This Is What Memphis Dreams Are Made Of

We kicked off 2026 with a bang.

Last week, the first-ever Ice Box Classic brought together eight incredible schools, eleven action-packed games, and a crowd full of die-hard fans who brought the energy all day long. 

With schools like Crosstown High, Collegiate and Soulsville Charter School, every team showed up with passion, grit, and pride for their school and city. And after a full day of high-level play, PURE Academy rose to the top, claiming the championship rings and etching their name into Memphis history.

But the real win was watching these students rep their communities, their schools, and the future of Memphis.

3,000 Reasons to Believe

Events like this remind us: the future is already in motion.

There are now over 3,000 Choose901 Alumni, young Memphians who’ve come through our programs, graduated from high school, and are charting bold paths forward.

Some are in college. Some are teaching. Some are leading businesses. Some are mentoring the next generation. All of them are shaping the Memphis we’re becoming.

And in 2026, we want to go even deeper with them.

That’s Where Our 2026 Goals Come In

🎯 Grow the Choose901 Alumni Program with new events, deeper mentorship, and expanded leadership opportunities, helping alumni stay connected, supported, and empowered.

🎯 Expand Serve901 to welcome more college students to Memphis than ever before, fueling a year of service and transformation.

🎯 Champion teacher retention through Teach901, supporting our educators with resources and celebration as they continue showing up for our city’s kids.

🎯 Grow our Give901 Monthly Members. It costs roughly $25 a month to provide each Choose901 Alum with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive. With over 3,000 alumni in the program, we’re setting a big goal:

💥 One Give901 member giving $25/month for every alum in the program.

A monthly, recurring donation allows us to plan programs, hire staff, and build long-term support that students can count on.

Can you be one of the 3,000? Join the movement here.

What Are Your Goals?

Personal? Professional? Wildly ambitious? We want to hear them.
Seriously. Hit reply and send us your goals for 2026.

Let’s speak them into existence and get to work making them real.

Our Hope for Memphis

We believe in a Memphis where:
✨ Every student gets a shot at greatness
✨ Every alum feels supported long after graduation
✨ Every teacher feels valued and equipped
✨ Every zip code is full of opportunity
✨ And where we keep dreaming big, together

Here’s to what we’ve started and all that’s still ahead.
Let’s make this year count.