EPISODE CXLIV | "UNPACKING 2020" w/ MICHALYN EASTER-THOMAS

North Memphis native, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, was elected to the Memphis City Council District 7 seat in November 2019. She speaks of fond memories growing up in the Vollintine-Evergreen community as she matriculated through the Memphis City school system. Michalyn took her educational quest to a new level graduating from Christian Brothers University and later attending Columbia University of New York receiving her M.A.Michalyn's passion for her community extends beyond the norm as she is the founder of nonprofit Our Grass Our Roots Nonprofit Organization(OGOR), a grassroots movement centered around the North Memphis community, informing the community of resources, resisting gentrification and advancing the community and individuals of the community.Take a listen as Michalyn walks us through her journey starting as a little girl who loved her North Memphis neighborhood, to becoming a change maker in that very same community. Her background as a History major speaks volumes as she addresses how we are currently mirroring some of the very same issues from 100 years ago such as racism, war and a pandemic. Michalyn also shares her thoughts on leadership, recent covid mandates and the impacts of gentrification slowly but surely creeping through our Memphis domain.