A VIEW FROM THE CHAIR powered by KUDZUKIAN

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Memphis City Mayor Jim Strickland to discuss: All things Memphis and the future of the city The areas of growth we've seen in his tenure as Mayor and where we still need to grow. The ways in which the city is supporting the Police department in helping decrease crime throughout Memphis.

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis and Memphis Assistant Chief of Police Shawn Jones to discuss: The transition to a new regime at the Memphis Police Department The areas of growth the citizens of Memphis can expect to see going forward within the Memphis Police Department The ways in which the Memphis Police Department plans on keeping the citizens of Memphis safe and reducing crime in the city

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis and Memphis Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe to discuss: The transition to a new regime at the Memphis Police Department The areas of growth the citizens of Memphis can expect to see going forward within the Memphis Police Department The ways in which the Memphis Police Department plans on keeping the citizens of Memphis safe and reducing crime in the city

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Jim Dean, President and CEO of The Memphis Zoo to discuss: His career journey to becoming the President and CEO of The Memphis Zoo The ways in which the Memphis Zoo has grown into one of the best zoo's in the country The new initiatives and animals being introduced to the Zoo in the future

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Chief Gina Sweat, Memphis Fire Department Director to discuss: Her career journey to becoming the Memphis Fire Department Director The importance of teaching fire safety to the community The impact COVID has had on the Memphis Fire Department over the last year What are the steps to becoming a Memphis Firefighter?

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Sherry May, Co-Director of Live at The Garden to discuss: How Sherry May became the Co-Director of Live at The Garden What purpose Live at The Garden serves for the City of Memphis The importance of taking Memphis to the next level by attracting people to the city through things like Live at The Garden What's next for Sherry May?

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Natalie Wilson, Executive Director of Levitt Shell. to discuss: What service Levitt Shell provides for the City of Memphis Her career in public service and nonprofit organizations The community building activities Levitt Shell organizes in Memphis What's next for Natalie Wilson and Levitt Shell

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Chandell Ryan, Deputy Chief Operations Officer for The City of Memphis. to discuss: The importance of Public Service Her role as the interim director of Solid Waste in Memphis The ways in which the Memphis City Council can continue to support the public servants in Memphis

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with JT Young, Chief Executive Officer for MLGW. to discuss: The importance of MLGW to Memphis The challenges facing MLGW and the citizens they serve after COVID  The ways in which the Memphis City Council can continue to support MLGW's efforts in providing electricity, gas and water safely and efficiently to the citizens of Memphis

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Gary Rosenfeld, President & CEO (MATA) to discuss: The importance of public transportation to Memphis The challenges facing MATA after COVID and before COVID The ways in which the Memphis City Council can continue to support MATA's efforts in making public transportation thrive in Memphis

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Brett Batterson, President & CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group & Ekundayo Bandele, CEO of Hattiloo Theatre to discuss: The importance of arts and theatre to the growth of Memphis The amazing and rich history of the Orpheum and Hattiloo Theatres The impact Covid had on these theatres and what next after the pandemic

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Ashley Cash, Director of Housing and Community Development in Memphis to discuss: The amazing work Ashley Cash does as the Director of Housing and Community Development in Memphis The impact COVID had on the housing market in Memphis The challenges Memphis is facing in helping development the communities and neighborhoods in the city

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Ike Griffith, Director of the Memphis Office of Youth Services: The efforts of the Memphis Office of Youth Services to help the youth in the City of Memphis The importance of getting back to school after COVID What's next for the the Office of Youth Services and what is needed to continue to supports the youths in the community

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Lauren Kennedy, Executive Director of the UrbanArt Commission: The efforts of the UrbanArt Commission to help shine a positive light on the City of Memphis The ways in the which the Commission help highlight some of the most talented artists in the Mid-South What's next for the UrbanArt Commission in 2021

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Paul Young, President & CEO of the DMC to discuss: The efforts of the Downtown Memphis Commission to help grow the City of Memphis and the Downtown community The ways in which city government can help assist the DMC in achieving their goals The plan for economic development in  Downtown Memphis for 2021

Chairman Frank Colvett Jr. visits with Reid Dulberger, President & CEO of EDGE to discuss: The efforts of the Economic Development Growth Engine to help grow the City of Memphis The ways in which city government can help assist EDGE in achieving their goals The plan for economic development in Memphis for 2021

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Katie D. Martin, Communications Manager with Plains All American Pipeline to discuss: The importance of the pipeline to the community The concerns of the citizens who would be most impacted by the pipeline Information on when we can expect the installation of the pipeline to be complete What impact COVID-19 has had on the installation of the pipeline

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Lora J. McGill, M.D. FAAN Lead Principal Investigator with CNS Healthcare and Mr. Ammon Brookins, Project Manager for Clinical Trials to discuss: COVID-19's impact on the hospitals in Memphis. Update on the trails being done on a vaccine and cure for COVID-19. Ways in which CNS Healthcare is assisting the citizens of Memphis during the pandemic. Reasonable timeline on when the public should expect a vaccine for COVID-19.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Patrick ‘Trey' Carter III, President of Olympic Career Training Institute to discuss: The mission and goals of the Olympic Career Training Institute. The importance of growing and nurturing young leaders in the City of Memphis. Impact COVID-19 has had on the Olympic Career Training Institute.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Imani Jasper, Program Manager, Neighborhood Preservation Inc. to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on the neighborhoods in Memphis. Neighborhood Preservation Inc.'s mission to creating strong communities in Memphis. New initiatives in place to strengthen the neighborhoods in this community Steps being taken to help preserve the underprivileged communities in Memphis

