There are 13 article(s) tagged Memphis Lift:

• October 2025

  • Opinion: Mayor Harris isn’t listening to Memphis families about MSCS

    “Instead of waiting for the school board election, we demand an immediate, concrete commitment to fix our schools and restore public trust.”

    By Sarah Carpenter October 19, 2025

• March 2025

  • Guest column: What Memphis can learn from Houston’s school turnaround

    “What we saw was inspiring — and it should serve as a roadmap for what’s possible here in Memphis, regardless if that’s through our local board of education or through state intervention.”

    By Mark Sturgis, Sarah Carpenter, Danny Song, Dianechia Fields March 06, 2025

• December 2024

  • Activists, State Rep. discuss school board recall possibilities

    During a Thursday press conference, Tennessee state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, stopped short of committing to push legislation that would allow voters to recall Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members.

    By Laura Testino December 19, 2024

• June 2024

  • Parents’ resource center ‘a beacon of hope’ for Hyde Park

    The Memphis Lift, a nonprofit that helps families navigate the education system, has a new building that’s a source of pride for its North Memphis neighborhood. Mayor Paul Young said work done there helps make the city safer.

    By King Jemison June 23, 2024

• June 2023

  • Memphis Lift honors ‘Cake Lady’ with Brenda Rogers Resource Center

    Memphis Lift broke ground on an expansion of a resource center honoring North Memphis resident Brenda Rogers. Rogers was affectionately known as the “Cake Lady” for baking homemade cakes for friends and family.

    By Alicia Davidson June 02, 2023

• June 2022

  • ‘We will lead beyond distractions:’ Superintendent says MSCS leaders fit to run district

    Members of Memphis Lift and the Whitehaven Empowerment Zone said the school district has failed both students and teachers.

    By Alicia Davidson June 16, 2022

  • ‘Ray must go!’: Groups demand MSCS school system overhaul

    Two organizations held a joint press conference Monday to call for the resignation of the MSCS superintendent.

    By Alicia Davidson June 15, 2022

• October 2020

  • Tennessee’s new schools report card omits more than it includes

    Most notably missing is student achievement and growth information, even from years when standardized testing occurred. 

    By Marta W. Aldrich October 28, 2020

• July 2019

  • Memphis Lift hires new chief of staff, sets goal for next year

    Memphis Lift announced the hiring of Rhoda Hickman as chief of staff July 19. The organization's goal is to "make the powerless parent powerful." 

    By Omer Yusuf July 29, 2019

  • Memphis Lift donates 1,000 backpacks at back-to-school block party

    Parent-led community organization Memphis Lift joined with North Memphis businesses to provide school supplies to local children.

    By Jared Boyd July 28, 2019

• May 2019

  • Selection of Ray is latest chapter in politics of public education

    Joris Ray's public campaign to go from interim to permanent superintendent was different, but the push to keep the school system's leadership local and from within the system has been a constant feature of choosing a superintendent.

    By Bill Dries May 01, 2019

• March 2019

  • Memphis parent advocacy group spreads model to other cities

    Nashville is the latest city to copy pieces of the Memphis Lift model. Memphis Lift leader Sarah Carpenter said she’s also been meeting with parents in Oakland and Atlanta to help get their programs started.

    By Caroline Bauman March 26, 2019

• February 2019

  • Let’s help a whole city of kids

    People talk about school choice. But school choice doesn’t truly exist if parents don’t have access to good schools. There is a solution that can help: unified enrollment.

    By Sarah Carpenter February 06, 2019