by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 19, 2022 | CMG News, News
(Memphis, Tenn.) — The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) formed as a statewide non-profit in 2019. Since its founding the organization has exonerated four individuals, who spent a total of 95 years in prison, wrongfully imprisoned. On Thursday, September 22, 2022, the organization will host its first event in Memphis to shine a spotlight on wrongful convictions. The guest speaker will be Mr. Anthony Ray Hinton and the event will be held at the National Civil Rights Museum.
In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton, was mowing his front yard in Birmingham, Alabama when police arrested him, charging the then, 29-year old black man with two counts of murder, crimes he did not commit. He survived on death row for nearly 30 years before finally being exonerated in 2015. Since his release, Hinton has traveled the world sharing his story and discussing the changes that need to be made to prevent similar injustices from happening to others.
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, there have been more than 3,100 wrongful convictions since 1989. Tennessee has seen only 30 exonerations – five from Shelby County. Jessica Van Dyke is the Executive Director and Lead Counsel for the Tennessee Innocence Project. “We are proud of our successes, but we know there is still significant work to be done across the state, and especially in Shelby County,” said Van Dyke. “For our current clients, as well as their families, we often represent their last hope for regaining the life that was taken due to a wrongful conviction.”
The event will include a 45-minute presentation in which Hinton will share his journey to exoneration and freedom, followed by a 15-minute question and answer session. In 2018, Hinton published, “The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row,” which was selected for Oprah’s Book Club and is a New York Times bestseller. Copies of Hinton’s book will be available for purchase from the Museum’s store. The presentation is free and open to the public and starts at 7 p.m.
The Tennessee Innocence Project will also host a meet & greet reception before Hinton’s presentation at 6 p.m. The organization does not charge clients for their services and depends on funds from community support to support this important mission. Tickets to the reception are $100, and the ticket holder will receive reserved priority seating for the presentation and a signed copy of Hinton’s memoir. This event is supported by Horizon Companies, JustCity, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, The Downtown Commission, Lee Investigative Services, LLC and Josie Holland. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are still available. Tickets are sold online, and RSVPs for the presentation are highly encouraged at www.tninnocence.org/events.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Apr 21, 2022 | CMG News, News
MEMPHIS, TENN. (April 20, 2022) –Spirit Airlines has launched its inaugural service at Memphis International Airport (MEM), with daily flights between MEM and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) starting today. Tickets are on sale at www.spirit.com.
Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, Spirit Airlines becomes the ninth airline serving MEM. The airline will operate 182-seat Airbus 320 aircraft for its flights.
“It feels great to be back in a city I loved living in earlier in my career and come back to celebrate our new, nonstop service that will make it easier for travelers to discover all the culture, music, and history Memphis has to offer,” said Ted Christie, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines. “Growing our presence in Tennessee also means more high-value travel options for our new Memphis Guests looking for convenient flights to some of the nation’s most popular leisure destinations.”
“This is a great day for MEM’s passengers, as Spirit will provide daily nonstop options to two very popular destinations,” said Michael Keeney, Chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. “We are excited about the potential for Spirit’s long-term growth at MEM.”
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Mar 25, 2022 | CMG News, News
(Memphis, Tenn. – March 15, 2022) On Saturday, March 26, 2022, area faith-based leaders will convene at Pentecostal Temple Church of God In Christ for a panel discussion on “Ministry Today & Beyond – Where Are We Now and How Will We Be Effective in the Future?” The Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Patterson, Sr. Symposium is sponsoring the event that is free and open to the faith-based community and the general public. Masks are required for attendees.
The panel of dynamic religious leaders include the following: Pastor Keith Norman, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church-Broad; Pastor Bartholomew Orr, Senior Pastor, Brown Missionary Baptist; Bishop Linwood E. Dillard, Senior Pastor and Evangelist LaShun Dillard Berry, Citadel of Deliverance Church of God in Christ; Bishop Ed Stephens, Senior Pastor, Golden Gate Cathedral and Bishop Darryl D. Woodson, Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ and Pastor of Mount Gilead the Cathedral of El-Shaddai.
