Vintage901® Hosts 8th Annual Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival

Vintage901® Hosts 8th Annual Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival

(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – February 22, 2024) Vintage901® will host its 8th Annual Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21.

The festival consists of two events:

  • The Grand Tasting: Saturday, April 20, 6–9 p.m. at The Medicine Factory, 85 W. Virginia Ave.
  • The Sparkling Brunch: Sunday, April 21, noon–2 p.m. at the FedEx Event Center, 415 Great View Dr. East, Suite 103, in Shelby Farms.

The Grand Tasting, Vintage901’s flagship event, will feature an array of wine vendors from numerous Old World and New World wine producers and a series of classes curated for guests to learn about wine and food pairings. Guests will also have an opportunity to talk directly with wine and food professionals. Chef demonstrations and Memphis music will be part of this event.

Sommelier Laurie Forster will host a VIP reception during The Grand Tasting for VIP guests. She is the author of the award-winning book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine. VIP guests will also receive a signature cocktail and wines, swag bags with a wineyard and a pairings tutorial.

The Sparkling Brunch, a relaxing, laid-back event for the weekend, will feature wines paired with delectable culinary dishes. Sommelier Laurie Forster will serve as the host.

“We’re excited to work with wine expert Laurie Forster and our sponsors and partners to provide a unique food and wine experience for our guests,” said Stephanie Ferreira, founder and CEO of Vintage901. “We look forward to bringing our community another wine and food event that combines education, culture and fun with a purpose.”

Early bird tickets are available until March 15. Proceeds will go to the Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship to support students seeking careers in the culinary arts, oenology and viticulture.

Tickets for the Vintage901 8th Annual Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival can be purchased at www.vintage901.org/events.

About Vintage901:

Vintage901 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment and engagement with their community. Vintage901 hosts thoughtfully curated events that blend classic and modern culinary experiences and appeal to the connoisseur and the curious. Its largest event is a two-day Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival. To learn more, visit www.vintage901.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from Vintage901, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Legally Blind Author, Screenwriter, Actress and Model Tarris Marie Releases Debut Novel Blaque Pearle

Legally Blind Author, Screenwriter, Actress and Model Tarris Marie Releases Debut Novel Blaque Pearle

(HOUSTON, Texas – February 7, 2024) After losing her central vision and her six-figure career, Tarris Marie decided to make a pivot in her career and hone in on her passions as an author, screenwriter, actress and model.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Marie worked for 15 years in corporate America before she was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a genetic condition that caused her to become legally blind. Not long after her diagnosis, she lost her job.

“After becoming legally blind and jobless, I was at the lowest place of my life,” said Marie. “While I was depressed and lying on my bathroom floor, God said to me, ‘Get up and write a book.’ On Juneteenth 2020, I started writing and haven’t stopped since.”

Having written four books so far, Marie crafts strong but flawed female characters as a means for self-healing and inspiring others. Marie’s debut novel Blaque Pearle tells the story of an aspiring actress from Compton named Pearle Monalise Brown who resorts to her beauty and acting skills to swindle money and expensive jewels. She meets a handsome gentleman named Blaque, and together they become passionately entangled in a whirlwind romance as they try to outsmart their enemies.

Blaque Pearle is a riveting page-turner, fueled by complex characters, erotic energy, and high-stakes action. I couldn’t put it down,” said Tanisha C. Ford, author of Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion. “Tarris Marie is a fresh voice on the literary scene who is reimagining the urban crime and suspense genres. I’m excited to see what she writes next. She’s definitely one to watch.”

Marie hopes to take readers on a captivating adventure in Blaque Pearle, and she hopes her real-life triumphant testimony encourages others to follow their dreams.

“Whether it is through writing or acting, I use my characters and storytelling as a means for self-healing and to be an inspiration to others,” said Marie. “I hope that my story and books inspire other women to overcome their adversities and pursue their passions.”

Blaque Pearle is available in paperback, Kindle and Audible on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

To learn more about Tarris Marie and Blaque Pearle, visit www.tarrismarie.com.

