Knights joust at the 2018 Mid-South Renaissance Faire, held at the USA Baseball Stadium and Park in Millington, Tennessee. (Ziggy Mack) <span class='image-credits'></span> Attendees of the "Great Heights: National Street and Beyond" photo exhibit hosted by High Ground News and Heights CDC. (Markus Mueller) <span class='image-credits'></span> Residents cross in front of the U.S. Post Office on National Street. (Ziggy Mack) <span class='image-credits'></span> Family plays at Tom Lee Park near the Mississippi River. <span class='image-credits'>Ziggy Mack</span> As part of the Brooks Outing project, artist Julien de Casabianca pasted "characters" from earlier artworks in suprising places across Memphis. This snippet of "Au pied de la falaise" can be seen on Crump Boulevard. (Ziggy Mack) <span class='image-credits'></span> Heights resident Ethel McBride drives to work in front of a community mural near Treadwell Elementary and Middle School grounds. <span class='image-credits'>Ziggy Mack</span> Members of the Real South Wrestling Federation demonstrate their skills to a packed house. <span class='image-credits'>Brandon Dahlberg</span> Explore Bike Share cyclists set out along Keel Avenue. <span class='image-credits'>Brandon Dahlberg</span> Tes Herman, left, and her cousin Leslie Herman look at a book of Freida Hamm paintings at Novel bookstore in East Memphis. <span class='image-credits'>Brandon Dill</span> Summer Avenue in September. <span class='image-credits'>Ziggy Mack</span> Construction takes place at the former Wonder Bread factory at 400 Monroe Avenue. (Brandon Dill) <span class='image-credits'></span> A nighttime view of the I Am A Man plaza outside of Clayborn Temple, near Downtown Memphis. <span class='image-credits'>Ziggy Mack</span>
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We believe that Memphis deserves sidewalk-level journalism that covers neighborhoods with nuance and centers the experience of residents. We seek to rebalance the news so that Memphians are exposed to stories that help them wrap around the city's challenges and better understand that there are people in every neighborhood across the city innovating for solutions.

Features

Feature StoryHigh Ground News Podcast Logo Community Development

On The Ground Podcast: Community development & journalism intersect, with Christina Crutchfield

Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Sometimes community journalism means staging an art gallery in a corner barbershop. In S1E1 of the On The Ground podcast, the High Ground News team speaks to the Heights CDC about a pop-up art gallery we hosted in the neighborhood. 
Feature StoryTea products packaged by Ele & Ivy Tea Company. Entrepreneurship

Black-owned business gift guide: Food, fitness and beauty

Brandi HunterWednesday, December 12, 2018
Want to shop local and support Black-owned businesses this holiday season? Check out part one of our Black-owned business gift guide covering the best in food, fitness and bath and beauty products.
Feature StoryNovel Unique provides custom jewelry and clothing

Black-owned business gift guide: Art, accessories and apparel

Brandi HunterWednesday, December 12, 2018
Want to shop local and support Black-owned businesses this holiday season? Check out part two of our Black-owned business gift guide covering the best in apparel, art and photography and jewelry and accessories. 
Feature StoryDr. Phil Baker, founder of Good Shepherd Pharmacy, poses for a photo at the nonprofit pharmacy. (submitted) Healthy Communities

Good Shepherd Pharmacy uses new technology to facilitate medication sharing across the U.S.

Kim and Jim ColemanWednesday, December 12, 2018
One month of oral chemotherapy can cost $40,000. Nonprofit Good Shepherd Pharmacy is partnering with University of Memphis, QSource, and Nashville's Lipscomb University to leverage new technology to help individuals safely share unused medication. 
Feature StoryLos estudiantes hablan y comen una merienda del mediodía. (Cole Bradley) Kids and Education

El Club de Niños y Niñas de Heights gana reconocimiento nacional y entrena a músicos de Memphis

Cole BradleyWednesday, December 12, 2018

The Heights ’Ira Samelson Jr. Club es el Club de Niños y Niñas con el mejor desempeño de la ciudad, y está recibiendo reconocimiento nacional por su personal dinámico y el estudio de música de vanguardia que está entrenando a la próxima generación de leyendas de la música de Memphis.

