Spring Break with Serve901!
March in Memphis means a few things: unpredictable weather, Memphis Black Restaurant Week, and of course—Spring Break service trips with Serve901!
This is our busiest season of the year, and I absolutely love it. Hundreds of students from across the country are making their way to Memphis, rolling in with sleeping bags and ready hearts to serve our city.
But this isn’t new for me—in fact, this whole thing started back in Spring 2005, long before City Leadership officially existed.
The History of Serve901
Back then, I was hosting college groups myself, finding places for them to crash on floors and helping them connect with incredible Memphis nonprofits. The impact was incredible. These students didn’t just show up to work—they left as ambassadors for Memphis, telling their friends back home about the all the good things that were happening here in Memphis.
I knew this would be an important tool in building the positivity of Memphis, and that's why we built our own space to host the trips- a 114-bed bunkhouse in Midtown. It's now a home base that has welcomed thousands of volunteers and helped facilitate countless service hours across the city. It’s a game-changer.
Serve901 Today
When students come on a Serve901 trip, they’re not just getting a service trip—they’re getting an immersive Memphis experience. They’re learning about our history, our culture, our challenges, and our victories. They’re leaving with a deeper understanding of what makes this city special. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be back someday for more than just a visit.
This year I wanted to highlight our Serve901 Director, Jeff Riddle and talk to him about some of his experiences with Serve901. He’s been leading this campaign for over 10 years, and no one is more fired up about what this season means.
Interview with Jeff Riddle, Serve901 Director
What’s Your Favorite Part of Leading Serve901?
“Meeting new people and making connections all the time. Through this work, I’ve met so many people and tried to stay connected as best I can. I've hosted 17 trips from Creighton University over the 10 years. One Creighton student I've enjoyed keeping up with from a distance is now in Harvard Law school. We don’t know where their paths will take them, but we do know they leave with a real fondness for Memphis. That’s really cool to see.”
What does a typical week look like?
“Groups arrive on Saturday and settle in. Sunday, they visit the National Civil Rights Museum, then we do a Memphis history talk at the bunkhouse that night to help set the stage for the week. Monday through Thursday, they’re out volunteering at different nonprofits across the city. Wednesday night, we take them to The Four Way, which ties into the civil rights history they’ve been learning about. Thursday afternoon, we bring them all together for a Choose901 101 session, where we introduce them to internship and gap-year opportunities in Memphis. Then we wrap up with dinner at Los Picosos, a local spot that has deep ties to Collegiate School of Memphis, one of City Leadership's partner schools. We’ve built a great relationship with them over the years, and they always take care of our groups.”
Where Are Students Serving This Month?
"A ton of places! Neighborhood Christian Center, Junior Achievement, Memphis Athletic Ministries, Refugee Empowerment Program, Dorothy Day House, Mid-South Food Bank, and more. This week, we’ve got a lot of groups helping with Spring Jam at Neighborhood Christian Center and J.A. Finance Park, which teaches financial literacy to students."
What Are You Most Excited About This Year?
“What’s really exciting this year is seeing how returning trip leaders are bringing new institutions into the mix. We’ve got three leaders who have been here before, but they’re now at new schools and bringing a whole new group with them. That’s the kind of thing that keeps Serve901 growing—people having a great experience, then carrying that momentum forward into new opportunities. And seeing how these students stay connected to Memphis, even if it’s years down the road, is always exciting."
The Impact of Serve901
Serve901 is about so much more than just filling volunteer shifts- it’s about building relationships and making lasting connections between students and the city of Memphis. These students don’t just serve; they experience Memphis in a way that sticks with them long after they leave.
So, as we dive into another busy season, I can’t wait to see the impact these students make—and the impact Memphis makes on them.