About Tarris Marie:

Tarris Marie is proudly a Midwestern girl of the ’90s, born and raised in Gary, Indiana. After 15 years in corporate America, Tarris lost her central vision and eventually her six-figure career in a battle with Stargardt disease, a genetic condition that caused her legal blindness. In addition to being a novelist, Tarris is a screenwriter and actress who uses slivers of her life-experienced pie to create vivid characters and roller coaster journeys to inspire and entertain others. Tarris received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and business administration from Indiana University, where she also became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Marie currently resides in the great city of starships known as Houston, Texas, with her husband and two children. For more information, visit www.tarrismarie.com, or connect with the author on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @tarrismarie.

For more information or if you would like to interview Tarris Marie, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Latest Poll Shows Crime is Primary Concern, Strong Support For Law Enforcement and for Hiring More Police Officers, but Police Job Rating Slips

Latest Poll Shows Crime is Primary Concern, Strong Support For Law Enforcement and for Hiring More Police Officers, but Police Job Rating Slips

(Memphis, TN – January 31, 2024) The latest countywide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission shows that voters continue to express a high degree of respect for police officers (93%). Voters would like a stronger police presence in their neighborhoods (75%), and overwhelmingly endorse hiring more police officers (84%).

However, the job rating for local police officers has declined significantly since the last Crime Commission poll in 2021. Countywide, 51% of respondents gave local police an excellent or good rating while 47% gave them a fair/poor rating. In Memphis, just 41% of respondents gave police an excellent/good rating while 69% of the rest of the county give local police an excellent/good rating.

The poll, conducted January 9–11, 2024, included 400 registered voters, with 253 from Memphis. The racial breakdown was 60% African-American, 31% white, and 8% other in the city of Memphis. Countywide, the racial breakdown was 47% white, 47% African-American, and 6% other. The gender breakdown was about the same (58% female and 42% male countywide, and 60% female and 40% male for Memphis). Age ranges included 44% between 18–44, 32% between 45–64 and 24% 65 plus.

Among all demographic groups in Memphis and Shelby County, crime ranks as the highest priority (57%). When asked what specific crime issue was the most important to focus on, gun violence ranked first (38%.), and juvenile crime ranked second (22%).

Perception of the criminal justice system as too lenient was high among every subgroup. For the adult criminal justice system, 64% of white respondents and 50% of African-American respondents felt the system was too lenient. For juveniles, 64% of African-Americans and 62% of white respondents felt the system was too lenient.

In a near consensus across all subgroups, an overwhelming 87% of respondents support changing state law to require that serious juvenile offenders receive supervision, treatment, and rehabilitation beyond the current 19th birthday limit.

Only 30% of respondents believe crime victims receive a lot of (4%) or some (26%) support and assistance from the criminal justice system while 65% feel victims receive a little (25%) or not much support at all (40%).

Every public safety proposal tested produced a near consensus level of support among both Memphis and countywide voters. Five of the six proposals received an 87% or higher level of support. These included: focusing more resources and efforts on holding serious violent offenders accountable (97%); providing more resources to offenders who have been incarcerated when they return to the community (96%); and focusing more resources and efforts on holding those who steal vehicles or break into them accountable (95%).

“Through the Safe Community Action Plan, legislative proposals, and other means, the Crime Commission is working to advocate steps that can prevent and reduce crime,” said Bill Gibbons, Crime Commission president. “This poll shows that respondents still support our police officers and want an increase in the number of officers. At the same time, their job performance has slipped since our last survey. I think most people realize law enforcement could do a better job with more resources and smart use of those resources. It’s also clear that respondents want reforms to the criminal justice system to make those who commit crimes more accountable.”

“The Crime Commission’s survey gives us a barometer of what Memphians and Shelby Countians are thinking regarding crime and the criminal justice system,” said Deidre Malone, president/CEO, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, who served as a consultant on the polling project. “The outlook on crime varies some based-on race and geography, but the trend lines are similar across the subgroups surveyed.”

Bill Gibbons and Deidre Malone are both available for follow up interviews by members of the media.