Some of the topics the panel will tackle include:
- How to manage the lack of confidence in the church?
- How to meet our congregations where they are since the pandemic?
- How do faith-leaders re-establish church relevance in their communities?
The religious leaders participating in this discussion were brought together by Bishop Patterson to have a candid discussion around what the church and their members need in this new environment.
“I look forward to this discussion with this great woman and men of God as we explore how to be more effective leaders to the church and the communities we serve,” said Bishop Patterson.
The symposium will begin at 9 a.m. on March 26, 2022 and will be held at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ at 229 South Danny Thomas Blvd, Memphis, TN, 38126. For more information about the symposium call 901.527.9202
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Feb 22, 2022 | CMG News
MEMPHIS, TENN – Elected to the bench in 2000, Judge Loyce Lambert Ryan is running for re-election for her position in General Sessions Criminal Court Division 15. She is currently presiding Judge of General Sessions Criminal Court and is seeking another term in the upcoming August 2022 election.
“I am honored to seek another term to administer the law fairly and in the best interest of all parties,” said Judge Lambert Ryan. “I’ve enjoyed serving the people of Memphis and Shelby County and want to continue the work on behalf of the community for another full term.”
A skilled trial attorney, and the first female attorney selected as a member of the Shelby County Public Defenders Capital Defense Team and the first female to supervise the unit. Judge Ryan is the first female president of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association. She was also honored with the A.A. Latting Award for Outstanding Legal Services. Judge Lambert Ryan is also an active member of her community.
She is a member of Parkway Gardens United Presbyterian Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, River City Chapter of the Links, Inc, Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens of America, Inc. Learn more about Judge Lambert Ryan in her bio below.
Follow Judge Ryan on her social media platforms at include Facebook: Re-elect Judge Loyce Lambert Ryan, Instagram: Judge Loyce Lambert Ryan and Twitter: JudgeLLRyan
The Committee to Re-Elect Judge Lambert Ryan is chaired by Thomas Long and Mack Tuggle serves as the Treasurer of the campaign.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Feb 21, 2022 | CMG News
To help fight hunger in Memphis, Bank of America donated $100 for each bank employee who recorded a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in addition to a company contribution.
Memphis, Tenn. – Bank of America today announced a $25,000 donation worth 75,000 meals to Mid-South Food Bank to address food insecurity in the region. An estimated 38 million people were food insecure in the United States in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As the pandemic continues, hunger relief organizations in Memphis and across the country are facing ongoing challenges such as increased demand for their services and rising food prices.
Bank of America is supporting its employees’ health and safety while addressing one of the local communities’ most critical needs. Earlier this year, the company announced it would make a $100 donation to local hunger relief organizations and food banks for each employee in Memphis who received a COVID-19 booster shot or vaccine and notified the bank before the end of January. The company made an additional contribution to address the increased need experienced by hunger relief organizations across the country. Since the onset of the pandemic, Bank of America has provided $125,000 in funding to Mid-South Food Bank in support of local hunger relief efforts.
Mid-South Food Bank provides food to local agencies and food distribution sites to feed children, families and seniors. With a 15.6% food insecurity rate in the Mid-South, its mission is to change lives by eliminating hunger in our region. Currently, the Mid-South Food Bank distributes an average of four million meals a month through a network of 300 partner agencies in 12 counties in West Tennessee, 18 counties in north Mississippi, and one county in Arkansas. With help from the bank’s donation, the Mid-South Food Bank is providing 75,000 meals to individuals and families throughout the Mid-South.
“Mid-South Food Bank is thankful for the partnership we have with Bank of America,” said Cathy Pope, President & CEO, Mid-South Food Bank. “As a result of the Booster Program, 75,000 meals will be provided for our neighbors in need across 31 counties. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with future efforts to eliminate hunger in the Mid-South.”
