Livable Memphis

Concert Celebrating Diversity at the Levitt Shell

The "Tear Down the Walls" concert series is a multi-faith celebration of diversity organized by Jewish rock musician Rick Recht. The concerts feature community leaders from the area and choirs from all across the city. The goal of the series is to use music to bridge the gaps created throughout our community by our differences.

Come check out the next "Tear Down the Walls" show at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park on Thursday, September 3. The show starts at 7:00 and promises to be a fun, uplifting experience.

For more information on the series, visit the "Tear Down the Walls" website.

Transportation for America Transit Study

Check out this report from Transportation for America on how transit services across the country have been affected by the current economic downturn. Public trasportation institutions across the country are facing huge deficits that have caused increased fares and service reductions during a time of rapidly increasing ridership. We have to let our local, state, and federal governments know that we need public transit now more than ever as we all try to cut costs during these trying times.

Read the study. Send it to your friends. Let's spread the knowledge that more dollars invested in transit translates into economic growth and money saved by American families.

Love Your Farmer's Market!

Let's all help the Memphis Farmer's Market win this contest! You could win something too just for voting!

Click above to vote.

Pizza With Planners: Economic Development

Our next Pizza With Planners has been scheduled!
Click the picture above for a printable version of our flier.

Regional Strategy for Biobased Products Launches

Memphis Bioworks Foundations is launching their "Regional Strategy for Biobased Products in the Mississippi Delta" on August 25, 2009 at BRIDGES. This region-based green economic development study found that over 25,000 jobs can be created in the Midsouth by "greening the supply chain from the field to the factory." The regional strategy shows the possibilities of making bio-based products from crops in the region, which would increase employment, support small business and large industries, and bring more than $8 billion into our economy.

A reception and presentation for the launch will be held at BRIDGES starting at 5 PM. The keynote speaker will be Aimee Christensen, the founder and CEO of Christensen Global Strategies. Aimee has been working at the intersections of environmental awareness, human rights, and economic development for nearly two decades, so we look forward to hearing what she has to say about making Memphis greener while stimulating our economy.

What: "Regional Strategy for Biobased Products" Launch
Where: BRIDGES—477 North Fifth St  Memphis, TN   38105
When:  Reception—5 PM on the Mezzanine level
           Presentation—6 PM in the Auditorium

If you'd like to attend, RSVP to Regina Whitley at the Memphis Biowork Foundation (901-866-1452 or rwhitley@memphisbioworks.org).

A Second Chance: Overton Square Public Meeting #2

In our summer newsletter, we mentioned that the Memphis Regional Design Center (MRDC) would be organizing more public input meetings for those who couldn't make it back in July. Well, now we have the date for the second community meeting!

The event will be held on Tuesday, August 25, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Playhouse on the Square. If you missed the first meeting, come out and voice your opinion on how we can turn Overton Square back into the cultural center it once was. Also, if you can't make the meeting, don't forget that you can still be heard at squaretalk.org!

What: Overton Square Public Meeting #2
Where: Playhouse on the Square
           51 S Cooper     Memphis, TN   38104
When: 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Memphis Charter School gets nod in Wall Street Journal

Memphis charter school Power Center Academy was mentioned in an article in the Wall Street Journal about new legislation that is expanding charter schools around the country!

We're always glad to see people who are trying to improve our education system receive recognition, so please, check out the article and find out more. You can find it here.

Congratulations Charlie Santo!

We offer our congratulations to CLC member Charlie Santo and the University of Memphis Regional Economic Development Center for having their community development project selected as one of three finalists for the University Economic Development Association's (UEDA) Excellence in Community Development award.

The project, which was developed by several University of Mephis professors, focused on the economic development of the Mississippi River corridor in the state of Tennessee. The finalists for the award will present their projects at the UEDA Annual Summit on Higher Education and Economic Development in San Antonio in October.

Good luck to Charlie and the rest of the team who put this project together! We hope to hear you have won the award in October!

Adapt-a-Door Party and Auction

For a sneak peak of some photos and artists' bios, click here.

Auditions for Arts-A-Fire Youth Theater Troupe!

The Arts-A-F!RE Youth Theater Troupe provides nine months of free intensive education and training in acting, vocal music, and technical theater. Approximately 50 young people, ages 7—18 will be chosen for the Troupe by audition and interview. Troupe members work with professional actors, writers, musicians, and lighting and set designers. Rehearsing after school and on weekends, these young artists will be involved in every element of production, which includes acting, dancing, singing, writing plays, composing music, and designing and building sets.

Throughout the year, Arts-A-F!RE Youth Theater Troupe will tour performances to schools, community centers, businesses and organizations. Youth Theater Troupe members rehearse an intense 6 hours a week at minimum.

 The rehearsal schedule is as follows: Mondays & Tuesdays 6:30—8:30 pm., Saturdays 3:00—5:00 pm