Mobility = Mobility
MATA has officially extended its fare-free pilot through March 31, with further expansion beyond that possible as well. The city council also approved a measure to reallocate millions of dollars from the Bus Rapid Transit system to shore up MATA’s existing operations.
MATA has long been underfunded compared to the need across Memphis. Ridership has dwindled as routes have been cut, and access has been hard to achieve for our sprawling city. Without physical mobility, we will never achieve economic mobility, so how do we fix Memphis’ public transit?
What is the best way to handle school closures?
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board voted to approve the closure of five schools, in line with the recommendation of Superintendent Roderick Richmond. According to the Daily Memphian, three of the closures were not discussed during the meeting and were approved unanimously, while two received more pushback.
In this update, we discuss what makes for a successful school transition, what the research shows us about the impact of closures, and how families can best navigate the change.
The Cradle-to-Career Pledge
We cannot keep doing the same things year after year and expecting Memphis and Shelby County to start thriving. It takes bold leaders upholding bold promises to put Shelby Countians on a path to economic mobility.
That is why we call on all candidates who are running for County Mayor, as well as the 13 County Commission districts, to follow Commissioner Mickell Lowery’s example and take the Cradle to Career pledge.
Why a Statewide Coalition Matters
This week, we at Seeding Success had the privilege of talking with legislators from across Tennessee about our mission to build opportunity for children and families.
We spent a day on the Hill in Nashville articulating a cradle-to-career vision and meeting with dozens of members of the General Assembly. Our message—familiar to anyone who regularly reads this newsletter—was simple:
If Tennessee is to become the best place to raise a family and achieve prosperity, we need everyone pulling in the same direction.
Back in Nash
The Tennessee General Assembly opened its 2026 session this week during a time of growing economic anxiety. During this session, bills around cutting taxes including the grocery tax are top of mind for legislators to alleviate the financial burdens families face.
Some other issues we will see them address include childcare, school vouchers, state intervention in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, and immigration.