S5E41 - Legislately Episode 4: Grounds for Fairness
Meanwhile in Memphis conversations showcase collaboration in Memphis and beyond, and tody's episode is part of a mini-series within the show: Legislately with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. This collaboration will bring together experts and local leaders to amplify the way leaders in our community are learning, collaborating, innovating, and working to set Memphis and Shelby County up for success.
Today's installment features a conversation with Beto Sanchez (Starbucks employee and member of Memphis 7) and Jessica Stewart (SEIU Local 205).
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
"The Memphis 7"
SEIU Local 205
Starbucks Workers United origin story in Buffalo, NY
Previous installments of Legislately with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris can be found here, here, here, and here
What the Memphis Seven Decision Means for Starbucks Workers
National Labor Relations Board
McKinney v Starbucks Corp.
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S5E40 - Revisiting Celebrate What's Right: Anchoring the Community
The Memphis Medical District is among the city’s most vibrant business districts. This success is a direct result of a strategic vision that was put in place a decade ago and brought to life by the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. This visionary organization has spent the last 10 years collaborating and coordinating efforts in the district to ensure shared success for businesses, residents, hospitals, and higher-ed institutions that share space in the heart of the city.
The model they have created is one worth replicating, and in today’s episode, we’ll be airing a live-event recording of a recent “Celebrate What’s Right” panel conversation that reflects on the first decade of impact in the distract, and to hear what’s in store for the next era. This event took place on September 15, 2025 and was made possible by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Kroger, Regional One Health, and Turner Foundation.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Regional One Health
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
ALSAC
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Other episodes that focus on MMDC include S5E37, S5E34, and S5E8
This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.
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S5E39 - Re-Imagining Creative Careers with Memphis Music Initiative and AngelStreet
Memphis is a city known for its arts and culture output and with the city's expansion in support for the arts and culture sector infrastructure (which you can also learn about in this conversation), it's vital to understand what potential creative investment can unlock for youth.
Rychetta Watkins of Memphis Music Initiative and Ruth Abigail Gardner of AngelStreet join Meanwhile in Memphis to share how their organizations collaborate to help youth redefine success and creatively reimagine career pathways. Tune in, then share what you learn in a conversation this week!
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Memphis Music Initiative
AngelStreet
Orpheum
Opera Memphis
TN Shakespeare Co.
New Ballet Ensemble and School
Ballet Memphis
Collage Dance Collective
Matt Ross Spang's TEDxMemphis Talk
Crosstown Arts
Previous conversations on arts education can be found here, here, and here
PRIZM Ensemble
Young Actors Guild
MMI Works Short Film
Community Reinvestment Agency
This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.
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S5E38 - A Collective Vision with Downtown Memphis Commission
From economic lifts to culture and connection, Downtown is a crucial piece of the Memphis ecosystem. Chandell Ryan, President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, discusses what it means to shape and share a vision for Downtown.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Downtown Memphis Commission
Previous episodes featuring Downtown Memphis commission can be found here, here, here, and here
Downtown Retail Tenant Improvement (TI) Grant
Central Business Improvement District
Downtown Connect
BuildDowntown is a master plan to help determine how Downtown Memphis will grow, evolve, and improve over the next 10 years
Beale Street
Daily Memphian
WKNO
Behind the Headlines with Chandell Ryan
Block By Block Downtown Memphis Commission
Downtown Memphis Commission announces new partnership to improve service efficiency
Hyde Family Foundation
All aboard!—Trolley buses will be returning to Downtown Memphis
Open on Main program
River City Records
Sterick Building
100 North Main
The Sheraton
Downtown Memphis Instagram
Downtown Memphis Commission newsletter
Alley Dayz
State of Downtown
National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis Art Museum
DMC's Parking Map
Hotel Pontotoc
This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.
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S5E37 - Power of Togetherness with Baptist Health Sciences University and Southwest TN Community College
This conversation is a continuation of the celebration of collaboration happening in the Memphis Medical District. Dr. Tracy D. Hall of Southwest Tennessee Community College and Dr. Hampton Hopkins of Baptist Health Sciences University join the dialogue to share the ways their institutions are working in parallel and in partnership to shape the future workforce of the city.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Baptist Health Sciences University
Baptist Memorial Health Care
Southwest's Southwest Entertainment Production Initiative (SEPI)
Southwest becomes first TN community college with aviation program (WREG News 3)
Baptist College of Osteopathic Medicine to open in Memphis (WMC News 5)
Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Local university receives $1 million from First Horizon's foundation
Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Assisi Foundation of Memphis
Tennessee Board of Regents
This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.
Meanwhile in Memphis is a program dedicated to conversations that celebrate the organizations, initiatives, and people that are shaping Memphis for the better. Meanwhile in Memphis is brought to you by New Memphis, an organization whose mission is develop, activate, and retain the city's most important resource - its people!