Weekend circus turns Landers Center into a land of adventure

I've been a photographer for many, many years and nothing brings me greater reward than capturing the encounters between children and the world around them.

Last Friday (May 17), I got yet another chance to record the wonderment that takes place when young people encounter the new and unknown in a safe and secure environment.

The venue was the Landers Center in Southaven and the setting was the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, which ran May 17-19. The circus' theme was "Fully Charged," which easily could have described the children's reaction before, during and after.

Teach for America Week in Memphis

Elected officials, local celebrities, and business executives from across the city returned to the classroom April 29–May 3 to celebrate Teach For America Week. Each year, Teach For America Week invites community leaders to serve as guest teachers in public school classrooms, engaging and inspiring students. Athena Turner - Executive Director of Teach for America - Memphis spoke with TSD President and Publisher Bernal E. Smith, II, regarding Teach for America and its purpose.

BES: So tell me about Teach For America (TFA), for somebody not familiar with it. What is TFA? What are your goals, and what are you trying to accomplish?

Growing black business: Back to the drawing board – again

Gone are the days where an invisible "Blacks Need Not Apply" sign branded the City of Memphis' business sector. Still, what is the difference between stating access and creating access for African-American and women-owned business enterprises, or "MWBEs" as they're called in the marketplace?

That was the dimes-to-dollar question as The New Tri State Defender returned (May 8 in City Hall) to the starting point for this series, the monthly meeting of the Minority Business Development Opportunity Commission (MBDOC).

Established by resolution, MBDOC – a seven-member volunteer group – cannot recommend the hiring or firing of any firm seeking business with the city. Its job is to review how the city's divisions are complying with the stated intent to legally and ethically spur MWBE growth and to, hopefully, recommend solutions to make the process easier.

‘Embrace Life’ at Sisterhood Outreach Summit & Showcase

The Memphis Cook Convention Center will come alive with vendors, exciting entertainment and more during the 18th Annual Sisterhood Outreach Summit & Showcase on June 1-2.

Sisterhood Showcase Founder and Grace Magazine Publisher, Tina Birchett, said Showcase attendees should expect a quality event that has something for the entire family.

"This year's theme Embrace Life is a powerful message which inspires us to take time out to enjoy our remarkable life," said Birchett.

‘Fat City’ distinction aids Obesity Summit birth

The city of Memphis is comprised of 650,000 residents, one third of which are obese, which puts them at risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, according to the Gallop Well-Being Index.

These statistics helped birth the Healthy Church Challenge 100-day weight loss competition, which will culminate in an Obesity Summit on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Breath of Life Christian Center, 3795 Frayser Raleigh Rd. The summit is free and open to the public.

The Obesity Summit is designed to educate participants, disseminate health information and encourage participants to eat better, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle.

Sit-in vets plan return visit

The Walgreens at Madison and Main downtown will have some unusual visitors at noon on Friday (May 17) – 53 years after a sit-in there at the lunch counter.

Five students – Grace Austin, Parolee Holt, John Hooks, Willie Tom Miles and Stewart Truly – were arrested there that day in 1960. Only two – Austin (now Grace Austin Meacham) and John Hooks are still alive.

Meacham and some others involved in the sit-ins that pulsed through Memphis that year – beginning with the first on March 18, 1960 at McLellan's 5 and 10 cents store on Main Street – plan to revisit the Walgreens site.

Landmark court decision gives NAACP Youth reason to run

Members of the NAACP Youth Council held their 22th 5K Fund Run/Walk May 4 in Audubon Park amid 40-degree temperature. The 5K Fund Run/Walk was open to participants of all ages.

The theme of the 5K Fund Run/Walk was "Run for Freedom," which commemorated the Brown V. Topeka, Kansas Board of Education 1954 Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in public education.

The annual event encourages healthy eating habits and exercising to prevent the onset of major health problems such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Participants tested their skills and endurance to gain a competitive edge.

'Scandal' Phenomenon Sweeps through Memphis

From one corner of the city to the other, the biggest question seems to be, "Who is the Mole?" Scandal fans (commonly known as GLADIATORS) are waiting with baited breath to find out who the "mole" is. Not since, "Who shot J.R. [Ewing] on the 1980's hit series Dallas has there been a more poignant question with regard to a TV series!

Well, Gladiators, wait no longer ... The answer will soon be revealed! Here in Memphis, there will be a "Scandal" Season Finale Watch Party on Thursday, May 16th, 7:30 - 10:30 pm at Memories Banquet Hall -- 6749 Winchester Rd. The watch party will be hosted by 103.5's Myron Mays (TSD's What's Happening, Myron? columnist). Go to http://scandalfinale.eventbrite.com for more details.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker issues ‘greatness’ challenge

Who is Cory Booker?

A graduate of Stanford University, Yale Law School and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Booker – the mayor of Newark, N.J. – is obviously a brilliant guy.

He is also committed and passionate on the issues and to the betterment of people, living on the equivalent of a food stamp budget to raise awareness for the insecurities that low income families face, shoveling snow from the driveways of constituents, and allowing Hurricane Sandy victims into his home following the devasting impact of the floods in New Jersey.

‘Who’s the Best Mom in the World?’

In honor of Mother's Day and in collaboration with "The Loretta McNary Show," The New Tri-State Defender is showcasing the fifth annual Who's the Best Mom in the World? essay contest.

The TSD is featuring the winning essays and the moms they highlight as a reflection of the importance of mothers in our community.

Mother: Seble Ross

(Nominated by the Ross family.)

It is a question that can be best answered by her children...who know their Mom is their greatest protector, the wisest of counselors, and affirmative disciplinarian who will continually love and pray for them, through ALL THINGS and IN EVERY SEASON.

West Nile virus makes early appearance

The Shelby County Health Department has received confirmation of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus within the areas of Memphis (zip codes 38116, 38122, 38127), Bartlett (zip code 38133), Germantown (zip code 38125), Collierville (zip code 38017), and unincorporated Shelby County (zip code 38141).

This is the earliest occurrence of positive WNV pools on record in addition to the most positive pools present this early in Shelby County.

Since the middle of April, the Health Department's Vector Control Program has applied Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved larvicides to bodies of water known to produce mosquitoes as part of its proactive effort to decrease the number of mosquitoes. Larviciding is the most effective method of reducing mosquito populations and will continue throughout the summer.

Volunteer work nets DC honor for Memphis 8th-grader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – M'Lea Scott, a 14-year-old Craigmont student, was one of Tennessee's top two youth volunteers of 2013 honored in the nation's capital Monday night.

Scott, an eighth-grader, and Hannah Bryant, 17, of Columbia were saluted for outstanding volunteer service during the 18th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

M'Lea and Hannah – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix. The setting was an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.