By Akilah Speaks

In efforts to promote his new singles, "Leverage" and "Magnolia Trees," Apache demonstrated his political approach by giving back to the community and influencing the youth.

Contributing donations to the Mid-South Food Bank, independent artist Apache El collected food donations from students at the U of M to feed families in need.

"The future is now, we are the future" is the slogan for the campaign supporting the Future Now Youth food drive because he believes the youth control the changes needed to be made in society.

By Cormac Parker

Every Sunday morning in Memphis, pastors step to the pulpit and deliver sermons. Throughout the week, Memphians can see them giving back to the community, from feeding the homeless to counseling struggling individuals.

For Kenneth Whalum Jr., pastor of the New Olivet Baptist Church, his words are shared in the pulpit as well as politics. He is a candidate for Shelby County mayor.

Whalum is extremely proud to be a Memphian. He will unashamedly tell you that he is Memphis born, Memphis bred and when he dies, he will be Memphis dead.

This passion for his city is one of the many reasons he is running for office. Giving attention to the children of the city is what Whalum said is the base of changing the community for the better.

By Kirstin "Kirby" Cheers

As children, especially those who were raised in religious homes, Sunday school taught stories of Biblical heroines such as Esther, a young girl crowned queen in her youth who rescued her people, the Jews, from a brutal genocide planned and signed into law by her husband, King Ahasuerus (Xerses).  

Esther did not know that one day she would be queen, let alone know that she would have to preside and persuade the people who had cast her family into exile to spare her race from a massive killing. One can even assume, before becoming queen, Esther hated the place she lived and awaited the day that God would move her somewhere else--sharing a characteristic of many native Memphians. 

Memphis. A seemingly unpopular place to live that wrestles against crime, poverty and for many, a lack of opportunities. Such hindrances have been the bane of the city’s existence, especially during a period where recruiting young talent into Memphis is a tedious feat. 

 In 2013, the Memphis Business Journal noted that Memphis is not a strong competitor when it comes to recruiting new talent against cities such as Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte.  Some Memphians cannot go a full day without hearing another Memphian grumbling their loathe for living in the Bluff City, and how they are looking, hoping, wishing and/or praying to move.  

Such attitudes have influenced strategic organizations to strengthen their recruiting efforts to attract new talent to the city. The New Memphis Institute and the social media recruitment campaign, Choose 901, have been strong influences throughout the city, partnering with government officials, professionals and entrepreneurs in organizing to increase attracting and retaining new talent in Memphis.  

However, the talent born and bred in Memphis should not go unnoticed.  

London Lamar, 23, left Memphis for Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., after graduating from Central High School in 2009. After graduating from college with internships from Washington, D.C., to New York under her belt, she did not intend to return to Memphis.

By Paul Crum

Some churches might not be comfortable opening their sanctuary to the LGBTQ Community for the purpose of airing their grievances to law enforcement officers, but Pastor Paul Eknes-Tucker said members of the Holy Trinity Community Church were happy to provide the space for a Community Police Relations forum on Nov. 19.

“There was no resistance from my congregation at all to this event,” Tucker claimed. “We were thrilled that the police department wanted to have this kind of dialogue, and that we could play a part in making that happen.”

As a crowd of about 50 participants filtered into the warmth of the South Highland Street church on a chilly Tuesday evening, the mood was mostly somber. A few munched on sandwiches and refreshments offered in the rear of the church, but most quietly took their place in a pew, not sure of what the evening held in store.

Just after 6 p.m., Lt. Mike Embrey of the Memphis Police Department stood up to face the group along side Ellyhanna Hall, his transgender co-facilitator.

“What is shared here is not shared with other officers,” Embrey assured the audience, stressing that their remarks would be held in confidence.

By Erica Holmes

Neighbors from the University District banded together at City Hall Tuesday, Oct. 15, to hold SR consulting firm accountable for stalling the vote and to keep a wrap around drive-thru loop out of the design plans. 

The University Neighborhoods Development Corporation (UNDC) explained to the council that McDonald's has no intention to let go of their design ideas that go against the flow of the overlay. 

Earlier that afternoon a couple of government relations’ workers including community liaison, Leah Dawkins, from the University of Memphis went before Chairman Harold Collins’ Land Use committee.

"Collins told us that he is sending it downstairs to open session because there is a lot of public opposition," Dawkins said. "It is considered a hot-button issue."