Real Talk Memphis with Chip Washington

Episode Notes My guests include Jerri Green, Policy Advisor and Assistant County Attorney. She will tell us about the Shelby County Commission recently passing the Fair Chance to Serve ordinance that gives opportunities to those with criminal records to volunteer on local boards and commissions. She explains what it means and the importance of being part of the process. TVA has been front and cent...

Episode Notes My guests include Roshun Austin, President/CEO, The Works, Inc. They rebuild, restore and renew Memphis neighborhoods. She has been described as a dynamic force for change. She will tell us about recent projects and what plans she is developing. The heat is all anyone is talking about but it's a dangerous situation. Dr. Ben Bowman, Medical director Emergency Dept. at Methodist German...

Episode Notes Guests include a man who has and continues to wake us up every morning for the last three decades on the radio airways. Ron Olson is a very familiar voice and personality to anyone who calls Memphis home already knows. From K-97 to FM-100 and now 104.5 WRVR, he along with his sidekick Karen Perrin keep us entertained from 6-10 am daily. The legend joins me to discuss his career, his...

Episode Notes Guests include Justin Johnson, Regional Dir., TN Suicide Prevention Network. He joins me for an honest and frank discussion about mental illness and how it seems to be affecting so many prompting dramatic tragic actions and suicides. How much do you know about or even heard about the Black Rodeo circuit? To be honest, I don’t know much at all but Marcous Friday, Professional Rodeo an...

Episode Notes My guests include Natalie McKinney, Executive Dir. of Whole Child Strategies. Her mission in life is to make sure people have an equal and fighting chance in life. Their focus is to empower the whole family and community. She joins to talk about their partnership with MATA and how it fills a much needed gap. LaToya Tennille is the definition of a super woman. She's a mother, comedy c...

Episode Notes My guests include Randy Blevins, Vice President of Marketing and Programming for Memphis in May (MIM). He will share what it was like to finally come back and host the premier music festival event after a 2 year absence caused by COVID. Also, the temporary new site, logistics, what worked and most importantly the economic impact it created for the city. Jeffery Higgs is the Executive...

Episode Notes Guests include Mike Wallace, basketball reporter from Grind City Media the place you go for all things Grizzlies info. He will tell us what this team looks like up close, their chemistry and just how far they can go as we head towards the NBA Finals. DeAndre Brown is a man who understands the ups and downs of life and is dedicated himself to letting others know that one mistake does...

Episode Notes This is pledge week at WYXR and besides asking you to donate in whatever way you would like, I am going to give you an up close and personal at a couple of our talented on-air personalities. Dee Torrell is the host of We Belong which airs Sunday's from 4-5 pm. My other guest is Talia Palacio, host of La Hora Del Saxon. She is an educator who wanted to bring both an awareness and the...

Episode Notes My guests include Archie Willis, III who comes from a rather well known family in our city. He is from South Memphis and is behind a development project that will bring more visibility to the area in a positive way, he explains. While many of us act as if COVID-19 is a faded memory, its NOT as a new variant of Omicron is working its way across the country. Dr. Steve Threlkeld makes a...

Episode Notes Guests include Heidi Kuhn, Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk. She returns to discuss the very important issue of expungements, why they are so important and how they help to get folks back on track. Also, they have a new debt program to tell you about. With the election cycle in full swing, early voting begins this Wednesday. Shelby County Election Commissioner Linda Phillips joins...

Episode Notes My guests include Dexter Washington, Chief Executive Officer at the Memphis Housing Authority. We all know that the housing situation is at a critical point and it takes up to 30-40 percent of the total household income to keep a room over your head. He joins me to discuss what his agency is doing to help out those in need. The list of issues the Memphis City Council has to address a...

Episode Notes My guests include Dwayne Spencer, President and CEO of Memphis Habitat. Recently, Habitat for Humanity International received $436 million in unrestricted giving from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Of that, Memphis Habitat received $7.5 million. He joins me to talk about that and how it will change many lives. The small town of Mason in Tipton County has been in the news a lot of la...

Episode Notes My guests include Sarah Houston, AKA the Water Warrior. A few months back, the headline was the protest of Byhalia pipeline and how it would affect various parts of the community if done. The project is back in the news and Sarah is back to tell us why it's a bad idea. Antonio Perez is the new General Manager for the Memphis Sports and Events Center. It's all part of the Liberty Park...

