Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and nonprofit leaders press Shelby County for more funding for Pre‑K and neighborhood programs
Summary
Several community groups, including Seeding Success and Families Matter, and nonprofit leaders urged the commission to fund Pre‑K expansion, youth employment and fatherhood support programs, and other neighborhood services during a large public comment segment.
Dozens of residents and nonprofit leaders used the commission’s public comment period to urge investment in early childhood education, youth job training and neighborhood programs.
Michael Fulton, chairman of Seeding Success, told the commission that last year’s Pre‑K expansion gave thousands of Memphis families hope but said more funding is needed to open classrooms and increase capacity: “I respectfully urge you to fund the expansion for Pre‑K for all. This is an investment in all of our children, our workforce, and the future of Memphis,” he said.
Representatives of Families Matter described outcomes from its AFFIRM fatherhood program: speakers including Dr. Samuel Williams and James Crawford testified that participants achieved employment gains, completed training programs, and built co‑parenting agreements. Program staff offered enrollment and impact figures and urged continued county support for proven community programs.
Nonprofit and neighborhood speakers also highlighted summer youth employment, mental‑health supports, and restorative justice alternatives. Several asked the commission to restore or preserve line items tied to a so‑called “moral budget” that direct resources toward prevention and community services instead of expanded punitive spending.
Meeting takeaway: The public comment period amplified calls for targeted investments in education, transit and small community grants as commissioners finalized the FY2027 budget. Those priorities were debated in subsequent amendment votes on the floor.
Speakers cited: Michael Fulton (Seeding Success), Carol Jackson (Families Matter), Dr. Samuel Williams and James Crawford (program graduates), and representatives from Better Transit for Better Memphis and other local organizations.
Provenance: public comments and program presentations during the June 29 meeting.
