Uptown & The Pinch

Uptown and The Pinch got their start in the mid-1800s as Memphis' first planned subdivision and business district. From the beginning, they were uniquely diverse, with dozens of different nationalities, religions, races, and incomes levels mingled in just a few square miles. Heavy disinvestment starting in the 1970s left the neighborhood virtually gutted, but efforts in the early 2000s brought reinvestment and new possibility. Today the legacy of historic Uptown-Pinch continues as the community works towards a multicultural, mixed-income, mixed-use revitalization.

High Ground embedded our On the Ground team in Uptown-Pinch from April through July 2018. 

Feature Story Improvements to Morris Park were underway in January 2022. (Shelia Williams) Community Development

Morris Park renovations underway, opening expected summer 2022

Tafui OwusuFriday, February 18, 2022
Feature Story (Wikimedia Commons) Kids and Education

As students prepare to return to classrooms, North Memphis teachers and families reflect

Jolie ShawThursday, February 25, 2021
Feature Story cozycorner1.png Entrepreneurship

Video: Barbecue and bouncing back with Cozy Corner

Cole BradleyThursday, February 11, 2021
Feature Story Archie "A.W." Willis, Jr. stands at center. Seated are members of the Memphis State Eight. These students were the first to integrate what is now the University of Memphis. Arts and Culture

Black Memphis, Black History: The legacy of A.W. Willis

Chris JonesThursday, February 11, 2021
Feature Story Starkisha James, 32, is a teacher at Newberry Elementary. (Shelia Williams) Healthy Communities

Back to School: A Memphis teacher shares her worries and bright spots

Tafui OwusuThursday, December 3, 2020
Feature Story Geraldine Williams, 63, sits on her porch in North Memphis. Williams is a bus driver Durham School Services who says she'll be back in the driver's seat as soon as she can. (Shelia Williams) Healthy Communities

Back to School: A Memphis bus driver shares her struggles and fears

Tafui OwusuWednesday, December 2, 2020
Feature Story Crab legs with Drop Sauce is a best-seller at Straight Drop Seafood in North Memphis. (Straight Drop Seafood) Entrepreneurship

New Straight Drop Seafood is the right thing to crave

Tamara CunninghamThursday, November 26, 2020
Feature Story Lance Banks is a first grader at Perea Elementary School in North Memphis. (Submitted) Kids and Education

Kids speak on life and learning in the pandemic

Brandis LeveretteWednesday, November 11, 2020
Feature Story Derotha Payne-Obie mounts a recently completed puzzle at her dining room table. Prior to the pandemic, she attended the Lewis Senior Center. It closed in March under local and state mandates. (Tamara Cunningham) Healthy Communities

For senior citizens, the virus isn't the only pandemic danger. Isolation can be deadly.

Tamara CunninghamWednesday, September 16, 2020
Feature Story Memphis jooker Ryan Haskett dances for onlookers Arts and Culture

In Photos: The Last of Our Neighborhoods Revisited

Cole BradleyFriday, September 4, 2020
Feature Story Brandis Leverette, one of five High Ground News North Memphis Community Correspondents. (Cole Bradley) Arts and Culture

Memphis' Newest Reporters: Meet Community Correspondent Brandis Leverette

Cole BradleyThursday, August 13, 2020
Feature Story Shelia Williams, a 2020 Bickford-Bearwater High Ground News Community Correspondent. (Cole Bradley) Arts and Culture

Memphis' Newest Reporters: Meet Community Correspondent Shelia Williams

Cole BradleyThursday, July 30, 2020
Feature Story Jolie Shaw, a 2020 Bickford-Bearwater High Ground News Community Correspondent. (Cole Bradley) Arts and Culture

Memphis' Newest Reporters: Meet Community Correspondent Jolie Shaw

Cole BradleyThursday, July 30, 2020
Feature Story The Bickford-Bearwater Community Correspondents attended their first class on January 11. They're training to become community-based journalists for North Memphis. The class is held in the AngelStreet choir room at Oasis of Hope's Bickford center. Arts and Culture

High Ground trains North Memphis residents in community-based journalism

Cole BradleyFriday, July 17, 2020
Feature Story A sign on the door of Miss Girlee’s Soul Food Restaurant in North Memphis announces its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ashley Davis) Healthy Communities

In food deserts, COVID-related restaurant closures are especially devastating.

Ashley DavisThursday, March 26, 2020
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Authors

Read more articles by Andy Meek.

Read more articles by Brandon Dahlberg.

Brandon Dahlberg is a documentary photographer based in Memphis. A lifelong resident of the city, he earned his B.A. in English and M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis. He has worked as a photographer in various capacities throughout the city, and loves telling visual stories.  

Read more articles by Cole Bradley.

Cole Bradley is a native Memphian and graduate of the University of Memphis. Cole's worked locally as a researcher and community engagement strategist and began contributing to High Ground in Jan 2017. 

Read more articles by Forever Ready.

Forever Ready Productions is based in Memphis. It specializes in fast paced, timely content for non profits, small businesses and start-ups. The production company's founder, Lauren Squires Ready, has more than a decade of award-winning video journalism experience and uses that skill to help create an impact narrative for any mission driven organization. Visit www.foreverreadyllc.com for more information.    

Read more articles by Kim and Jim Coleman.

Kim Coleman is a journalist with over 20 years of experience in newsrooms as a reporter, editor and graphic designer, including ten years with The Commercial Appeal as Design Director/Senior Editor and Print Planning Editor. 

 

Jim Coleman is a freelance writer, covering a variety of topics from high school sports, community news and small business. He has written for different news organizations over the past 20 years, including The Commercial Appeal, Community Weeklies, Lexington Herald-Leader and The Albuquerque Journal.

Read more articles by Tamara Williamson.

Tamara is a native Memphian and has a B.A. and M.A. from UT Knoxville. She has previously written guest posts for I Love Memphis blog. 
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