Nationally, the bank has committed $10.6 million dollars to food banks and hunger relief organizations through this effort. Since 2015, Bank of America has donated nearly $150 million toward hunger relief efforts.
“As the pandemic continues to impact Memphis, food banks and hunger relief organizations are experiencing increased demand and higher costs to meet the needs of individuals and families,” said Trevia Chatman, President, Bank of America Memphis. “Our commitment to help strengthen the communities we live in and serve is unwavering, which is why we are investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of our teammates while also providing funds to help local organizations support our neighbors and fight food insecurity.”
Bank of America committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 in each of the company’s 93 markets to local nonprofit partners as part its vaccine booster effort. Because vaccination boosters and reporting are voluntary and additional company contributions are reflected in the final amount, actual donation amounts differ from the number of boosters reported by bank employees.
The company has encouraged staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations since summer 2021 and has offered incentives such as paid time-off and $500 credits towards health benefit premiums. In partnership with local nonprofits, Bank of America has also distributed more than 38 million masks, 41,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 11 million gloves in local communities as part of its ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the pandemic.
About Mid-South Food Bank
Mid-South Food Bank distributes food to partner feeding programs in 31 counties in north Mississippi, west Tennessee and east Arkansas, where nearly 20 percent of the population struggles with food insecurity and hunger. In FY2020-2021, Mid-South Food Bank distributed more than 54.2 million pounds of food. Mid-South Food Bank’s Mission is to change lives by eliminating hunger in the Mid-South.
About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Feb 21, 2022 | CMG News
Memphis, Tenn. – The chairman of the two major political parties in Shelby County met with Election Commission Chairman Brent Taylor on Friday to receive an update on the Shelby County Election Commission. Shelby County Democratic Party Chairwoman Gabby Salinas and Republican Party Chairman Cary Vaughn met with Taylor at the commission offices on Nixon.
“I think this meeting is unprecedented,” said Taylor. “I’m not sure when the chairs of the local parties have met to discuss the election process before this meeting. My leadership style is to always be inclusive and thought it was important for me to update them directly on changes with the Shelby County Election Commission.”
Taylor discussed the composition of the election commission and how in a majority democratic county the election commission is majority republican. He shared how it is important to have input from all the election commissioners and how he assigned seating to promote collaborative discussion.
Salinas and Vaughn received an update on the purchase of new voting machines and Taylor shared his support for the machines that the Shelby County Commission are interested in purchasing that is electronic touch-screen with a paper ballot component. This purchase of the type of new voting machines is still before the Appellate Court.
Taylor also shared that due to the redistricting process there will be fewer precincts on election day on May 3, 2022. “In the upcoming election we will have 134 precincts down from 255 in the last election,” said Taylor. “The Election Commission will assign workers with IPADs to each old precinct to help them find their new voting location.”
The meeting ended with a tour of the operations center and a demonstration of the proposed new voting machines.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Dec 10, 2021 | CMG News, News
MEMPHIS, TN – It’s home for the holidays for some of the former residents of South City in zip code 38126 as they join the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) during the Annual South City Holiday Celebration.
The event is Thursday, December 9 from 2-6 p.m. at Emmanuel Center, 604 St. Paul Ave.
Hosted by the Memphis Housing Authority, Urban Strategies, Inc. and the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, the by invitation-only event will be a walk-through celebration for more than 300 current and former residents of South City.
To spread some holiday cheer, each head of household will receive a gift card and holiday bag with essential supplies. Door prizes and giveaways will be provided for adults and children.
This celebration is special, particularly for those who once lived in the former public housing development, Foote Homes and have returned to a revitalized vibrant community. The housing development closed in 2016 and is being redeveloped with the first phase opening in September 2019 as Foote Park at South City. Foote Homes was 75 years old and had 420 units. Foote Park at South City is a mixed-income community that will have a total of 712 units once completed.
