This conversation explores the importance of finding mentors, not pouring from an empty cup, and how to be both a champion in education and of education. Valen Warner (Memphis Literacy Institute; 2022 New Memphis Educator of Excellence) and Taylor Price (English and AP African American Studies Educator at East High School; 2024 New Memphis Educator of Excellence) share their experiences of continuing their education and creating pathways for mentorship.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Memphis Teacher Residency
• Memphis Literacy Institute
• S2E41 2022 Educator of Excellence: Valen Warner
• New Memphis Educator of Excellence
• New Memphis Stride
• New Memphis Teachers' Lounge
• Memphis Teacher Residency University
• National Board Certification
• Memphis Libraries

This episode was made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Vibrant communities are created through the "power of partnership." Hear how collaboration played a role in the creation (and approval!) of the Cleveland Street TIF with Todd Richardson ( Crosstown Concourse) and Andre Dean (Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church).

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Crosstown Concourse
• Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
• State of Tennessee Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Program and EDGE TIF program uses
• Crosstown Concourse directory
• The Mound
• Live Nation's music venue, Satellite Music Hall
• Daily Memphian article Inside Cleveland Street’s 30-year $338M blight fight
• Memphis Business Journal's article New incentive could bring about Cleveland St. development boom
• Memphis Business Journal article City Council committee approves $127 million development district
• S5E9 Meeting on Common Ground with Public Spaces
• S5E13 Planning for People and Places
• Crosstown Concourse history which includes other Sears & Roebuck distribution center redevelopments in Seattle (Starbucks Headquarters), Atlanta (Ponce City Market), and Minneapolis (Midtown Exchange).
• Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
• Crosstown Community Development Corporation (CDC)
• AAPI Heritage Month Memphis
• Uptown TIF
• Binghampton TIF
• Highland Ave. TIF
• Stax announces partnership for apprenticeship program at Satellite Music Hall groundbreaking
• Asian Night Market

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Explore how Memphis strategically blends economic development with the city's rich creative landscape to lay the foundation for long-term success. With the City's freshly creative Office of Creative and Cultural Economy (the fist of its kind in the city!) Memphis is modeling best practices got how a community can be intentional about investing in its artists, its institutions, and its future workforce.

This episode features live audio from Celebrate What's Right: Growing the Creative Economy which took place on April 8, 2025, and features panelists: DeMarcus Suggs (City of Memphis), Carissa Hussong (Metal Museum), Kid Maestro (UNAPOLOGETIC.), Rachel Knox (Hyde Family Foundation), and Derek Patterson (Contemporary Arts Memphis).

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• ARTSMemphis calendar
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
• Kroger
• City Leadership
• City of Memphis' Office of Creative Cultural Economy
• Hyde Family Foundation
• Unapologetic.
• Kid Maestro
• Contemporary Arts Memphis (CAM)
• Metal Museum
• Cxffeeblack
• Memphis Music Initiative
• Collage Dance Collective
• Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre
• The Brooks Museum
• Sheet Cake Gallery
• Guns to Gardens
• Moore Tech
• Memphis Culture Coalition

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Great cities deserve great city plans, and Memphis 3.0 (the city's first comprehensive plan in 40 years!) is the product of research, partnership, and citywide passion. John Zeanah (Division of Planning and Development) and Christina Edingbourgh (City of Memphis) share the nuances of the plan, the importance of on-going collaboration, and why everyone has a part to play in the city's future.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Memphis 3.0
• About Memphis 3.0 (includes glossary or terms, FAQs and more)
• Memphis 3.0 Instagram
• Previous conversations that cover the topic of city and regional planning include S5E13 and S5E4
• City of Memphis Regional and
• Department of City and Regional Planning at University of Memphis
• Memphis 3.0 District Map
• Memphis 3.0 Data Dashboard
• City of Memphis Department of Buildings and Zoning
• Shelby County Government Land Use Control Board
• 5-year update of Memphis 3.0\
• City of Memphis Office of Community Affairs
• The Division of Housing & Community Development for City of Memphis

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

"That is what records are, they are just evidence or proof that someone was here, that they had a statement, and that they left a mark on this world."