The entire 40-page report on the survey is on the Crime Commission website at

https://memphiscrime.org/public-safety-poll-results/

Public Opinion Strategies is a national research firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Founded in 1991, it has conducted more than 11 million interviews with voters and consumers in all 50 states and more than two dozen foreign countries. It has a track record of accurate polling in the Memphis and Shelby County community and has conducted two previous polls for the Crime Commission.

The Carter Malone Group is a public relations firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The firm was founded in 2003 and worked with Public Opinion Strategies and the Crime Commission on the poll development and reporting.

About the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit 501© (3) agency that organizes the work of the Safe Community Action Plan and its partners. It is funded through the generous contributions of many private sector donors. Ben Adams, chairman emeritus of Baker Donelson Law Firm, serves as board chairman. Bill Gibbons serves as Commission president.

About the Safe Community Action Plan

Launched in 2007, development of the Safe Community Action Plan is spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. It is a community-based crime prevention and reduction initiative. The current plan is for the five-year period 2022-2026. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner chairs the Safe Community Action Plan implementation.

Artis Whitehead Becomes Tennessee Innocence Project’s  First Memphis Exoneration

Artis Whitehead Becomes Tennessee Innocence Project’s First Memphis Exoneration

(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – January 31, 2024) After an overturned conviction in December 2023, all charges have been dismissed against Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) client Artis Whitehead. Whitehead is the sixth state-wide exoneration and the first Memphis exoneration for TIP.

“We are grateful that the Shelby County District Attorney’s office reviewed the facts of this case and elected to dismiss the charges giving Mr. Whitehead a second chance,” said Tennessee Innocence Project Executive Director and Lead Counsel Jessica Van Dyke. “TIP has been working on this case for the last four years because we believed in Mr. Whitehead’s innocence, and we appreciate the DA’s Office’s diligent investigation and attention to detail. They got to the bottom of this case and ensured that justice was served appropriately for Mr. Whitehead and his family.”

Mr. Whitehead was arrested on January 31, 2003. His exoneration comes 21 years from the exact day he was arrested in 2003. He served almost 21 years after being wrongfully convicted for a 2002 robbery at B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street.

In November 2003, a Shelby County jury convicted Whitehead of five counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of especially aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of attempted robbery. The trial court sentenced Whitehead to consecutive sentences totaling 249 years.

In a recent hearing, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald issued a 93-page written order vacating Whitehead’s conviction. The judge found that Whitehead was entitled to relief on multiple legal grounds. He was released from prison in December 2023.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started for Mr. Whitehead to purchase a used vehicle and support his re-entry: https://gofund.me/87218131

To learn more about the Tennessee Innocence Project and Artis Whitehead, visit www.tninnocence.org.

About the Tennessee Innocence Project:

Launched in February 2019 as the first full-time innocence organization in the state, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, more than 3,200 people have lost more than 25,000 years due to wrongful convictions across the United States. TIP has three primary focus areas: 1) investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations, 2) training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions, and 3) bringing about changes that lead to the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted. To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from the Tennessee Innocence Project, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Bank of America Invests Over $1 Million in Memphis in 2023

Bank of America Invests Over $1 Million in Memphis in 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As part of its longstanding commitment to supporting economic opportunity and local communities, Bank of America has invested nearly $1.1 million across Memphis this year. Through philanthropic grants, sponsorships and other support, the bank is helping Memphis thrive, with a particular focus on addressing education, workforce development and affordable housing.

The twenty organizations that received grants in 2023 include:

  • Agape Child and Family Services
  • CodeCrew
  • Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA)
  • Dress for Success
  • Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
  • Wolf River Conservancy
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis
  • Memphis Botanic Garden
  • Su Casa Family Ministries
  • The Peer Power Foundation
  • LeMoyne Owen College
  • Collage Dance Collective
  • Seeding Success
  • Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
  • American Cancer Society
  • Greater Memphis Chamber Foundation
  • New Memphis
  • Memphis Urban League
  • City Year
  • REDF

For instance, Bank of America supported Collage Dance Collective to help them fund their dance education programs. Bank of America also supported Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis to help them provide affordable quality housing to residents in Memphis and Shelby County.

