project leader
Amal A
location
3030 Poplar Ave
(Midtown)
latest update rss
No updates yet.

the project

Our purpose is to bring people of different backgrounds together to share their stories of identity and discuss ways for everyone to get involved and improve Memphis. We plan to do this by having an Grand Gala event with speakers, activities, food, and booths with representaitives from different local organizations We want to highlight the importance of speaking to each other and speaking up for each other; hence our name Speak901 #starttalking.

As the founders of the Bezos Project at my school, my team and I have an ambitious vision: to bring people of different backgrounds together to share their stories of identity and discuss ways to help create a cohesive “upstander” Memphis. We plan to do this by having a two-hour-long event where I would share my own story, then we would divide the attendees into groups where conversations about identity would be initiated by using the Race Card Project 6-words. The last part of the event would include booths representing different local organizations.

the steps

Step One: Plan activities and identify vendors.

Step Two: Start advertising through local media and online social networks.

Step Three: Reach out to local schools and colleges for volunteers.

Step Four: Hold Grand Gala.

why we're doing it

As a Muslim-American Memphian, I witness diversity in nearly every aspect of my life: in my neighborhood, my school, at my local worshiping place, at the local supermarket. However, I also experience the legacy of segregation that crippled this city for centuries. Memphis, like other American metropolises, has a diverse population. However, one can easily go an entire day and interact with only a subset of Memphis residents.  Neighborhoods remain homogenous in many parts of the city. Schools, in turn, often reflect that homogeneity. And so do places of worship. But given our contemporary political atmosphere, there is an urgent need for dialogue between people of different backgrounds.

As I sat in my ESL (English as a Second Language) talking to my Hispanic friend with a mixture of sign language, drawings and a couple of English words, I realized that race and language do not matter if we share the same experiences and struggles. Most importantly if we are willing to talk to each other we can begin to work together to solve our common problems.  That is how I believe we can unite our Memphis community: by providing the space where we, intentionally and respectfully, share our stories which should lead to understanding, acceptance and realization of the thing that binds us all together: we call Memphis home.

 

budget

Disbursed Budget:

We spent $1400 on food for the event, food for meetings, t-shirts, office supplies, signage, rental of the ppt. projector ( we got the rent for the venue waived).



RAISED = $941.00
less ioby Platform Fee  waived
less ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $27.41
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $913.59

UPDATED BUDGET (3.16.18):



SUBTOTAL = $1,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
Donation Processing Fee of 3%  $30
TOTAL TO RAISE = $1,065

$1000 for Food & Drinks for 100+ people

 

ORIGINAL BUDGET:

$1000 for Food & Drinks for 100+ people

$300 To Rent the Venue $300

$200 for Printing           

SUBTOTAL= $1,500
 
ioby Platform Fee $35
 
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $45
 
TOTAL TO RAISE $1,580

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Pam Linhoss
  • JOY BONDS
  • Rokia A.
  • Ellen Roberds
  • Anonymous
  • Anwar A.
  • Patsy Haley
  • Mary and Stephen McIntosh
  • Anonymous
  • Ethan’s grandpa
  • James P.
  • Barbara and Donald Olson
  • Anonymous
  • Eva&Scott Ash
  • Sarah Olson Wawrzeniak
  • Marti Tippens-Murphy
  • Tracy Aulfinger
  • Ms. Epps
  • Anonymous
  • James A. Prewitt