Stories

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Neighborhood journalists wanted

Jared Myers with Heights CDC joins the High Ground team to discuss our new Community Contributor program, which aims to attract and train residents as neighborhood-based freelance reporters. 

Feature Story (L to R) Hickory Hill Community Center's assistant director, Danae Lawrence, her daughter and center volunteer, Mya Brady, and center director, Adrianna Moore pose in the center's lobby. (A.J. Dugger III)

Hickory Hill Community Center is high-energy heartbeat of the neighborhood

The Hickory Hill Community Center is more than just a gym. It's a center of community with an indoor pool, line dancing for seniors, cooking classes and much more. 

Feature Story Voting location at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church at 70 N. Bellevue Blvd. (Daily Memphian)

BLDG Memphis issues housing and transit survey to Memphis mayoral, city council candidates

BLDG Memphis has issued a questionnaire to all 64 Memphis mayoral and city council candidates to see where they stand on two key issues: affordable housing and safe and efficient transportation.

Feature Story Residents of Madison Heights enjoy food from neighborhood restaurants while the Mighty Souls Brass Band plays an upbeat jazz number. (Ziggy Mack)

Sidewalks, lemonade and lot parties: What we learned in Madison Heights

Madison Heights was our 11th On the Ground neighborhood but still a neighborhood of firsts for our team. Check out what we learned as we say "see you later" to this unique community.

Feature Story The second line parade through the streets of Madison Heights was lead by the Mighty Souls Brass Band. (Ziggy Mack)

Video: Celebrating Madison Heights

On August 28, High Ground helped throw a parking lot party and second line parade celebrating Madison Heights and the debut of the Rain or Shine umbrella-share system. Watch the video here.

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Teach for America and why we love Treadwell Elementary

Chris Coleman and Bianca Delgado with Teach for America discuss how TFA is training educators and education advocates across the country and gush with High Ground's Cole Bradley over Treadwell Elementary in Memphis.

Feature Story Current and prospective minority entrepreneurs, small-business owners and others gathered for an Epicenter Think Tank event for innovative thinking . (Epicenter)

Epicenter's minority business strategy gets $450,000 boost

There are 39,800 Black-owned businesses in Memphis but only 800 have at least one employee. Epicenter and its partners are working to shift that stat, and a $450,000 grant from the Kaufman Foundation will support the work.

Feature Story Krosstown Kleaners ended operations roughly five years ago, but its iconic signage still adorn the building's exterior at 1400 Madison Avenue. (AJ Dugger III)

Iconic Krosstown Kleaners has potential new owner

The owner of Krosstown Kleaners accepted an offer from a potential buyer. The 109-year-old building may see new life soon, but will it keep its iconic marquee and “Jesus is Lord” sign that have blessed Madison Avenue for decades?

Feature Story Joyce Cox was named the newest Neighborhood USA board member in May 2019. She and board member Ian Randolph are the only two board members from Memphis. (Joyce Cox)

Memphis' Joyce Cox elected to board of Neighborhoods USA

Joyce Cox has made a career of supporting Memphis' neighborhoods. As a newly-elected board member for Neighborhoods USA, the community engagement manager for HCD expands her role as an advocate for Memphis.  

Feature Story Members of the Creatives in Research team assemble tubing that will become 35 umbrella stands strategically placed throughout Madison Heights. (Wonder / Cowork / Create)

Medical District umbrella-share project debuts as usable public art for all

A new public art project is debuting August 28, but it’s far from the typical mural or sculpture. Rain or Shine is usable art inspired by three months of community listening to ensure it truly serves a diverse public.

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Rain or Shine umbrella-share is usable public art for all

Rain or Shine is part public art, part community service. It debuts August 28 in Madison Heights. Cat Pena and Stacey Early reflect on the months of community listening that led their team to umbrellas as a way to serve all of the neighborhood's diverse people and needs.

Feature Story A shop reaches for an item off a top shelf at the Viet Hoa Food Market in Madison Heights. (High Ground News)

Viet Hoa Food Market is one-stop shop for multicultural culinary needs

A staple of Cleveland Street, the Viet Hoa Food Market is a go-to for Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian culinary and cultural goods. It's also part of a hub for Memphis' Vietnamese community centered in Madison Heights.

Feature Story Comedians Anaisha Robinson (L), known as Tootie 2Times to fans, and Latoya Polk, pose for a photo before taking the stage at the Laughter for the Heart comedy show benefiting Hearts of Hickory Hill. (Anaisha Robinson)

Hickory Hill comedy show brought laughs, raised dollars for community

On August 13, the Laughter for the Heart comedy show brought some of Memphis biggest names in local comedy to Hickory Hill to raise money for a new nonprofit investing in the neighborhood. 

Feature Story Victoria Young, pictured, opened Spincult at 700 Madison Avenue in August 2018. The indoor fitness studio offers a variety of options for cycling devotees. (Spincult)

Spincult fuses cycling and community in Medical District

One year after opening, this boutique fitness studio has become a collaborative space offering a unique indoor biking experience in The Edge. 

Feature Story Aylah Sanders participates in a tennis skills drill during Tennis Memphis' Family Play Day, held on August 3 at the city’s municipal tennis centers. (Tennis Memphis)

Tennis, everyone?

Memphis loves basketball, but could tennis be a new favorite sport in Tiger Town? Tennis Memphis and the City of Memphis are investing in tennis to make the sport more accessible and relatable for youth across the city.    

Feature Story podcast

Podcast: Play Where You Stay is soccer made equitable

Ellen Roberds and Nibaruta Fidel with Play Where You Stay talk soccer, competition and how to make the game fun and accessible for all kids in any neighborhood, regardless of financial need.

Feature Story Al Harville (L) and Allison Hancock work together to finalize the design and layout on a client's order. (AJ Dugger III)

One of the city's last locally-owned print shops thrives in the University District

For 13 years Minuteman Press has served a diverse set of local clients from its shop at Poplar and Highland. From books for the local Hindu temple to funeral programs, a typical day is anything but at Minuteman.

Feature Story Wise Tardezia performs a single blade razor shave and towel facial treatment on Pedro Bateman at Presidential Barber Lounge in Madison Heights. (Ziggy Mack)

Meet the locals serving looks on Madison Avenue

One three-block stretch of Madison Avenue is home to more than half a dozen locally hair and beauty businesses. Check out this Memphis hair hub and meet the people keeping Memphis looking fresh.

Feature Story A. J. Dugger III (L) interviews Marvin Frazier, son of heavyweight champion Smokin Joe Frazier. (A.J. Dugger III)

Meet High Ground's new lead writer

High Ground's new On the Ground lead writer, A.J. Dugger III, is coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Meet him here first.

Feature Story Two kindergarten students introduce their class song to the audience of Treadwell Elementary School as part of a Hispanic History Month celebration. (Renier Otto)

Policy Report: The ABCs of school vouchers and what it means for Memphis

In Policy Report, analyst Shirley Bondon dives into new and proposed policies and programs impacting Memphis neighborhoods. Kicking off the series, Bondon breaks down Tennessee’s new school voucher program.