Episode Notes My guests include Rob Moore, Business reporter from the Daily Memphian. With all of the turmoil and confusion surrounding logistics, supply chain concerns, supermarket prices and availability, unreal gas prices and a war, we need some understanding and he will help. Tougaloo College is a treasured HBCU and a place I hold dear. Recently, they were given a $10 million dollar gift from...

Episode Notes My guests include Chief Event Strategist Cynthia Daniels who will share the details on this year’s version of Memphis Black Restaurant Week. This year features 28 restaurants and 95 meals to choose from…I am getting hungry already. Davina Jones is the Executive Director of Couture Cares, a group that envisions a community where youth have access to the opportunities, skills, resource...

Episode Notes On the next and all new Real Talk Memphis;My guests include Alexis Pugh, Director, Memphis Animal Services. She will talk about a whole host of subjects regarding our pets also known as our family members, including a promotion with the Memphis Tigers which may get you a free pet adoption…My dog Moses may even tune in! Next, did you know the AKA’s are coming to town? Seriously, they...

Episode Notes My guests include Karen Vogelsang, Executive Director of ARISE2Read. Their sole mission is to improve the reading literacy skills of our children. She joins me to talk about that and her recent trip to Athens, GA to speak to their annual Chamber of Commerce meeting on a shared vision. Also, exactly, how grouchy is the Ladybug. Pastor Terrell Monger is a man of God and an advocate for...

Episode Notes My guests include Elle Perry, Digital Desk Manager for the Daily Memphian and current President of MABJ. She tells us how the newsroom navigates the digital divide in a 24/7 news cycle and what we can expect from MABJ in 2022. Nicole Taylor is a newly minted member of the Memphis 7 but not because she wanted to be. That was the number of employees fired by Starbucks last week because...

Episode Notes Joining me will be Randall Phillips, networking, computing and tech training and robotics instructor. If you are familiar with Code Crew and knowledge Quest, he works with children to teach them what the future of technology will be. The Stax  Museum of American Soul Music, located on the original site of Stax Records studio since 2003 recently received a huge honor. The announcement...

Episode Notes My guests include MPD Col. Vincent Beasley who is the commander of Tillman Station. We are all aware of the crime problems we see and hear about every day. He joins me to talk about the challenges of keeping citizens safe while being short staffed and about some of the proactive initiatives like the Community Outreach program and what they hope to achieve with our help. Dr. Altha Ste...

Episode Notes My guests include Sally Heinz, Executive Director of MIFA. She makes a return appearance to discuss the ambitious agenda for the organization looking forward in 2022.  Collage Dance moved to Memphis In 2009. Since then, they opened its dance conservatory to expand access to classical training to communities of color and prepare them for collegial and professional dance appointments....

Episode Notes My guests include Candace Tate, NEXT Memphis Program Coordinator. It is an extension of the Porter Leath organization who is a primary source of support for Memphis at-risk families. She tells us how NEXT will serve child care professionals so they can focus on the task at hand and how they plan to change the game of childcare in Shelby County. The Peer Power foundation recruits and...

Episode Notes My guests include Tannera Gibson who was recently named the first black female President of the Memphis Bar Association. She will tell me about what the honor means to her and what the agenda looks like moving forward. For those of you who are aware of the hit musical talent show, the Voice, you know that recently one of our very own, Wendy Moten, was a finalist. She came in second b...

Episode Notes My guests include Tangua Houston. An educator by trade, she saw something was missing and wanted to fill a need for many of our young people. That’s where Universal Achievers Foundation was born. She’s explains the concept of success through work. Many of you have heard of Kwanza but do you know it’s origins or meaning? Dr. Richard Cooper from Widener University will explain and enli...

Episode Notes My guests include Rev. Dr. Walter Womack, Sr. Pastor of Faithful Baptist Church and SCLC president. He, like many of us is very troubled by the senseless violence we see on a daily basis in our city. Recently, he launched an effort he hopes others follow. He hit the streets for a real conversation and will tell us what he learned. Next, we have all heard of the fine work of the 100 B...