Sponsors and volunteers for this year’s event includes FedEx, Nike, Kroger, the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Housing Authority, SCORE CDC, Urban Strategies, Inc. and the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
About the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis
For more than 26 years, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) has been uniting women and helping break the cycle of poverty through philanthropy, leadership and collaboration. The mission of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis is to encourage philanthropy, foster leadership among women and support programs that enable women and children to reach their full potential. wfgm.org
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Dec 3, 2021 | CMG News, News
(MEMPHIS, TENN – December 2, 2021) Journey Community Schools has been awarded a $30,000 grant from International Paper’s Memphis Mill and the International Paper Foundation. As the adoptive partner of the International Paper, Coleman School will be awarded $10,000 of the grant and the remaining will benefit Journey Community Schools. The funds will support literacy interventions and high-quality learning materials that address literacy deficits. The check presentation will be held at Coleman School, 3210 Raleigh Millington Rd. Memphis, TN 38128 on Friday, December 3, 2021, at 8:15 a.m.
Journey Community Schools has an ambitious goal to ensure that all students are reading on or above grade level by the end of third grade. This grant will provide high-quality literacy materials and training for teachers. The rigorous interventions and programming allow all teachers to meet students where they are to address learning loss through direct small groups and individualized instruction.
“We are thrilled that International Paper continues to invest in education and students in Memphis,” said Dr. Nickalous Manning, Executive Director of Journey Community School. “Third grade is a crucial year where students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure that students are equipped with all of the skills, training, and materials to be successful. We are truly grateful for International Paper’s generosity.”
The International Paper Foundation is one of the ways International Paper strives to reach its vision to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Started in 1952, the foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to its signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief, and initiatives that improve the planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.
About Journey Community School
Journey Community Schools works to develop a community of lifelong learners who excel in all areas of life. We engage families and community partners in our scholars’ learning journey; cultivate a safe, positive and joyous learning environment; and empower teachers and leaders with support to deliver an inclusive, innovative and rigorous education.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Nov 17, 2021 | CMG News
(November 16, 2021 – Memphis, TN) Shelby County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman announces the launch of Wallet Warning: Avoiding Consumer Cons, one of the public education components of the Consumer Financial Protection initiative that she and her Idea Team developed over the last year. November is National Fraud Awareness month, so it is the perfect time to remind residents of financial scams they should be aware of as we head into the holiday season. Trustee Newman is kicking off a media tour to bring awareness to this issue.
“Consumer fraud is an important issue to our entire community. The ‘Wallet Warning’ campaign is a continuation of the Trustee’s office’s emphasis on improving the financial stability of Shelby County residents which includes sponsorship of the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center and the Bank on Memphis Coalition,” said Newman. The campaign is targeting all demographics, with an inaugural special emphasis on the most vulnerable—seniors.
During this time of year, seniors are signing up for Medicare and may be confused by the ads and agents calling, asking them to register. Trustee Newman and her team are working with the MidSouth Council on Aging and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to educate seniors about what can be a confusing issue.
The “Wallet Warning” campaign will also share tips on how to protect your funds as we go into the holiday season. Fake charities prey on the kindness of citizens during this time of year, and predatory lenders stand ready to “help” people pay for their holidays when they are actually trapping them in an endless cycle of debt.
Trustee Newman will address these fraud awareness issues through a media tour, speaking engagements, social media, emails and other outreach initiatives.
About the Shelby County Trustee’s Office
The Shelby County Trustee collects County property taxes and handles delinquent property tax collections for all municipalities in Shelby County. By law, the Trustee is the banker for Shelby County Government. In addition, the Trustee coordinates banking services for approximately fifteen different county offices, including various elected officials and the Shelby County Board of Education. The Shelby County Trustee’s duties include maximizing interest earnings and streamlining banking costs. The Trustee offers a number of community outreach programs including Tax Freeze, Tax Relief, Quarterly Tax Payments, Project HOME, Bank On Memphis, On My Own Financial Simulation and the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center. For more information, please visit www.shelbycountytrustee.com and www.gmfec.org.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Oct 28, 2021 | CMG News
A new countywide poll of registered voters conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission shows strong support for law enforcement by both Memphis and suburban respondents. But gun violence is a major concern for both Memphis and suburban residents.