Feature StorySummer Avenue, cerca de National Street, ha sido un importante rincón para el comercio desde fines del siglo XIX. (Andrew Breig) Eonomic Development

Summer Avenue se renueva como distrito internacional

Cole BradleyWednesday, December 12, 2018
El tramo Heights-Berclair de Summer Avenue tiene solo tres millas de largo, pero representa a dueños de negocios de más de 30 países. Ahora está recibiendo el reconocimiento que merece con una campaña para calificarlo como el primer distrito internacional de Memphis.
Feature StoryShelby County Mayor Lee Harris high-fives Elmo at a December 4 press conference to announce a new partnership with Sesame Street in Communities. (Ziggy Mack) Kids and Education

Sesame Street partners with Memphis nonprofits to reduce childhood trauma, improve early education

Cole BradleyWednesday, December 05, 2018
Sesame Street is more than a show - it’s backed by a nonprofit that helps improve the lives of children around the world through early childhood education. It’s also Porter-Leath and ACE Awareness Foundation’s newest partner in the fight to reduce childhood trauma and improve early education in Memphis.
Feature StoryThe vacant barber shop at 769 National Street was topped with a sign made from repurposed Christmas lights and the boards that once shuttered the windows. (Markus Mueller) Community Development

Vacant barbershop reopens as space for art and community

Cole BradleyWednesday, December 05, 2018
In the 1930s a barbershop opened on National Street in The Heights. On November 29, it was activated as a venue for a High Ground News community photography exhibit. Now, Heights residents will decide how the space serves them in the future.
Feature StoryHusband and wife Nancy and Patricio Gonzalez carry equipment to the Gaisman Community Center at the end of game day. They are the directors and coaches of Illegal Arts Memphis soccer league. (Natalie Eddings) Community Development

What smart neighborhoods can learn from The Heights

Cole BradleyWednesday, December 05, 2018
Our four months of embedded coverage of The Heights area of Memphis is coming to a close. As we pick up the temporary office and move to the University District for our next On The Ground program, we're drawn to spotlight five aspects of The Heights that make it a dynamic place to live and work. 
Feature Storyfood this one Diversity

Video: A taste of the world from Summer Avenue

Wednesday, December 05, 2018
Join the High Ground News team and local writer Aylen Mercado for a tour of Summer Avenue restaurants and a look inside some hidden gems.   
Feature Storyfood this one Community Development

En video: Un sabor del mundo de Summer Avenue

Forever ReadyWednesday, November 28, 2018
The Heights y el vecino Berclair son destinos para una increíble comida internacional. Con solo un rápido viaje en carro por la avenida Summer Avenue, cualquier persona con hambre puede escoger que platos exclusivos de diferentes países quieran comer , no se necesita un boleto de avión.
Feature StoryJohn Young, a JIFF graduate and now full time employee for Sweet LaLa's, earned the nickname "Dr. Sprinkles". (Submitted) Entrepreneurship

Bakery that employs at-risk youth expands to East Memphis storefront

Kim and Jim ColemanWednesday, December 05, 2018
Since 2014, Sweet LaLa's bakery has employed youth leaving the juvenile justice system as part of a re-entry program. The bakery has grown substantially and is moving out of its South City commercial kitchen to a storefront in East Memphis. 
Feature StoryA view of the renovated Garden Flats apartment complex. (Submitted) Community Development

Turnaround tale: Memphis resident purchases and renovates run-down apartment building

Ashlei WilliamsWednesday, December 05, 2018
Kevin Crutcher took on a complicated real estate project in a disadvantaged neighborhood. Securing financing for the apartment renovation was a challenge that paid off as residents began moving into the building in October. 
Feature StoryJunior Challengers are seen participating in a team building activity at their November 2018 workshop centered around what it means to be politically engaged as a teen in their community. (Submitted) Kids and Education

Memphis Challenge celebrates 30 years of supporting students of color in Memphis

Kim and Jim ColemanWednesday, December 05, 2018

In 1989, AutoZone founder Pitt Hyde created a pipeline program to open up opportunities for talented students of color in Memphis. Fast forward three decades, the academic and leadership nonprofit celebrates its growth in reach, programming and talent retention with a jazz performance and master class.

Feature StoryA sign on Davis Circle in the Nutbush area of Memphis. The entrance to the landfill would be located at the end of this street. (Cole Bradley) Healthy Communities

Nutbush fights proposed landfill near homes, school and Wolf River

Cole BradleyThursday, November 29, 2018
A proposed landfill in Nutbush has residents rallying against what they say would be a blight on their community and a risk to Memphis' greatest natural asset — its water. 
Feature StoryBrooks Museum of Art (Submitted by POP) Sustainability

What’s the future of Overton Park? Memphians have their say in final public forum

Kim and Jim ColemanFriday, November 30, 2018
Memphis College of Art will be shuttering its main building, Rust Hall, in 2020 when the school closes its doors. The Brooks plans to relocate Downtown by 2024. Combined, the adjacent buildings offer 186,000 square feet of space, including gallery, classroom, food service, auditorium and event spaces.
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On the Ground:
The Heights

Read the latest in our embedded 16-week community reporting series on The Heights area of Memphis. If you are a resident, join us for a weekly community newsroom.

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