“Collage Dance is so grateful to Bank of America for their financial support,” said Marcellus Harper, executive director, Collage Dance. “The performing arts greatly impact our community and our creative economy. Bank of America’s grant will enable our organization to continue to inspire the growth and diversity of ballet by providing dance education and performances to the Mid-South community.”

“Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis is so grateful to Bank of America for their continued financial and volunteer support,” said Dwayne Spencer, president and CEO, Memphis Habitat. “Affordable homeownership remains out of reach for far too many of our neighbors. Bank of America’s grant will enable Memphis Habitat to make quality housing and affordable mortgages available to more people in our community.”

In addition, Bank of America also supported Dress for Success Memphis through the Neighborhood Champion initiative.

“Nonprofit organizations understand the needs and obstacles Memphis faces, uniquely positioning them to develop the solutions and services needed to promote economic opportunity,” said Trevia Chatman, president, Bank of America Memphis. “Bank of America will continue to deploy capital and resources to tackle the barriers embedded within our community and create real impact in the lives of the Memphis individuals and families we serve.”

This year’s efforts reflect the bank’s commitment to addressing critical issues and long-term gaps by partnering with local leaders and organizations to support diverse and women entrepreneurs, build job skills, support basic needs and create opportunities to help people succeed today and in the future.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, register for news email alerts.

Reporters May Contact:

Anu Ahluwalia
anu.ahluwalia@bofa.com

Jennifer Sharp, for Bank of America
901.278.0881
Jennifer.Sharp@ext.BCW-Global.com

Vintage901® hosts Perfect Pairings Brunch prepared by Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist

Vintage901® hosts Perfect Pairings Brunch prepared by Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist

(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – October 23, 2023) Vintage901® will host its Perfect Pairings Brunch, a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings, Sunday, November 12, from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Lobbyist, located inside The Chisca on Main at 272 South Main St., Memphis.

Guests will enjoy a four-course brunch tasting menu, prepared by Head Chef Jimmy Gentry of the Lobbyist, paired with a wine selection curated by Shelby County Commissioner Michael Whaley.

“We’re excited to work with Chef Gentry and Commissioner Whaley to provide a delectable brunch and wine pairing experience for our guests,” said Stephanie Ferreira, founder and CEO of Vintage901. “Their combination of knowledge is unmatched.”

Tickets for the brunch cost $115 and include a four-course brunch tasting, wine pairings, tax and gratuity are included. Proceeds will go to the Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship to support students seeking careers in the culinary arts, oenology and viticulture.

“The Perfect Pairings Brunch kicks off the countdown to our 8th Annual Vintage901 Spring Festival in April 2024,” said Ferreira. “We look forward to bringing another fun and educational wine and food experience to our community.”

Tickets for the Vintage901 Perfect Pairings Brunch can be purchased at www.vintage901.org/events.

About Vintage901:

Vintage901 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment and engagement with their community. Vintage901 hosts thoughtfully curated events that blend classic and modern culinary experiences and appeal to the connoisseur and the curious, its largest being a two-day Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival. To learn more, visit www.vintage901.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from Vintage901, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Tennessee Innocence Project Client Thomas Clardy Has Been  Released from Prison

Tennessee Innocence Project Client Thomas Clardy Has Been Released from Prison

(NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 20, 2023) Following a June 2023 ruling overturning his 2007 murder conviction and life sentence, Thomas Clardy was released from prison today after 17 years of incarceration. The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) has been working for nine years to exonerate Clardy. For the last four years, TIP has been joined by attorneys from Bass, Berry & Sims on the case. TIP and Bass, Berry & Sims will continue to represent Clardy in proceedings on appeal while advocating for his full exoneration.

“Mr. Clardy has lost years of his life serving a prison sentence for a crime he did not commit,” said Tennessee Innocence Project Executive Director and Lead Counsel Jessica Van Dyke. “We believe in Mr. Clardy’s innocence, and we will continue to fight for his innocence and freedom. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Bass, Berry & Sims to help exonerate Mr. Clardy.”