The poll, conducted September 18-22, 2021, included 425 registered voters, with 275 (65%) from Memphis. Countywide, the ethnic/racial breakdown was 48% white, 46% African American and 6% other. For city of Memphis respondents, the ethnic/racial breakdown was 58% African American, 37% white and 5% other. Countywide, the gender breakdown was 60% female and 40% male. Age ranges included 43% between 18–44, 33% between 45-64 and 24% 65 plus. (There was no significant statistical difference for Memphis respondents.)
In both Memphis and the rest of Shelby County, the pandemic ranks as the top priority with both men and women, black and white voters, voters younger than 45 and seniors. The pandemic comes in at 30%, but crime/public safety is second at 22%.
Under crime and public safety, gun violence dominates the list of concerns at 48%. Human trafficking comes in at 11%, and juvenile crime 10%. The large gap between gun violence and other categories of crime signifies that gun violence is the overriding major concern.
Police remain popular in the community with 62% of respondents rating them as doing an excellent/good job. However, the excellent/good rating for local police fell by 9 points since a similar poll conducted for the Crime Commission last year and dropped with nearly all subgroups. Specifically, local police have seen erosion in support from voters younger than 45 in Memphis and men without a college education.
This erosion may be tied to the concern about violent crime, in particular, gun violence. Only 48% of respondents gave police an excellent/good rating on protecting people from violent crime compared to 56% in last year’s poll, and 49% gave police a fair/poor rating compared to 39% in 2020’s poll.
The concern about gun violence and the erosion in the rating of police in addressing violent crime may, in turn, explain the overwhelming desire for more police officers. There continues to be high support for hiring more police officers with 81% of respondents, and a deep 59% strongly support more hiring. Every demographic subgroup supports hiring more police officers. This includes wide majorities of men (81%), women (82%), white voters (84%) and African American voters (80%). Overall, 79% of Memphis respondents and 85% from the rest of Shelby County support hiring more officers.
The poll findings show 73% of Shelby County voters support loosening the residency requirements for police officers and firefighters. 69% of Memphis voters agree.
An overwhelming 73% of respondents would like an increased law enforcement presence in their neighborhoods. 68% of white respondents and 78% of African American respondents want an increased law enforcement presence in their neighborhoods, as do 78% of Memphis respondents compared to 65% of respondents in the rest of the county.
“Gun violence is a major concern and working on strategies to reduce gun violence is a priority for the Crime Commission,” said Bill Gibbons, Crime Commission president. “This poll shows us that residents still strongly support our police officers, even though their job performance has slipped some since last year’s poll. Hiring more police officers is clearly important to voters.”
You can find a detailed public opinion poll report on the Crime Commission website at www.memphiscrime.org.
Public Opinion Strategies is a national research firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Founded in 1991, it has conducted more than 10 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.
The Carter Malone Group is a public relations firm headquartered in Memphis, TN. The firm was founded in 2003 and worked with Public Opinion Strategies and the Crime Commission on poll development and analysis.
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About the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission (www.memphiscrime.org): The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that spearheads development of and “quarterbacks” the work of a Safe Community Plan to prevent and reduce crime. It is funded primarily through the generous contributions of many private sector donors. Ben Adams, chairman emeritus of Baker Donelson law firm, serves as chair of the board, and Bill Gibbons serves as president of the Commission.
About the Safe Community Plan (www.memphiscrime.org): Launched in 2007, the Safe Community Plan, an action plan spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, is a community-based crime prevention and reduction initiative. Implementation of the Safe Community Plan is chaired by Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich.
