are more than 1,300 city employees who, with a servant’s heart, put on the cloth of our city this holiday and every holiday to ensure that critical services are available for our citizens who count on us.

 

From Memphis Fire, Police and 911 dispatchers to our staff at the wastewater treatment plant, street maintenance, environmental inspection, building engineer, signal maintenance crews and staff at Memphis Animal Services—thank you. These folks are joined by more than 300 solid waste employees who also sacrifice weekend days and holidays during the week throughout the year to make sure that your garbage is picked up. I am proud to serve alongside these women and men every day and so very thankful for their continued sacrifice and service.

 

In that same vein of service: Next month is National Mentoring Month, and if you’re not aware, I am a strong advocate for mentoring. Early in my first term, I made a call to action to the City and our employees do at least one of three things—mentor a child, help a child learn to read, and adopt a block to pick up litter. Since then, we’ve had hundreds answer that call.

 

And, most recently, we allocated $9 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to help increase the presence of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in more of our Shelby County High Schools.

 

Today, in the spirit of the season, I’m asking you to give the most precious and longest-lasting gift to a child in need in our community—your time.

 

If you’re looking for a way to get involved, check out the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation, Arise2Read or Team Read.

 

Merry Christmas to you and your families. Please take time to enjoy the gift of each other’s company.

 

May God bless you and the city we all love.

 

Yours,