Clardy was convicted of a 2005 murder at an auto body shop in Madison, TN. The only evidence supporting Clardy’s conviction was a single, cross-racial eyewitness identification, which was not made until nearly a month after the crime. No physical evidence has ever tied Clardy to the crime scene, nor has any other witness placed him there. Evidence collected before the trial, but not tested until later, connected different, unrelated suspects to the scene. Clardy has steadfastly maintained his innocence for nearly two decades.

In June 2023, after years of court proceedings, a federal district judge in Nashville overturned Clardy’s conviction. Judge Aleta Trauger held that Clardy was denied effective assistance of counsel at his original trial in violation of his constitutional rights. Judge Trauger held that Mr. Clardy’s original lawyer performed deficiently by failing to present expert testimony on the well-documented limitations of eyewitness identifications.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. While the proceedings on appeal continue, Clardy’s legal team filed a motion for his immediate release, which was granted by Judge Trauger. On October 20, Clardy walked out of prison and was reunited with friends and family after 17 years of incarceration.

“We are pleased with the federal court’s decision to overturn Mr. Clardy’s conviction and are thrilled that he was released from prison today,” said Scott Gallisdorfer, an attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims who has worked on the Clardy case since 2019. “We firmly believe in Mr. Clardy’s innocence, and we are proud to partner with TIP as we continue the fight for his exoneration.”

To learn more about the Tennessee Innocence Project and Thomas Clardy, visit www.tninnocence.org.

About the Tennessee Innocence Project:
Launched in February 2019 as the first full-time innocence organization in the state, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, more than 3,200 people have lost more than 25,000 years due to wrongful convictions across the United States. TIP has three primary focus areas: 1) investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations, 2) training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions, and 3) bringing about changes that lead to the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted. To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

About Bass, Berry & Sims:
Bass, Berry & Sims is a national law firm with nearly 350 attorneys dedicated to delivering exceptional service to numerous publicly traded companies and Fortune 500 businesses in significant litigation and investigations, complex business transactions, and international regulatory matters. For more than 100 years, our people have served as true partners to clients, working seamlessly across substantive practice disciplines, industries and geographies to deliver highly-effective legal advice and innovative, business-focused solutions. For more information, visit the firm’s website.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from the Tennessee Innocence Project, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

If you would like to interview someone from Bass, Berry & Sims, contact Erin Ihde, at 615.259.6736 or eihde@bassberry.com.

Families Matter, Inc., Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, and Mt.  Vernon Baptist Church Partner to Host a Fatherhood Forum

Families Matter, Inc., Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Partner to Host a Fatherhood Forum

(MEMPHIS, TN – October 18, 2023) Local nonprofit Families Matter, Inc. is partnering with Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office to host its Each One Reach One Fatherhood Forum on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, located at 620 Parkrose Avenue, Memphis, TN 38109.

“Our goal of the forum is to bring the community together to promote positive fatherhood and strengthen family bonds,” said Carol Jackson, Executive Director of Families Matter, Inc. “We are thrilled to partner with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church to bring this vision to life.”

During the forum, there will be a leadership panel at noon to discuss the importance of the father’s role in strengthening family bonds and its impact on the community. Facilitated by Rev. Melvin Watkins of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, the panelists consist of the following:

• Earnest Brooks, Associate Deputy District Attorney for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office
• Antonio Harvey, Memphis-Shelby County Schools Family and Community Engagement (FACE)
• Rev. Kenric Conway, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church
• Antwan Bohanon, Customized Veterans Group
• Tracey Driver, MAXIMUS Shelby County Child Support Services
• Patrick Batson, Program Director for Families Matter’s AFIRM program

“We are providing a platform for experts, professionals, community leaders and individuals who are passionate about the well-being of fathers and their families to come together, share insights and collaborate on strategies to support and empower fathers in their roles,” said Jackson.

