Weekly Update
Memphis sent this bulletin at 05/26/2023 03:23 PM CDT
Friends,
Each year as we get closer to summer and everyone’s children start getting out of school—I often hear the same complaint,
“We don’t have anything for children to do”.
While we can always do more and have more activities for our youth, I also want to highlight all the great things that the City of Memphis is providing as well as the many nonprofit organizations offering their services throughout the city.
Memphis Office of Youth Services (MOYS)
The mission of MOYS is to equip students with the tools necessary for becoming contributors to the greater community by inspiring them to make positive decisions in the classroom and beyond through engaging and interactive programs including the Memphis Ambassadors Program (MAP) and the MPLOY Youth Summer Experience.
Memphis Youth Ambassadors Program (MAP) – This is year-round development program for youth participants in grades 9-12 that offers engagement with career-readiness and college-preparation skills. Roughly 440 served each year.
MPLOY Youth Summer Experience - The MPLOY Youth Summer Experience offers various career path options according to the participants’ strengths and interests, including soft skills training, entry-level positions, and internships. Some of the top employers in the Memphis area make this possible by agreeing to serve as Business Partners, offering structured job opportunities for youth for six weeks during the summer months. Each summer 1500-2000 young people participate.
Opportunity R3 (Rethinking, Rebuilding, Rebranding) - offers a guided path to further education or prepare for workforce readiness for disconnected youth ages 16-24. Since March 2022, 120 young people have completed R3. We have another class beginning July 17th. To learn more or sign up, please go here.
Memphis Public Libraries
Each year at its 18 locations, Memphis Public Libraries serves thousands of young people from all across our city. Click on the Explore Memphis image below for a link to everything they have going on this summer or scan the QR code.
Memphis Parks
Another invaluable division of City government, Memphis Parks creates positive and safe places to provide community-centered experiences that connect all Memphians. Each summer, they provide events and activities for thousands of our young people. To sign up or learn more about our programs, visit here. Below is a list of programming and estimated number of people served.
Special events
Family Fun Fridays
Liberty for All 2023!
Play Your Park (employee supervised)
We will have programming in 34 parks this summer between athletics, Movies in the Park, Play Your Park and other activities (yoga, painting in the park, etc.).
Parks which will have programming include: Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Park, Pierotti Park, Bert Ferguson Park, Germanshire Park, Heroes Park, Fletcher Creek Park, Sea Isle Dog Park, Winridge Park, McFarland Park, Wilson Park, David Carnes Park, Hickory Hill Park, Charjean Park, Binghampton Park, Davis Park, Orange Mound Park, Whitehaven Park, Raines Road, Rozelle-Annesdale Park, Peabody Park, Howze Park, Liberty Park, Glenview, Southside Park, Westwood Park, Robert Church Park, Chandler Park, Douglass Park, Gooch Park, Pickett Park, Hollywood Park, Frayser Park, Willow Park and Overton Park.
The locations and dates for Play Your Park are:
June 5-19:
David Carnes, Frayser Park, Bert Ferguson Park, Glenview Park, Robert Howze Park
June 19-30:
Charjean Park, Wilson Park, Gooch Park, Raines Road Park, Peabody Park
July 3-14:
Winridge Park, Charles W. Davis Park, Southside Park, Germanshire Park, Rozelle-Annesdale Park
July 17-July 28:
Whitehaven Park, Gaston Park, Heroes Park, Douglass Park
Community & Senior Centers
Summer Camp 2023 (8 weeks) Summer camp will be available at all City of Memphis Community Centers for ages 5 – 12, except for Gaisman and Greenlaw.
Teen Camp Sites (8 weeks) Teen summer camp will be available for ages 13 – 15 at the following community centers: Bert Ferguson, Charles Powell, Cunningham, Davis, Ed Rice, Hickory Hill, Lester, and Whitehaven.
Memphis Parks Summer Closing Show
Youth attending Community Center programming outside of camp – 30,759 participants.
Aquatics
Outdoor Pool Season (8 weeks)
World’s Largest Swim Lesson
Golf
Nike Youth Camp
Overton Park Junior Open
Overton Park Junior Clinic
High School Championship
US Kids Golf – 76 participants
TN Golf Foundation Sneds Golf Tour
Junior Golf Rounds
1st Tee of Tennessee/Memphis
Athletics
Youth Baseball League
Youth Summer Basketball League
Tennis Memphis
NJTL Camp
Summer free programs
USTA Junior tournaments
Memphis Police Department
MPD Community Outreach (COP) – COP is an initiative that was developed to better serve the community relative to community policing and the reduction of juvenile violence. The unit consists of officers who are provided target areas from data gathered with the assistance of the University of Memphis. These officers address the problems in the target areas through a three-prong approach: identification, enforcement, and education. They have a presence/collocated at Hickory Hill, Katie Sexton, Douglass, Whitehaven and Hollywood Community Centers and Community Impact Officers present at pools in the summer. Below are examples of some of their programming.
Motivating, Educating, Mentoring, Preparation, Hard-Work, Integrity, Sacrifice (MEMPHIS) Camp - June 5- 16 at Union Valley Baptist Church to teach children about making positive life choices. 50 youth
Youth Crime Watch - provides students with various classes and presentations that address issues relative to violent crime: Bullying, Domestic Violence, Drugs, etc. 3,500 youth since inception
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T) - an education program taught in elementary schools that seeks to prevent use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and other negative behavior while building trust between law enforcement and communities. 1,000 youth
MPD Police Athletic League (PAL) - coordinated department-wide w/ gym utilization
Boxing Gym Program - coordinated through CE/COP also manages City of Memphis boxing events
Outside the Box - summer program operated with COP Officers (according to manpower availability)
Ride Outside the Box – summer program to teach bicycle safety, repair, and fitness. 60 youth
Partner Organizations (not an exhaustive list)
Check out any one of the groups below to find out more ways to get your child involved and active this summer.
Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis
YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South
Memphis River Parks Partnership
Playhouse on the Square Summer Youth Conservatory
Point of clarification: In last week’s Update, I wrote that the district attorney had not filed any motion to revoke the bond in the case of Chase Harris. That was not an accurate statement.
However, between December 20, 2022, and May 14, 2023, Chase Harris was arrested by police and released by 201 Poplar four times. While I appreciate the DA’s office filing a motion to revoke the bond on May 17, it should have been filed earlier, especially after the third arrest which was for shooting at multiple people at a local restaurant.
Go Boats!: If you’re in town this holiday weekend and looking for some fun family entertainment, head out to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium to watch the Showboats take on the Gamblers Sunday at 1:30. Get your tickets here.
Enjoy your weekend!
Yours,
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