¿Por qué debería importarnos?
La capacidad de SCS para brindar una educación equitativa y de calidad se ve socavada por la alta rotación de docentes y las vacantes docentes de un año, así como por las importantes deficiencias de mantenimiento dentro de las escuelas, todo lo cual conduce a mayores costos financieros, educativos y de salud. La falta de acceso a servicios integrales proporcionados por trabajadores sociales, psicólogos y enfermeras calificados inhibe el tratamiento exitoso del trauma o las Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia (ACE). El abuso, la negligencia y el trauma aumentan significativamente la probabilidad de suspensiones, comportamiento delictivo juvenil y encarcelamiento. Con una mediana de edad cuatro años por debajo del promedio nacional, la población de Memphis puede apoyar el desarrollo económico, pero solo si brindamos a los niños de nuestra comunidad acceso a oportunidades y apoyo.
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Equipping people of faith and goodwill to organize communities for systemic change through collective action.
Grupo de Trabajo de Equidad Educativa
¿Cuál es el problema?
Problemas relacionados con la pobreza, escuelas con mantenimiento deficiente, experiencias infantiles adversas, traumas, consecuencias desproporcionadas para los estudiantes de color, recursos insuficientes para servicios integrales (como enfermeras escolares, consejeros y trabajadores sociales) y apoyo inadecuado para los maestros, su desarrollo profesional y el aula. suministros, continúan afectando negativamente la calidad educativa y la asistencia escolar entre las Escuelas del Condado de Shelby (SCS).
Problemas relacionados con la pobreza, escuelas con mantenimiento deficiente, experiencias infantiles adversas, traumas, consecuencias desproporcionadas para los estudiantes de color, recursos insuficientes para servicios integrales (como enfermeras escolares, consejeros y trabajadores sociales) y apoyo inadecuado para los maestros, su desarrollo profesional y el aula. suministros, continúan afectando negativamente la calidad educativa y la asistencia escolar entre las Escuelas del Condado de Shelby (SCS).
How We Can Take Action!
Right now, BETTER TRANSIT in the Memphis area is in a critical phase. Your support can make a great impact locally on economic and racial equity, poverty and truly making a BETTER MEMPHIS. Together, we can build on our victory in February, securing $5 million in added City funds that are preventing drastic new service cuts.
Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM), organized by MICAH and Sierra Club Chickasaw Group, is aimed at improving public transportation in Memphis, ensuring that our communities have reliable, affordable, and accessible transit options. Too many people in our city struggle with transportation barriers that limit access to better paying jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services. A well-funded and efficient transit system connects people to stable employment, job training programs, educational opportunities and cultural events – key factors in breaking Memphis too high poverty and crime rates.
Send a letter to Mayor Young and the City Council persuading them to fund meaningful improvements and hold MATA accountable for making these improvements.
BTBM strongly urges City Council to increase support for MATA Operating Budget - by adding $20 million to the Mayor’s proposed $30 million. This
change would:
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Implement 100% of MATA’s published BUT unfulfilled route schedule (the published schedule should be considered a “contract” with riders). Only 70% was realized this year – causing many bus “no shows”, which are an egregious failure to meet MATA’s contract with riders.
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Restart the steel-wheeled Main St. Trolley – The Trolley had been MATA’s highest ridership route and is
important to stimulate commerce downtown for residents and businesses.
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Provide $10 million to pay vendor outstanding balances and restore MATA’s credibility.
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Reduce MATA’s $40 million Balance Sheet shortfall, which is mainly unpaid pension obligations, that were inaccurately reported earlier as “operational deficits” by the media.
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Demonstrate the City’s commitment to daily riders, the community and to new executive position
candidates as MATA begins its national search for a new CEO, CFO and other key positions.
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Recognize that the City’s contribution to MATA’s operating budget has not kept up with inflation, and the proposed $30m budget for FY26 will in fact be $16.6m below our estimate of $46.6m when inflation is added to the FY2020 budget of $32.7m. Clearly, Memphis has underfunded transit for many years! $45 million will adjust for inflation and $50 million will fund return of the Steel-wheel Trolleys. (See the US Transportation inflation adjustment calculator here!)