Several community vendors will be on-site to provide resources for our attendees. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office will provide expungement resources, the City of Memphis’ Office of Youth Services will provide information about their programs, Baptist Memorial Hospital will provide free health screenings, and the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center will provide financial literacy resources. In addition, there will be on-the-spot hiring, resources from the Shelby County Community Services Agency, free haircuts, free food and more.

Representatives from Families Matter’s pilot program, A Father’s Involvement Really Matters (AFIRM), will also be in attendance to help attendees register for the program. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Tennessee Opportunity Act, AFIRM is designed to assist low-income fathers, ages 18–40 in Memphis and Shelby County, by connecting them to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or assistance with a recent child support order. Those interested in attending can register for free at bit.ly/AFIRMForum.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone about the forum, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or
jsharp@cmgpr.com. About Families Matter, Inc.

Founded in 2004, Families Matter, Inc. is a non-profit organization and resource center that serves families via schools, churches, hospitals, and a variety of community partners to educate, enhance, and encourage our clients to become their best selves. Their educational offerings include workshops for couples and single parents and offerings for youth and a parenting boot camp for new dads. They also can connect individuals and couples to counseling services around their area. To learn more about Families Matter, Inc., visit www.familiesmattermemphis.org.

Vintage901® Launches Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Degrees in Food + Wine

Vintage901® Launches Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Degrees in Food + Wine

(MEMPHIS, TN – October 17, 2023) Vintage901, a nonprofit organization who promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment and community engagement, launches its Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship. The award of $2,500 will be given to a high school senior and undergraduate student pursuing a career in culinary arts.

“Vintage901 is committed to providing access to wine and food education and enrichment to the Memphis community and beyond,” said Stephanie Ferreira, Founder and CEO of Vintage901. “This scholarship will assist those students from underrepresented communities pursue their dreams in the culinary arts.”

Students seeking a degree in culinary arts, viticulture/viniculture, oenology and wine business or related fields are encouraged to apply. Applicants are required to submit a one-page essay, letter of recommendation and community service hours along with their application.

“We want to provide financial support to the next generation that’s ready to share the art of presentation, science, and technique of eating and drinking well in our community and the world,” said Ferreira.

Applications for the Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship are now open and will close on December 15, 2023. To learn more about Vintage901, the scholarship or to apply, visit www.vintage901.org/scholarship.

About Vintage901:

Vintage901® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment, and engagement with their community. Vintage901 hosts thoughtfully curated events that blend classic and modern culinary experiences and appeal to the connoisseur and the curious, its largest being its two-day Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival. To learn more, visit www.vintage901.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from Vintage901, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Your Democracy series awarded a regional EMMY for broadcast excellence

Your Democracy series awarded a regional EMMY for broadcast excellence

(Memphis, TN – October 17, 2023) Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author, legal scholar, and playwright, was honored with a Mid Atlantic 2023 EMMY Award for her work as host and writer of the animated series Your Democracy on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the awards event held in Lancaster, PA. The winning episode was “How A Case Goes to the Supreme Court” in the category of Social Concerns. Your Democracy is produced by WHYY, a
PBS/NPR affiliate in Philadelphia.

“Your Democracy was created to help people better understand the U. S. Constitution,” said Browne-Marshall. “It is important that the Constitution be accessible to everyone, especially young people. This is why the series is animated. I am proud to say this series has been viewed around the country as well as in Sweden, France, Italy and England.”

The ten-segment Your Democracy series has been accessed over 200,000 times by educators, students and adults looking to learn more about the U. S. Constitution.

Episodes of Your Democracy can be accessed on WHYY.org: whyy.org/programs/your-democracy About Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
Writer, professor, playwright and activist, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a Professor of Constitutional Law and Africana studies at John Jay College (CUNY). Her books include She Took Justice: The Black Woman, Law, and Power – 1619 to 1969, The Voting Rights War: The NAACP and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice and Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present. Browne-Marshall is a highly sought-after speaker and legal analyst appearing on CNN, MSNBC and other networks and print media. Her award-winning stage plays include SHOT: Caught a Soul and Dreams of Emmett Till. Learn more about Browne-Marshall at www.Browne-Marshall23.com.