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July 2014 volume 2 issue 5 facebook.com/thememphisbridge @thebridgepaper $1.00 theclosing the gap betweenbridge homeless and sheltered what’s inside iNDIVIDUALS Improve Memphis through GiVE365 Daily dollars pool into competitive grants for local nonprofits 4 | Mental Illness BY MADDIE McGRADY Misconceptions lead to Staff Writer a lack of funding and ou may say that The Bridge staff is a awareness young crowd. We’re mostly Rhodes College students, ages 18 to 22. Dur- Ying our first year as Memphis’ debut street newspaper, we funneled over $24,350 di- rectly into the homeless community. This is proof of the power a young crowd has in the realm of community outreach. Likewise, GiVE365, a grant program under the Com- 8 | A New Theatre in munity Fund of Greater Memphis, harnesses Town the contributions of our city’s young adults. Hattiloo Theatre opens In other words, by reaching out to Memphis’ younger demographic, GiVE365 reaches the its doors in Overton entire community. This is an important con- Square cept considering that Memphis’ median age is 33.2 and nearly half of Memphis residents are between the ages of 15 and 45 — 43.6% to be exact, according to the most recent American Community Survey conducted by Courtesy of GiVE 365 the U.S. Census Bureau in 2012. SIGNS OF PROGRESS: GiVE 365 reaches out into the entire Memphis community to aid. GiVE365 first became active in June 2010, tions — Above and Beyond members donate borhood Christian Centers, Inc., among the and it is now on its fifth grant round. Ac- $500 and Lifetime members donate $3,650. twelve 2013 recipients, used its $10,000 grant cording to Ashley Harper, the Director of Describing the process, Harper said, “After to help open The House: Women’s Resource Grants and Initiatives at the Community a theme is chosen by the general member- Center in Orange Mound on September 21, Fund of Greater Memphis: “We did some re- ship, we put an application out to the non- 2013. By providing clothing and food, as 14 | Living on the search with other community foundations in profits in the community. Then members can well as job and parent training to neighbor- hood women, The House follows the 2013 Streets the country to see what they were doing to be on grant-review teams. If they want to grant theme. But GiVE365 also awarded A musician’s take on the bring in younger people — people with few- be involved in looking at applications, they er resources than traditional donors. These grants to the Mid-South Spay & Neuter sidewalk lifestyle can. We have members on application teams types of giving circle funds were one of the that narrow down the group to a collection Services to spay and neuter animals in The ways to involve more people in philanthro- of finalists. Those finalists each present for Heights Neighborhood, and they donated to py.” But unlike other giving circles through- three to five minutes at an event in front of the Levitt Shell to put on the 50 Free Con- MESSAGE out the U.S., GiVE365 welcomes members of the general membership. Members then vote cert Series — illustrations of both the diverse FROM YOUR all ages. online.” Currently, GiVE365 boasts over 250 needs of the community and the breadth of VENDOR So what exactly is a “giving circle fund?” membership households — 150 more mem- the GiVE365 program. As the GiVE365 webpage concisely explains, berships since June 2010. This year, GiVERs voted on the general “The idea is simple. You give $365 per year, Since its first grant round, GiVE365 has grant theme: “Collaboration for Change.” a dollar each day, to make our community granted nearly $225,000 to various Memphis Grant recipients will be announced on Sep- better. You pool those daily dollars with oth- and Shelby County nonprofit organizations. tember 11, 2014. ers. Then you decide together which organi- Clearly, one dollar per day has a huge impact Overall, the success of GiVE365 is largely zations you want to receive the money.” In on the community. And in case you were attributed to its enthusiastic reception by practice, after members donate their annual wondering, the “i” in GiVE365 is deliberately both Memphis residents and nonprofit or- $365, they can attend monthly events and lowercase to emphasize the individual. The ganizations. In Harper’s words, “I think that participate on various committees through idea of the GiVE365 program is to effectively Memphis was ready for an opportunity like the program. But the main privilege of a channel every resource—to demonstrate this to make a collective impact, to come to- GiVE365 membership is the ability to pro- how one individual’s small contribution ef- gether with other people, to