
What Role Can Neighborhoods Play in Education? The Power of the Shalom Zone Network
What role can neighborhoods play in education? This question was top of mind when, in early 2015, Center for Transforming Communities (CTC) and our Shalom Zone partners began focusing on education in three Memphis neighborhoods: South Memphis, Highland Heights, and Hickory Hill. As an organization, CTC is about strengthening neighborhoods. Through our Communities of Shalom program, we convene grassroots coalitions of neighborhood stakeholders – what we call Shalom Zones – to

Growing Through Service: The Story of the Us Making It Happen Youth Summer of Service Program
Last fall, Center for Transforming Communities (CTC) provided grants to three Shalom Zones to help them implement projects to improve education in their neighborhoods. These were small grants, but we knew that even a small amount of resources in the hands of our Shalom Zone partners could have big impacts. All three participating Shalom Zones have wrapped up their projects, and this week we’ve been posting about their accomplishments. On Monday, we wrote about how the South M

"For the First Time in Their Lives, Someone Was Listening To Them" - The Story of the Firs
Editor's Note: Last fall, Center for Transforming Communities (CTC) provided grants to three Shalom Zones to help them implement projects to improve education in their neighborhoods. These were small grants, but we knew that even a small amount of resources in the hands of our Shalom Zone partners could have big impacts. All three participating Shalom Zones have wrapped up their projects, and over the coming days we’re going to be posting about their accomplishments. Yesterda

Everything Needed Was There: The Story of the SMSZ College Readiness Program
Editors Note: Last fall, Center for Transforming Communities (CTC) provided grants to three Shalom Zones to help them implement projects to improve education in their neighborhoods. These were small grants, but we knew that even a small amount of resources in the hands of our Shalom Zone partners could have big impacts. All three participating Shalom Zones have wrapped up their projects, and over the coming days we’re going to be posting about their accomplishments. Up first:

The Neighborhood History Project - Documenting History to Claim a New Story
Last week, the 2016 Neighborhood History Project came to a close. On Monday evening, the four youth history interns from Highland Heights gathered with their neighbors at Highland Heights United Methodist Church and shared stories of their summer – shared how they had grown in appreciation for their community’s history, for their elders, and for each other. The next evening, the three youth history interns from South Memphis gathered with their neighbors at Evening Star Missi