The projects that all of our members have been working on this past year have continued to challenge the status quo of our communities. H.O.P.E. has empowered its members to advocate for social and systemic re-imagining of the state of homelessness in our communities. TheMemphis Bus Riders Union has won great hard victories over this past year and continues to work toward equitable transportation for all our city’s residents. The Community-Police Relations Projecthas held six forums with hundreds of people coming out to share their experience. Our trainings and workshops have continued to create the foundation for grassroots community organizing locally and nationally. The annual meeting reawakened our enthusiasm to take these projects further into 2014!
In addition to talking about our work over this past year and getting feedback on how to continue it, we elected new board members. (more below)
We invite all of our members to get involved with the various projects that we have going on. One great way to do that is to renew your membership for this coming year and take our short survey [HERE].
Newly Elected MSPJC Board
We are very excited to extend congratulations to all of our dedicated newly-elected board!
Officers: Federico Gomez (Chairperson); Tiffany Futch (Treasurer); Dana Wilson (Secretary); General board members: Mia Madison, Anna Mullins, Brandon Gaiter, Ace Madjlesi, Jodi Mack, Toni Whitfield, Chris Martin, Dr. Coby Smith, Jesus (Chuey) Lopez.
Meet the ten new members of our board, each elected for a three-year term. They will join existing members to make a total of 17.
- Mia Madison – Dedicated community activist. Currently employed by HCD as a Mapping Analyst. G.O.T. Power Graduate and participant in the Community-Police Relations project.
- Anna Mullins – Long time MSPJC member. Former Board Chair and founder of the Women’s Action Coalition v 1.0. Currently Executive Director of the Cotton Museum.
- Brandon Gaiter – Community activist and leader in the Memphis United effort around the KKK rally in Memphis this year.
- Ace Madjlesi – Community activist, project coordinator in the H.O.P.E. Women’s caucus, the Women’s Action Coalition and other community causes. Works at Center for Research on Women.
- Jodi Mack – Dedicated activist and MSPJC supporter. Graduate of G.O.T. POWER and active with the Community-Police Relations project. Advocate and supporter for homelessness services.
- Toni Whitfield – Dedicated leader in H.O.P.E. and participant in the Community-Police Relations . US Army Veteran and ordained minister. Represents H.O.P.E. on the Shelby County Homelessness Consortium.
- Chris Martin – Recent graduate of the U of M law school and currently a clerk at Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. On the Board of United Mountain Defense. Active in the Occupy Memphis and Mid-South Peace and Justice Center G.O.T. Power grad.
- Anthony Sledge – Advocate for those with disabilities and staff at Memphis Center for Independent Living. Alumni of G.O.T. Power and dedicated community activist for ex-offenders.
- Dr. Coby Smith – Founding member of the Black Organizing Project and the Invaders, organizer with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and first African-American to attend Rhodes College.. Continues to be a dedicated community activist, including action with Memphis Bus Riders Union.
- Jesus (Chuey) Lopez – Activist with Communidades Unidas en Una Voz. Graduate of Mid-South Peace and Justice Center’s G.O.T. Poder training program.. Artist and horticulturist.