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Dr. Brian Waldron, Director of CAESAR and Sarah Houston, Assoc. Director of Education and Outreach, CAESAR to discuss: The great advantages and resources Memphis' water supply adds to the city. The impact the Memphis Aquifer has on providing clean water to the city Impact pollution and other environmental waste has on the Memphis Aquifer Steps being taken to protect our Aquifer

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Lia Roemer-Oakley, Program Mgr. Neighborhood Crime Prevention Grant, Division of Police Services to discuss: Crime Prevention efforts in Memphis The impact COVID-19 has had on the neighborhoods of Memphis Impact COVID-19 has had on crime in Memphis Progress made in creating strong, sustainable neighborhoods

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Melanie Neal, Senior Administrator Neighborhood Improvement, Public Works Division, and Robert Knecht, Division Director for Public Works w/City of Memphis to discuss: The mission of the Public Works division in helping create strong neighborhoods in Memphis The impact COVID-19 has had on the neighborhoods of Memphis New initiatives in place to help the citizens of the Memphis improve the conditions of their neighborhoods Progress made in creating strong, sustainable neighborhoods

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Keenon McCloy, Division Director of Memphis Public Libraries to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on Memphis Public Libraries The role and importance of Memphis Public libraries' in helping educate the youth in Memphis, especially during COVID-19 New initiatives the Memphis Public libraries have implemented recently and will implement in the future The ways in which the library has had to adjust during these trying times

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Jennifer Oswalt, Pres. & CEO, DMC, and Reid Dulberger, Pres. & CEO of EDGE to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on Business Development in Memphis The progress the DMC has had on the economy in Downtown Memphis The initiatives EDGE has implemented to counter the economic environment during COVID-19 Plans for business development post COVID-19

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Carol Coletta, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Nick Walker, Interim Division Director for Parks and Neighborhoods at the City of Memphis to continue to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on Parks and Recreation in Memphis Plans for Memphis In May for 2021 How COVID-19 has impacted the redevelopment of the River front Best practices the citizens of Memphis can take to stay safe while returning to public spaces

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Carol Coletta, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Nick Walker, Interim Division Director for Parks and Neighborhoods at the City of Memphis to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on Parks and Recreation in Memphis Plans for Memphis In May for 2021 How COVID-19 has impacted the redevelopment of the River front Best practices the citizens of Memphis can take to stay safe while returning to public spaces

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Jim West, VP and Chief Customer Officer with MLGW to discuss: The impact COVID-19 has had on MLGW customers. The challenges MLGW and it's customers have faced during COVID-19. What MLGW is doing to assist those citizens who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Information on the resources MLGW has set up to assist those in need.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Jim West, VP and Chief Customer Officer with MLGW to discuss: How MLGW's Share the Pennies Program is progressing. The citizens who are in need of help in regards to paying their bill, and what MLGW is doing to assist those citizens How important donations have been to the Share the Pennies Program over the years. Who is eligible to take part in the Share the Pennies Program.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Ursula Madden, Chief Communications Officer for the City of Memphis and Dr. Manoj Jain, Infectious Disease Specialist in Memphis to discuss: The breakdown of what COVID-19 and what separates it from the common flu. The importance of testing and dispelling misconceptions about testing for COVID-19. When the city of Memphis can expect the stay at home order to be lifted.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Chief Administrative Officer Doug McGowan and Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford, to continue discussing: The financial impact COVID-19 has had on the City of Memphis The main budget priorities for the City of Memphis in 2020/2021. The fiscal outlook for the City of Memphis in 2021. The importance of Safer at Home keeping you and the citizens of Memphis safe and healthy.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Chief Administrative Officer Doug McGowan and Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford, to discuss: The financial impact COVID-19 has had on the City of Memphis The main budget priorities for the City of Memphis in 2020/2021. The fiscal outlook for the City of Memphis in 2021. The importance of Safer at Home keeping you and the citizens of Memphis safe and healthy.

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Steve Barlow, President of Neighborhood Preservation Inc. to discuss: The work done to revitalize the neighborhoods in Memphis suffering from blight and other systematic inequalities. The progress Neighborhood Preservation has made over the years, improving our communities. Importance of supporting the Neighborhood Preservation Summit. *This years Neighborhood Preservation Summit scheduled for May 1, 2020 will be held in online, virtual format. Follow this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-neighborhood-preservation-summit-2020-tickets-91814901843  

Chairwoman Patrice Robinson visits with Frank Colvett, Vice Chair of The Memphis City Council, to discuss: Their experiences as Chair and Vice Chair of the Memphis City council so far. The progress and work that still needs to be done in regards to neighborhood development in Memphis. The new initiatives taken on by the Memphis City Council over the last year to help improve the crime and poverty issues that have plagued the city What new projects the Chair and Vice Chair are looking forward to in the future that will continue to move Memphis forward.