Today, May 1st, City Leadership turns 16.

A “Sweet Sixteen,” as they call it, but what makes this one meaningful isn’t the milestone.

It’s what’s been built along the way.

Sixteen years ago, this didn’t start with a long-term plan.

It started with a conviction.

A belief that leadership begins when someone takes initiative for the benefit of others.

And a belief that if enough people in Memphis did that, everything could change

City Leadership began as a project-based, consulting effort. We were responding to the needs of organizations across Memphis that serve Memphis.

But over time, something became clear:

Memphis didn’t just need more projects.

It needed more people engaged.
More people taking ownership.
More people stepping into leadership.

So we built something different.

Not just projects, but catalytic platforms designed to activate leadership at scale:

These are often seen as separate organizations. That’s by design. The focus has always been on the people on the frontlines of the work.

Those leaders, out front, pushing and creating the movements. But behind the scenes, serving those Memphians has been the team at City Leadership.

If there’s one thing 16 years has taught us, it’s this:

The future of Memphis will not be determined by any one person. It will be shaped by thousands of people who choose to care enough to act.

That’s the work.

We’re proud of what you all have done and built and we are excited about what’s ahead.

The next chapter is about scale.

Reaching more Memphians.
Connecting more people to opportunity.
Retaining the talent we’re already investing in.
Turning belief into action.

Because the future we all want…

A growing, improving, more loving Memphis...

will require more leaders to be recruited, developed and catalyzed.

Some of you have been part of this since the beginning.
Others joined along the way
And some of you are just now learning about this work.

Wherever you are, there’s a place for you in it.

Explore the work.
Share it.
Invest in it.
Be part of it.

Thank you for being part of these 16 years.

I can’t believe it’s already been sixteen years, but it turns out, what makes it “sweet” isn’t the milestone.

It’s the momentum we build together.