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This past weekend, more than 50 churches across Memphis came together for a powerful round of Own Your Block – neighbors uniting to clean streets, clear lots, and reclaim corners of our city for beauty and community pride. It was another reminder that when we take responsibility for the places we call home, Memphis rises together. And when neighbors roll up their sleeves together, they don’t just clean blocks, they build hope.
Tackling Blight Head-On - We Began Day One. Our fight against blight did not begin yesterday. From the very first weeks of this administration, we made it a priority. One of the earliest steps we took was asking our teams to drive across the city and collect every discarded street-closure sign, barricade, and roadwork apparatus that had been left behind to clutter our neighborhoods. These forgotten pieces of equipment weren’t just debris—they were symbols of neglect. Removing them sent a clear message: in our Memphis, no detail is too small when it comes to dignity and pride in our city.
“When neighbors roll up their sleeves together, they don’t just clean blocks, they build hope."
What started as that one-time city-wide pickup has since grown into an organized unit we now call the Blight-Strike Team—dedicated crews who are out every week picking up bulk trash, cleaning illegal dumping sites, and restoring order to our streets. Every truck we send out, every block we clear, is a signal that Memphis will not be defined by neglect, but by pride.
Building a Structure & Strategy for Change. That early momentum led to long-term strategy. We created the Community Enhancement Division, focused solely on blight removal and neighborhood pride. We also launched a 10-zone street cleaning and repair strategy to make sure no part of our city is overlooked, from North Memphis to Whitehaven, from Frayser to Orange Mound.
Smarter Systems, Stronger Service. Blight is about what you see—but just as important, it’s about how long you see it. A mattress on the curb, a pile of tires, an overgrown lot—left too long, they drain pride from a neighborhood. That’s why we’ve partnered with FedEx to reimagine our 311 system, making it faster and more reliable.
"Every time we pick up litter, mow down overgrowth, or repaint a block, we are not just fighting blight; we are raising hope."
Now, when Memphians report a problem, they can count on a quicker response and better accountability. Because every day a problem sits, it grows, but when we act fast, hope rises just as quickly.
A More Beautiful Memphis Is a More Powerful Memphis. Every time we pick up litter, mow down overgrowth, or repaint a block, we are not just fighting blight; we are raising hope. A cleaner Memphis is a stronger Memphis. A more beautiful Memphis is a more powerful Memphis.
This is what it means to live in our Era of Yes: saying yes to neighborhoods that reflect our pride, yes to streets that inspire confidence, and yes to a future where hope rises block by block. Blight is temporary. Pride is permanent. And Memphis chooses pride.
Together, we are proving that when Memphis cleans, Memphis rises.
 Check out our Own Your Block social post (like and share) and the full year-two video here.
In the know. We’ve launched a webpage to keep you updated on the federal and state action to support Memphis’ public safety efforts — visit memphistn.gov/safeandclean to learn more.
Good News!
   Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov
Track Our Progress
The linked reports below provide evidence to support our public safety strategy and our work to ensure municipal fiscal responsibility. These dashboard provides a quick overview, with the ability to dive in deeper to neighborhoods and divisions. Both dashboards updates daily.
 SAFER COMMUNITIES: For more info on how to use the safer communities dashboard, go here. Or for the whole dashboard, go here. FINANCE TRACKER: For more info on how to use the finance tracker dashboard, go here, then follow the prompts to the tracker.
Our Blight Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38107, 38108, 38109, 38126.
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
Want to know what's happening in Memphis? Explore these event calendars to stay in the loop on all the city has to offer!
Memphis Public Libraries
Memphis Parks
Memphis Travel
Arts Memphis
Choose901
I love Memphis
Our Era of Yes Town Hall: Oakhaven. Join us for an important community conversation on Tuesday, September 30, at The Healing Center, 3885 Tchulahoma Rd. The Resource Hub opens at 5pm, followed by a Q&A with Mayor Young at 6pm. See more and share here.
Own Your Block:
Memphis is stronger when neighbors stand together.
Through Own Your Block, we're empowering residents to take pride in their streets, strengthen connections, and build safer, cleaner, and more vibrant communities.
This is more than a program-it's a movement led by YOU!
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