Thank you for 15 years, memphis
Fifteen years ago, we started with a simple mission: “Help the good guys do more good.” Today, we pause to celebrate what those words have grown into—thanks to you. Whether you wore a Choose901 tee while cheering courtside at a Grizzlies game, obtained a job through a Teach901 job fair, rolled up your sleeves during a Serve901 trip, or donated an hour of time and an hour of pay through Give901, you’ve made this journey possible. And today, we want to say: thank you.
WHERE It ALL BEGAN.
Back in 2010, we were a small team with only three full-time team members. But when one team member left to pursue a PhD, instead of replacing one role, we brought in six college grads. It really set the tone for what City Leadership would become: an organization with the mission to recruit, develop, and catalyze leaders for a growing, improving, and more loving Memphis.
The Campaigns that Changed the Game.
From the very beginning, our mission has been simple: help Memphians invest and enjoy their lives in Memphis. And for the last 15 years, that mission has turned into a collection of campaigns:
Choose901 – to celebrate Memphis and those who love it.
Teach901 – to recruit and support the educators who shape our future.
Serve901 – to mobilize students and volunteers to meet real needs.
Choose901 Alumni – to keep the energy and impact going post-graduation.
Give901 – to connect generosity with action and support high-impact organizations.
Each one started as an answer to a need we saw. And each one has grown into a community that keeps showing up—for schools, for neighborhoods, and for one another.
This Week: Looking Back to Look Forward.
As part of our 15th anniversary celebration, we recently sat down with four incredible leaders. These familiar faces helped build City Leadership into what it is today.
They shared stories of what it was like in the early days of our organization: launching ideas, chasing big dreams, and saying yes to the city before anyone really knew what that would look like.
What we heard was powerful. Moments of challenge, vision, and deep belief in what Memphis could become.
We’ll be sharing more of those stories in the coming weeks, but here’s what I walked away with:
City Leadership has never been about just one team, one campaign, or one organization. It’s always been about people—leaders across this city—who are willing to say: “I believe in Memphis, and I want to be part of its future.”
We’re Just Getting Started.
