Why should we care?
SCS’s ability to provide a quality, equitable education is being undercut by high teacher turnover and year-long teaching vacancies, as well as significant maintenance deficiencies within the schools, all of which leads to higher financial, educational, and health costs. A lack of access to wraparound services provided by qualified social workers, psychologists, and nurses inhibits the successful treatment of trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). Abuse, neglect, and trauma significantly increase the likelihood of suspensions, juvenile criminal behavior, and incarceration. With a median age four years below the national average, Memphis’s population can support economic development, but only if we provide children in our community access to opportunities and support.
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Equipping people of faith and goodwill to organize communities for systemic change through collective action.
Transit Equity
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Engage banks to innovate and invest various forms of growth capital into low and moderate-income areas.
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Engage foundations to provide “social business funds” to invest in socially conscious, low-income entrepreneurs’ start-up costs.
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Hold local financial institutions accountable to fully comply with or exceed Community Reinvestment Act requirements (CRA) and related agreements; seek commitments from those not in the highest compliance; resist any attempts to ease CRA regulations.
What's the problem?
Economic equity is an issue of justice. Memphis will not see far-reaching economic growth without addressing the underlying issues of disparity​ that have historically undermined the economic well-being for communities of color. Economic prosperity is not being shared equitably, resulting in a city still divided by racial and economic lines.
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With the housing boom in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for low and moderate income families to find affordable housing. Lack of affordable housing causes many families to be displaced into underserved areas. As the low and moderate income families move into underserved neighborhoods it becomes increasingly difficult to find adequate and reliable mass transportation options. That lack of transit options minimizes their ability to find and keep quality jobs that would allow them to find affordable permanent housing.