Community Members Youth Selected For Place Matters Memphis Governing Body
Good news! We have reached a significant milestone in Place Matters: Memphis. Thanks to your feedback and collaboration, we are happy to announce the community members who comprise the governing body that will take this through phase 2.
Robert Armstrong served on the Design Committee and Race Equity Summer Committee. He recently completed the Code Collective training through CodeCrew to become a Junior Software Developer. Robert is passionate about breaking the school to prison pipeline.
Rosa Barber is originally from Jackson, MS. She moved to Memphis, TN to serve as Chief Operating Officer at Partnership to End AIDS Status because her goal was to help end stigma and disease in her community.
Brianna Brinson is a 9th grader at Power Center Academy where she plays basketball for the Lady Knights. In her spare time, Brianna is passionate about political organizing, often phone banking and canvassing to mobilize her community to push the vote!
Carrigan Burress is a Memphis native and currently lives in Whitehaven. She is deeply involved in the community through service and advocates for maternal health and health disparities among Black women. She is in her first year of nursing school and works to support herself.
Lisheena Clark is a young professional who works in youth development at the YMCA in the Shelby County Schools program. She is a graduate of Hamilton High and CBU. Lisheena wants to see system level changes that impact students at all levels.
Barbara Farmer-Tolbert has deep roots in Memphis and lives in Whitehaven. She is a pastor, veteran sexual assault and domestic violence detective (SC Sheriff's department), a DEI specialist, and served in Shelby County Schools. She is passionate about seeing change in criminal justice, healthcare access and mental health.
Aidan Farris is a freshman at White Station High School and is passionate about culture and the arts. He has a desire to see systems change to improve opportunities for youth in Memphis.
LaJOYce Harris is Co-founder of a Memphis charter school in Orange Mound, Arrow Academy of Excellence, and serves on multiple boards and collaboratives that include New IQ, SCS CCTE, Newest One, Epicenter, FISLL. She is passionate about system-level change to support education equity and community development for all Memphians.
Ephie Johnson served as a Summer Governance Committee member. She is the President and CEO of Neighborhood Christian Centers and sits on numerous local and national boards. Ephie is a graduate of Treadwell High School and the University of Memphis. Ephie has a passion to serve Memphians and provide services that enable them to thrive and improve their quality of life for all generations.
Teresena Medlock served on the Summer Governance Committee for Place Matters: Memphis. She is the Director of Special Education at Memphis Lift Parent Institute and a native Memphian. Teresena is passionate about engaging the community as leaders to ensure education equity and economic advancement for Memphians.
Jevonte Porter is 25 years old and father of 2 young children. He was raised in Orange Mound and graduated from Melrose High. Jevonte currently serves as the Regional Corporate Relations Manager for Youth Villages and dedicates his spare time to mentoring students from his alma mater. Jevonte is passionate about system level changes to allow youth throughout Memphis to have equal access to opportunities to ensure they succeed.
Malcolm Rawls is a Native Memphian and played football for University of Memphis. He is the Chief Operations Officer at Peer Power Foundation. Malcolm is passionate about increasing opportunity for youth and mentoring. He serves on multiple boards and coaches a youth football team in Binghampton.
Randy Truong served on the Race Equity & Community Engagement Summer Committee. He is a second-year professional studies student at The University of Memphis and constantly learning ways to improve quality of life on campus and within his community in the Medical District. He believes that civic engagement is crucial for developing as a person and building relationships with others. His end goal on campus is to erase that gap of knowledge between first-generation students and non first-generation students.
Ximena Villa served on the Design Committee and Race Equity Summer Committee. A sophomore at White Station High School, she immigrated with her family five years ago and is passionate about racial and cultural equity and prioritizing youth as community leaders.
Cheers and a round of applause for this fantastic group of community members! We are looking forward to supporting you.