Curious about the journey of Crosstown Concourse's radio station? Dive into the vision of the founders Jared "JayB" Boyd and Robby Grant, the history of the station, and learn what role dialogue plays within that rich history. NOTE: This episode originally aired in October 2024.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• WYXR
• "Meanwhile in Memphis" on WYXR
• Crosstown Arts
• WFMU from New York
• WWOZ from New Orleans
• The Daily Memphian
• Beale Street Caravan
• The University of Memphis' The ROAR
• WYXR = The Reimagined WUMR
• Crosstown Concourse
• Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell"
• New Memphis Embark
• New Memphis Events
• The Link Up Memphis
• TEDxMemphis
• DJ Spanish Fly
• The Black Keys
• Raised By Sound Fest
• Power the progress of New Memphis and WYXR

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

City and regional planning is about more than getting people from Point A to Point B. These community plans become the neighborhoods and physical spaces that communities inhabit to live, work, play, learn, and thrive. Hear about the importance of collaboration in city planning from Dr. Charlie Santo (University of Memphis) and Rory Thomas (Memphis Medical District Collaborative).

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Memphis Medical District Collaborative
• Department of City and Regional Planning at University of Memphis
• Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
• Previous episodes that cover topics mentioned in this episode include this and this
• Neighborhoods represented in the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC)
• The Heights CDC
• Memphis Slim House
• South Memphis Farmers Market
• Hard Times Deli
• Memphis Medical District Park
• The Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association.
• ULI Memphis Tommy Pacello Award

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

It’s often said that the “magic” of Memphis comes from its people. In this conversation, learn how an innovative organization (UMRF Ventures) is implementing a unique business model with unique solutions for building a talent pipeline: helping students build professional skills to kick-start careers by employing them before they graduate. UMRF Ventures CEO, Pierre Landaiche, and student employee, Marcus Jordan, share how this dynamic model is engaging students and companies to build — and keep — experienced professionals in Memphis.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• UMRF Ventures
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• University of Memphis
• Renasant Convention Center
• Memphis Sports Hall of Fame
• The University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF)

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

"You can complain about what you don't have or you can build what you want. If we want a prosperous Memphis, we can't expect anyone to give it to us. It is something that we have to work, spend our own blood, sweat, and tears to build. Whether it's a business, your career, or anything -- you can complain about it or you can build it." -- Alan Gumbel, COO of The Black Chamber of Memphis

Each Spring, Memphis spotlights some of the most celebrated restaurants in the city during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. This signature, week-long event shines a light on some of the most significant contributors to Memphis culture and to the local economy. This showcase was spearheaded by Cynthia Daniels, a local leader in the entertainment scene. Today, we’re revisiting a conversation about the impact of the work with Cynthia Daniels, and Chief Operating Officer of the Black Chamber of Memphis Alan Gumbel.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Black Chamber of Memphis (formerly known as the Black Business Association)
• Cynthia Daniels and Co.
• Delta Regional Authority
• Memphis Black Restaurant Week (celebrating 10 years in 2025)
• Cynthia Daniels and Co. signature events
• Soulful Food Truck Festival
• Memphis Vegan Festival
• Epicenter Memphis
• India Festival
• Greek Festival
• Italian Fest
• The Office of Business Diversity and Compliance
• TN Small Business Development Center
• Black Chamber of Memphis programming
• Black Business Association Switches to Chamber of Commerce Model via The Memphis Flyer
• Black Chamber of Memphis Instagram
• Cynthia Daniels and Co. Instagram
• Mahogany River Terrace on Mud Island
• Oteka Technologies
• The Frosted Oven
• Alcenia's
• Brother Juniper's
• Interstate Barbecue
• Neely's Interstate Bar-B-Que

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.