Exciting News: Pre-K For All Passes | Weekly Policy Update
The Memphis City Council passed the third and final reading of the “Pre-K for All” ordinance this week, joining the Shelby County Commission in creating the state’s first ever local, universal pre-kindergarten program.
Additionally, the council advanced a proposal which would add $1.5 million in funding for the first year of implementation of Pre-K for All. This followed an additional $2 million provided by the Shelby County Commission this week for the same purpose. This will bring the total annual local funding for pre-K to approximately $21 million.
Good News for Hospitality Hub!
A couple of weeks ago, Hospitality Hub, a local nonprofit organization that aids Memphians experiencing homelessness, recently broke ground on a new project on the site of the old Manassas High School building in North Memphis. The organization plans to build 20 “cottages” for use in housing those who need it, with a goal of 60 such structures by the end of 2025. After the groundbreaking, Kelcey Johnson, Executive Director of Hospitality Hub, said that the organization will next set its sights on helping those in need in Southeast Memphis.
While the new Hospitality Hub location is welcome news in addressing a critical issue facing too many Memphians, the necessity of this kind of intervention follows a truth that we can all see throughout the city: Quality, affordable housing is becoming so scarce that it has turned into a full-blown crisis.
What could $10 Billion do?: Weekly Policy Update
In early June, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright sponsored a nonbinding resolution requesting that the federal government designate Memphis and Shelby County as a “priority community” when considering federal funding allocations for localities.
Wright’s resolution follows the logic of decades of research on the causes and effects of crime: Violence is high in places with persistent poverty due to a lack of opportunity, creating a cycle of poverty and crime that persists through generations.
You can read more about it in the Justice & Safety portion of the More For Memphis strategic plan.
Shelby County Budget: Weekly Policy Update
The Shelby County Commission faces a June 30th deadline to approve the tax rate for FY26 and pass the entire budget for the county. The tax rate ordinance requires three readings, and the commission has already passed it on the first two readings with the tax rate left blank. This is typical, as debates reach into June before the body settles on a tax rate on the third reading.
Refresher on Community Schools: Weekly Policy Update
A community school is a public school that acts as a hub for the neighborhood, offering both educational services and broader community resources. It integrates academic learning with supports for student and family well-being, like health care, social services, and expanded learning opportunities. What has this model looked like in practice in Shelby County over the last couple of years, and what measurable outcomes are we seeing?