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.
Ayanna Watkins
Executive Director
Rev. Ayanna Johnson Watkins is MICAH’s Executive Director. Ayanna is an organizer, preacher, writer, and facilitator focused on building transformative communities and nurturing the God-given purpose of each individual. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from Yale University, and both her Master of Arts in Social Service Administration and Mastery of Divinity at University of Chicago. Ayanna has served as a social worker, community organizer, youth pastor, and lead pastor in the Chicago area. She became an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2004. Her experience has provided her unique knowledge on topics like leadership, faith practice, and community organizing. She now resides in Memphis with her family, and has been involved with MICAH since 2017, accepting the position of MICAH's first lead organizer in 2019.Â
