Berklee conference attunes students to life via music

Boston's highly-respected Berklee School of Music brought its nationally recognized City Music Network Conference to downtown Memphis this week, posting up at the Westin Hotel for a three day intellectual dissection of the theme: "American Popular Music: The Untold Story."

The conference was a joint presentation by Berklee and the Stax Music Academy, which is part of the national link of music schools in Berklee's extended online music curriculum. Six students from Stax were among 109 students from throughout the nation that participated in the summer program on the Berklee campus. Fifty-nine students from 4th through 12th grade earned full scholarships through the college's online Pulse music program.

MCS shares its knowledge of education innovation

Kimberly Smith, principal of North Jackson Elementary School in Jackson, Miss., listened intently and scribbled notes as a panel of Memphis City Schools (MCS) teachers discussed teacher evaluation and recognition during Leader|Share at the University of Memphis.

Her biggest takeaway was feedback on the new teacher evaluation system. Teachers are embracing the system by using it to plan and deliver instruction to meet goals.

The LeMoyne-Owen College celebrates with talent show, concert

The story of The LeMoyne-Owen College began 150 years ago and, despite declining enrollment and financial woes in the past, the story continues.

Students, faculty, alums, city leaders and other supporters gathered Wednesday (Oct. 24) at the Cannon Center in Downtown Memphis for the sesquicentennial celebration entitled "Magicians' Got Talent." It featured LOC students and a special concert by world best-selling gospel jazz artist Ben Tankard.

TSD School Choice Guide, Education Expo set for 2013

In its continued transformation from a newspaper to a multi-media communication business, The New Tri-State Defender (TSD) has entered into a dynamic and strategic partnership with New America Media (NAM), the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of over 2000 ethnic news organizations.

TSD is collaborating with NAM to support the research, development and publication of the first Greater Memphis School Choice Guide, an idea conceptualized by TSD President and Publisher Bernal E. Smith II. NAM is supporting TSD's project through a contract with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help ethnic media in four Southern cities expand coverage of education.

50 ‘new’ Men of Excellence named to TSD 2012 class

The New Tri-State Defender (TSD) found no shortage of well-deserving men to induct into its growing corps of Men of Excellence honorees. Call it a testament to the abundance of talented, committed and visionary African-American male leadership in Memphis – and the women who support them.

TSD will host its fourth annual Men of Excellence Awards Reception and Presentation on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at The Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Avenue.

Sales tax debate televised

There were fervent exchanges between the proponents of a half-cent sales tax increase and those who oppose it during a televised 60-minute debate Wednesday morning (Oct. 24) in the studio of WREG-TV Channel 3.

With the Nov. 6 election looming, the debaters were steadfast and hoping voters in Memphis and the unincorporated areas of Shelby County would accept or reject a sales tax increase that would generate an estimated $60 million, with half of that going to public education. Proponents argue that the public education funds would go to extend Pre-K, but some opponents are not convinced.

Lecture to explore opinions, feelings of black women

"What do black women want?"

That's a question Rutgers professor Dr. Deborah Gray White will pursue with her University of Memphis audience when she speaks at the University Center Theater on Nov. 1.

African-American homecoming queen breaks barriers at Ole Miss

On a September day this year, Courtney Pearson stood anxiously on the steps of the Lyceum, the famed old Greek Revival building on the University of Mississippi campus.

There, she learned she was elected homecoming queen. There, she stood as the first black woman to hold that title at Ole Miss.

Five decades before, James Meredith had entered the Lyceum as the university's first African-American student. He risked his life as he walked inside, his admission a milestone in the struggle for integration that sparked deadly riots on campus.

UTHSC Pharmacy students work to scare off the flu

University of Tennessee Health Science Center Pharmacy students earlier this month held Boo Flu, an annual event that gives all UTHSC professors, staff and students an opportunity to receive a free flu vaccination.

The supply of vaccines ran out after students immunized 1,850 people. A subsequent event was held to give flu shots to the 240 people who didn't get theirs, or missed the first date. The turnout for this year's event was a record breaker, with 1,500 to 1,600 flu shots dispensed previously.

Sharpton to help pitch poll-watchers brigade

The Rev. Al Sharpton will be in Memphis on Thursday (Oct. 25) as part of his mission will be to solicit more poll workers for Election Day on Nov. 6.

Former State Sen. Kathryn Bowers said Sharpton, head of the National Action Network and a syndicated talk show host, will be at Willie Moore's Family Restaurant at 109 N. Main St. at 8:30 a.m.

"He's coming to support us in our initiative to encourage people to volunteer to be poll workers for the poll-watchers brigade," said Bowers.

‘Champions’ join Freedom Awards brigade

Champions emerge at different times, under different circumstances, and with different callings and missions, leaving an indelible imprint upon the world. Some from outside Memphis find their way here, and increasingly more so thanks to the National Civil Rights Museum and its annual Freedom Awards.

On Tuesday (Oct. 16), the Freedom Awards brigade expanded for the 2012 honorees: Legacy Award – Drs. George Jenkins, Sampson Davis and Rameck Hunt, aka "The Three Doctors"; Humanitarian Award – Marlo Thomas, actor, author, philanthropist and daughter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's founder; International Award – Dr. Muhammad Yunus, economist and banker to the poor; and National Freedom Award – Dr. Bernard Lafayette, longstanding activist for peace and nonviolence.

Students share spotlight at Freedom Award Public Forum

The National Civil Rights Museum's 2012 Freedom Award Public Forum, sponsored by International Paper, and annually hosted by Temple of Deliverance COGIC took place Tuesday (Oct 16). It provided an opportunity for students and the public to participate in this historic event.

Excitement is one of those things that will often become evident before the excited person even says a word.