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This week, I was honored as PRSA Memphis’ Communicator of the Year, alongside my friend, Howard Robertson, as Legacy Communicator and Ro Lane as Student Communicator of the Year.
I am honored to be recognized for something so important to me. I believe in strong, clear, honest communication, and I thank PRSA for the opportunity to talk with their group - some of our city’s strongest communicators - about the way we all engage in sharing our city’s narrative.
 When I took office as Mayor, I understood that transparent communication would be foundational to building trust and unity within our city. It has been my mission to ensure that we not only share information but also actively engage with the residents of Memphis and solicit our community’s input.
In 2024, along with my team, I hosted 30+ community and stakeholder meetings, put out 52 newsletters, participated in 20 podcasts, and did over 200 local and nine national interviews.
 I am proud of my communications team for their support, creativity, and dedication to ensuring that we communicate clearly. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to those of you who use your voices to speak up about the changes you hope to see in your city and those who eagerly share the positive storylines and don’t click on every negative headline.
Because the Memphis I know is rising. We are seeing it every day - crime is down, interest is up. We are moving forward. And it is going to take all of us talking to everyone else in our circles to really change the narrative. But the rise is happening.
Your stories and concerns have driven my every decision they have fueled our initiatives and filled our mission with purpose. And I want to ensure that your voices continue to shape the future of our city. I want us to continue this conversation for the next 3 years and then the next four after that.
 This award serves as a reminder of the power of communication - how it can forge connections and cultivate understanding. I believe we can achieve remarkable things when we are building together. (the name is fire!)
Thank you to PRSA Memphis for this incredible honor. I am excited about the road ahead and the opportunities that await us as a community as we continue to communicate the positive narrative of Memphis.
Community Opportunity
Join us as we learn to focus on the good! Thanks to a local Public Benefit Corporation born out of research at the UofM, there is now an app for that!
 Our brains naturally focus on the negative—an instinct that once helped our ancestors survive but now often holds us back from happiness. It’s also holding Memphis back.
What if you could focus more on the good in your life and help Memphis shine brighter at the same time?
With the free CuesHub app, you can feel good about yourself with uplifting personal stories, improve relationships with Partner Pulse, track and grow emotional resilience, and better manage daily stress.
By selecting Memphis as your city in the app, you’ll join The Pulse of Memphis—a collective movement to highlight our city’s positivity and uncover areas for growth, all while staying completely anonymous.
Help unlock the full dashboard with 1,000 active users and be part of a movement to reshape Memphis: https://www.cueshub.com/pulse/memphis.
With a more positive image of Memphis, we can bring more jobs, more opportunities, and more prosperity to our city. Join the movement today.
Download the CuesHub app from the App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1610373305) or Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cueshub).
Good News!
   Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov
Weekly Crime Trend
The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024.
 (We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.)
Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38109, 38111, 38112, 38119
Community Engagement:
DMC Event Grant Activation. Got a big idea for an event in Downtown Memphis? Applications for Activation & Event Grants are OPEN! The DMC’s Engage Downtown Grant offers funding for events/activations that recruit people into Downtown; utilize public, outdoor, or highly visible space; and provide unique or uniquely joyful experiences in Downtown Memphis. See more and apply here.
Blight Zero: Project Clean City Grant Program. If you are a small business or non-profit organization specializing in landscaping, hauling, or other general contracting services addressing blight, consider applying for the Blight Zero: Project Clean City Grant Program. Applications are available online now through January 31, 2025. See more and apply here.
Social and Community Shout-outs:
 State of the City. Everyone is welcomed, please join us as Mayor Paul A. Young, Council Chair Ford Canale, and Council Vice Chair Jana Swearengen-Washington deliver the State of the City Address and outline Memphis’ vision for the future. This Thursday, January 30 at 5:00pm. See more and share here.
Brooks Museum. Discover magic at the Brooks Museum with a day filled with thrilling performances, live music, hands-on art activities, and authentic cuisine! This family-friendly event is the perfect way to welcome the new year with joy, tradition, and community. See more and share here.
Artist Listening Session. Calling all artists and creatives! The second Artist Listening Session is almost here! Join us on Monday, Jan 27 from 5pm to 7pm for an opportunity to connect, share, and shape the future of Memphis’ creative economy. We’ll be discussing Market & Demand! See more and RSVP here.
Memphis public Libraries. Mystery, thriller, romance, fantasy, or historical fiction—no matter your favorite genre, there’s a book club waiting for you at Memphis Public Libraries! 📚 Join one or explore them all and connect with fellow book lovers. See more and share here.
🏠 Yesterday, 8 families got the keys to their new homes thanks to a partnership between the City of Memphis and Habitat for Humanity!
For over 40 years, Habitat has been building hope and opportunity in Memphis, creating more than 600 homes. Together, we’re working to make affordable housing a cornerstone of a stronger, safer, and better Memphis for all. 💙
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