Job Fair
When: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m
Where: Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, 1574 Shelby Drive
Why: Each day of this job fair focuses on a different type of work. Tuesday is retail with Goodwill in the morning and Walmart in the afternoon; Wednesday is manufacturing with Amazon in the morning and GSG (which is a staffing company that connects workers and employers) in the afternoon; Friday is service with First Student (a transportation company) and Seedco (a nonprofit organization).
Memphis City Council Committee meeting
When: Tuesday, committee meetings start at 8 a.m.; full council begins at 3:30
Where: 125 N. Main Street, Room 514 or you can stream it or watch it on YouTube
Why: There are several interesting items on the agenda: Before the committee, which doesn’t allow public comment, at 8 a.m., you can see a Southern Heritage Classic presentation; at 11:30 a.m., look for a proposed resolution requesting the state prioritize expansion of Holmes Road between Airways Boulevard and Tchulahoma Road. If you’re one of the residents who depends on this two-lane road to get in and out of your community and have had concerns about sharing it with 18-wheelers, you’ll want to pay attention to this one; at 1 p.m., there’s a resolution to accept the final report of the City Council Renaming Commission, formed to determine which Memphis streets, parks, and other places should be renamed; at 2:15 p.m., there’s a resolution approving an honorary street name change of South Lauderdale Street between Beale Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Street for Roby Williams, president of the Black Business Association of Memphis.
Before the full City Council, where you can comment, there is a resolution approving a special use permit for a planned commercial development at 2977 Broad Avenue; the continued discussion about the pipeline ordinances; and the final vote on the rezoning ordinances. Help shape your city.
Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission public meeting
When: Thursday at 4 p.m.
Where: River Front Room at the Renasant Convention Center, 255 N. Main Street
Why: This is the second meeting exploring whether Memphis and Shelby County should consolidate. This session has technology experts from Municipal Technical Advisory Service, which as part of the Institute for Public Service, works with states, cities and towns to better serve citizens; County Technical Assistance Service, another part of the Institute, that provides technical assistance to county officials; and Tennessee Advisory Commission of Intergovernmental Relations, which was created in 1978 to serve as a place for discussions about improving government. That’s a lot of names, but it’s all worthwhile because the experts are expected to give an overview of the tools available to help create governmental efficiency in Memphis, something we all can agree is necessary.
City of Memphis Job Fair
When: Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Hickory Hill Community Center, 3910 Ridgeway Road
Why: Working for your local government means you are investing in it everyday. You get a chance to see how it does and doesn’t work and maybe help it get better. And, you may be able to help others not get stuck when they have to deal with the system. Just look at the range of jobs available.
Southern Justice Summit
When: Friday from noon to 1 p.m
Where: Virtual; You can register here
Why: This year, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ office is honoring criminal justice reform leaders: Vanessa Potkin, the director of special litigation for The Innocence Project; Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari, who has made juvenile justice issues a focus of her work; criminal defense attorney Michael Scholl; and Heidi Kuhn, Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, who most recently has been a proponent of clearing criminal records. There’s star power too: The keynote speaker is Ben Crump, the Florida-based attorney who represented Trayvon Martin and George Floyd families, and a performance by rapper YelloPain.
District 3 Whitehaven Community Clean-Up
When: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; You can register here
Where: Whitehaven Plaza Shopping Center on Elvis Presley Boulevard behind the Baskin Robbins
Why: Neighbors gathering together to clean up their community makes the community stronger and better. Plus, because this event is being done with the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation, there is the promise of prizes and, starting at 1 p.m., the annual I Love Whitehaven Neighborhood & Business Association Whitehaven Holiday Marketplace. What’s better than a day of investing in your community financially and emotionally?
Women Book of Knowledge Book Club
When: Saturday from 10:30 a.m to noon
Where: North Branch Library, 1192 Vollintine Avenue
Why: “Dear Ijeawele” by Chimamanda Adichie will be discussed. She’s the Nigerian author who you hear on Beyonce’s song “Flawless.” The book’s full title explains what it’s about: “Or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions”; it’s written to a friend who asked for advice on raising a strong, independent daughter. Adichie does that but really offers principles for how to be a kind, decent human being.
Do you have an upcoming event? Send it to info@mlk50.com