Stories

Feature Story Emily Chambers provided music for the Taste of the District event held on Monday, October 7. (Kim and Jim Coleman)

Medical District's biggest institutions eat local with Taste of the District

Taste of the District featured fare from 19 restaurants in the Medical District. The goals was to wow the guests, who represented the district's major hospitals and colleges, with new local choices for food vendors and caterers. 

Feature Story A mural in the Glenview Historic District encourages Memphians to vote. (Andrea Morales)

Meet the Voters, Part II: Election Day

During early voting, MLK50 and High Ground News teamed up to pair striking portraits of Memphians with reflections on why they vote and what's at stake. On Election Day, we were on the ground again.

Feature Story Youth pose for a picture at the Hero Empowerment Center. The center was formally an old arcade that Heal the Hood Foundation transformed into a teen center. (Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis)

Heal the Hood Foundation helps kids and creativity grow in Hickory Hill

Heal The Hood Foundation of Memphis is located in Hickory Hill and offers a host of  programs and events for youth in the neighborhood including mentoring, basketball, music, film, martial arts and more.

Feature Story L to R:  Carbibbean Flayvahz Owners Louis and Carla Faulkner and Chef Robert Coleman are the team behind Caribbean Flayvahz in Hickory Hill. (AJ Dugger III)

A Taste of the Caribbean in Hickory Hill

Memphians don't have to leave the country to get a taste of the Caribbean. Just have a seat at a new Caribbean Flayvahz restaurant in Hickory Hill. The chefs will take care of the rest.

Feature Story Alandria Ivory, a campaign worker for Memphis for All, takes a break during an early voting event at Glenview Community Center. (Andrea Morales)

Meet the Voters

MLK50 and High Ground News teamed up to pair striking portraits of Memphis voters with their reflections on what motivates them to vote and what’s at stake for them, their families and communities come Oct. 3.  

Feature Story Frayser Local Arts Festival organizer Lurlynn Franklin stands next to two of five 'Welcome to Frayser' paintings. She designed the signs as paint-by-numbers and more than 700 Frayser residents had a hand in filling them in. (Arkwings Foundation)

Frayser Local Arts Festival is where to be this weekend

The Arkwings Foundation is hosting its first Frayser Local Arts Festival on October 5. The event features over 100 artists, live performances, demonstrations, exhibits and local food, art and products for purchase.

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Summer Avenue brands itself as the Nation's Highway

Meghan Medford and Mirna Garcia from the Summer Avenue Merchant's Association talk about the new international flags on Summer and dive into SAMA's efforts to remove blight, reduce crime and make Summer a destination for dining and shopping.  

Feature Story Salon professionals participated in the first Memphis Cut it Out program on September 23 where they learned to identify signs of domestic violence among clients. The classes are free of charge. (Memphis CUT IT OUT)

Memphis beauty industry professionals learn to cut out domestic violence

The Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center is helping beauty industry professionals recognize when their clients are experiencing domestic abuse and how to help.

Feature Story Instructor Roxie Jones leads an energetic group of line dancers at the Hickory Hill Community Center's senior line dancing class. (AJ Dugger III)

Seniors feel the groove at Hickory Hill Community Center

Groove is in the air three times a week at the Hickory Hill Community Center's senior line dancing class. The classes are free and led by former Grizzlies Granny, Roxie A. Jones. 

Feature Story Chef Lee Phillips preps a pound cake for the oven. (Cat Evans)

Taking the cake with A Peace O' Cake

Lee Phillips has turned a hobby into a steady side business in Hickory Hill. With A Peace O' Cake, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Feature Story The new Power Center Academy Elementary School serves grades K-5 from the Mendenhall Square Shopping Center. (Gestalt Community Schools)

Gestalt expands charter schools efforts in Hickory Hill

With this month's launch of the new Power Center Academy Elementary School and 9th Grade Academy, Gestalt's charter school network now serves grades K-12 in Hickory Hill. Their next steps include a preschool, a grocery store, restaurants and more.

Feature Story Stacy Bizzard (L) and her mother, Bonnie Harris, are co-owners of Ms. B's Sub Shop. They pose here in front of a wall of photos of satisfied customers. (Ziggy Mack)

Memphis sandwich legend Bonnie Harris finally has her own shop

You may not know her name, but you know her legendary sandwiches. After 43 years, the secret behind Chinese Sub Shop's success final has her own shop. 

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: As elections loom, BLDG Memphis asks candidates critical questions

John Paul Shaffer with BLDG Memphis and Greg Love with The Works Inc. discuss BLDG Memphis' survey of Memphis mayoral and city council candidates, the biggest issues facing Memphis' neighborhoods and the importance of responsible and responsive policy.  

Feature Story Phase two of the South City housing development under construction. (Cole Bradley)

As residents return, South City looks to bring business back

As residents begin moving into South City, the area's stakeholders are intensifying their focus on bringing businesses back to the neighborhood.

Feature Story Donte Davis works on a section of the You's Grocery mural depicting store owner Ae An Sartain as a child when her father first opened the store. The artists based the mural on Sartain's memories and neighborhood history. (A.J. Dugger)

Neighborhood groups take the reins in new public art initiative

UrbanArt Commission has chosen four neighborhood groups to create public art that supports their existing work. In Binghampton, the teens of Carpenter Art Garden are turning creative expression into a potential profession.

Feature Story A mural still marks the location of the Washington Bottoms Community Park and Garden at the corner of North Watkins and Court streets. (Ziggy Mack)

For sale ... again: The saga of Washington Bottoms

Where Midtown and the Medical District meet sits roughly 20 acres of vacant land. It's changed hands repeatedly along with promises and rumors for development, like the fabled Midtown Target. Now it's up for sale again.

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Safety and self-care with the YWCA and Total Woman Summit

Marquiepta Odom with the YWCA of Greater Memphis and Sherica Hymes, founder of Total Woman Summit, discuss this year's summit on September 28, the YWCA's work to support families fleeing domestic violence and how the summit and YWCA are working separately and together to empower women to put themselves first.

Feature Story Inés Negrette (R), founder and director of CasaLuz, tables an event at Gaisman Park and Community Center as part of CasaLuz's outreach and awareness work. (CasaLuz)

CasaLuz fights domestic violence, supports Spanish-speaking victims in Memphis

CasaLuz is on a mission to reduce domestic violence among Memphis' Spanish-speaking communities through advocacy, legal help, education and victim support.

Feature Story Fifth-grade scholars cheer on K-2 scholars as they head into their Friday Community Meeting. Gonzalo Munguia Lopez Jr. (center, left) and Yoselin Garcia (center, right) share an excited smile. (Cat Evans)

Hidden Stars: Meet the top-performing charter school you've likely never heard of

Aurora Collegiate Academy is a K-5 neighborhood school. Most of its students are Latinx and low-income. It's also Shelby County School's top-performing elementary charter school with a strategy for success that includes students, faculty and families.

Feature Story Tre Young plays Pokemon Go on the sidewalk near World Overcomers Church at 6655 Winchester Road. Behind him stands the church's Statue of Liberation through Christ. (Ziggy Mack)

Photos: Welcome to Hickory Hill

We're kicking off our On the Ground coverage in Hickory Hill with a tour of the neighborhood through the lens of photographer ZIggy Mack.