be able to give pose and vote on a general theme of the fects change. more than they could on their own. It has year’s grant program; after a grant theme is Last year the general grant theme chosen by not been a hard sell. A dollar a day is some- chosen and nonprofits submit their propos- “GiVErs” was “Home is Where the Heart Is,” thing that a lot of us can manage.” als, GiVE365 members can then vote again which, according to the webpage, included For more information, visit: http://www.cfgm. on which local nonprofits are awarded funds. “projects to make Memphis neighborhoods org/CommunityInvestment/GiVE365 There are two other membership level op- more vibrant, livable, and secure.” Neigh- Page 2 editorial July 2014 Do you want to be featured in the paper? Tweet a picture with a vendor! Editorial Sta Editor-in-Chief Nicole Huguley If you see a e Bridge Managing Editor vendor around Memphis, Emily Clark Section Editors take a location-tagged pic- Grant Ebbesmeyer Eilidh Jenness ture of them and tweet it to us Katie Butler Katie Cannon @thebridgepaper Mary Beth Turner Layout Designers Sam Clark We’ll print your submission in Emily Clark the next issue of e Bridge! Monique Hagler Art Director Monique Hagler Editor of Homeless Content Aaron Banks Editorial Policy Courtesy of GEORGE WELTY e Bridge is a monthly publication dedicated to issues of homelessness in Memphis, TN. It is run by volunteers and is una liated with any re- ligious or political organization. All articles in e Bridge are approved by the HOW IT WORKS: Editor-in-Chief and directors. However, speci- cially-labeled pieces from outside groups or con- tributing writers may appear and do not neces- sarily represent the views of e Bridge editors VENDOR TRAINING and sta nor do they constitute an endorsement. e Bridge welcomes feedback from all mem- bers of the Memphis community. Letters to the editor should be sent to editor@thememphis- bridge.com and may be copy-edited for clarity. Want to know more? e Bridge is a publication by the Memphis Street Newspaper Organization. e Memphis Street News- Individuals who have paper Organization is a nonpro t and exists purely to provide reliable income for those with experiences of EXPERIENCED homelessness and also to raise awareness about issues After a brief interview, of homelessness in the larger community. HOMELESSNESS they learn skills needed to For advertising-related requests, please contact: SELL THE BRIDGE [email protected] To make a donation, please mail to: Each vendor Papers can be sold at Memphis Street Newspaper Organization then receives a 2000 North Parkway, PO Box 1630 local events and on Memphis, TN 38112 BADGE & Or contact: FREE THE STREETS [email protected] papers FOR ONLY 20 1 For more information: [email protected] Additional papers are purchased for $0.25 apiece. thememphisbridge.com Vendors that spend certain amounts on papers receive incentives such as messenger bags and all-day bus passes. July 2014 features Page 3 Only God could do it Letter from the Spiritual vendor reflects on journey from darkness to light through faith Editor BY NICOLE HUGULEY BY LISA LEE ROBERTSON Editor-in-Chief Contributing Writer few weeks ago, I heard about the six-week y husband and I attend Bethlehem God healed my hurting heart. I didn’t have to project hosted at the historic Tennes- M.B.C. feel guilt anymore, because my sins are forgiv- see Brewery called “Tennessee Brewery 273 Ingle St. en. Today, I’m not ashamed of my past, because A Untapped.” The mission of the hosts, a group of MMemphis, TN I’m a “True Living Testimony.” And without the like-minded locals, was to offer Memphians a ph: 901-791-5042 tests that life has to offer, how could I have true chance to check out the brewery, enjoy a selection -- or -- 901-643-8597 testimony? of regional microbrews on tap, listen to live bands, Post Area: At first, I didn’t believe I would ever and feel the strong community presence as they regain my composure and come out in this way. unite to honor the city’s history. So, I made the de- Let me tell you what I mean. cision to drive out to the warehouse district on a 1) I allowed the Lord to come in and (sup with sunny Saturday afternoon to see what all of the fuss me). He came in and made my path straight! was really about. Before I could walk into the build- 2) He reunited me with my family­­­ — my bio- ing, however, I happened upon Isaac Bryant, one logical children, my grandchildren, and a soon- of our homeless vendors, decked out in his Bridge to-be great grandchild, which will be my first. gear with a pile of papers at his feet, leaning casual- 3) I don’t look like what I’ve been through.

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