It's your time, Mayor Lowery. Good luck to you as you embark on leading the largest, most diverse, and greatest county in Tennessee. We're all behind you.

Hotty Toddy!

It has been the privilege of my lifetime to serve as Shelby County Mayor. The successes we’ve seen over the last 8 years would not have been possible without the leadership of the public servants across all our divisions. Every day, these leaders work to deliver essential services, solve complex problems, and improve the lives of those choosing to live, work, play, and retire in Shelby County. I am deeply grateful for their dedication and proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. Thank you, Shelby County, for growing stronger with us.

This fall, I will bring my passion for public service and leadership to the classroom as a Professor of Law at @OleMiss . As an educator, I plan to prepare the next generation of attorneys by sharing real-world insights from public service. Hotty Toddy all the way!

The Rising Stars Awards is one of many programs launched by this administration that has continued to gain momentum and inspire young people to make a meaningful impact across Shelby County. As students begin to settle into their classes and the new school year gets underway, my hope is that they continue to shine, lead, and make a difference in their schools and communities. I also hope the Rising Stars Awards will continue to grow and inspire young people for generations to come.

The reforms made since our administration and the Division of Corrections took over the Youth Justice and Education Center are now becoming law. Thank you to the Board of Commissioners for passing our ordinance to ban solitary confinement for youth in detention. This is another step toward a juvenile justice system focused on rehabilitation.

The ordinance to end solitary confinement for youth in detention has support from across the community. Thank you @ blackclergy901 Executive Director Shirley Bondon, the Shelby County Commissioners, and everyone who helped move this important initiative to its final reading on Monday. At its heart, this ordinance is about a simple principle, that children in our custody deserve to be treated with dignity, humanity, and have an opportunity for rehabilitation.

In the past, our community was just used to hearing about progress. Now, we're seeing it. We are in the middle of rebuilding our county's only public hospital, the only Level 1 trauma center in a five state radius, and the institution that has served Shelby County's families for more than 100 years. I was glad to join leaders on the grounds of the new Regional One Health, at the old Commercial Appeal building, to celebrate the new life coming to the Medical District and Downtown.

Trekeria Rainey, a student @UAPB, spoke at the Shelby County Commission meeting on Monday in support of our ordinance. This ordinance ends solitary confinement for detained youth in Shelby County. The third and final reading is August 24th. We continue to stand with young people who deserve meaningful support and the opportunity to thrive.

The momentum of ShelbyCares and its free preventative care and exercise classes has reached Raleigh. Together with our partners @uthsc we’re expanding access to health screenings and education.

Youth in Shelby County deserve opportunities for successful adulthood. We remain committed to ending the use of youth seclusion and advancing restorative practices for young people in detention. Thank you to the Shelby County Commissioners for unanimously voting to move this ordinance forward on its first reading. Together, we're making meaningful progress toward a more supportive and effective juvenile justice system.

One of the highlights of the summer was celebrating the Second Annual Rising Stars Awards. From more than 100 nominations, we honored 15 extraordinary young leaders making a difference across Shelby County. Congratulations to our Rising Stars, and thank you to the families, educators, mentors, and community members who support them. Wishing everyone a great school year.

Welcome back to Shelby County students, teachers, and staff. Let’s make this new school year one of achievement, service, and endless possibilities. Together we are strengthening our schools and building an even brighter future for our entire community.

The Youth and Family Resource Center in Raleigh transformed into a skate haven this past weekend as families gathered for the Youth on Deck skateboard giveaway. Young people enjoyed a day of fun, community, and outdoor recreation. The nearby skatepark in Commissioner Caswell's district is a great place to keep the fun rolling all summer long.

Let's all wish Shelby County's very own Ms. Wheelchair TN, Whitney Lavender (@WhItscomplex), good luck at the upcoming Ms. Wheelchair USA competition, August 17-23, in Grand Rapids, MI. I was pleased to meet Whitney who is a published author, supportive mother and partner, and jiu jitsu enthusiast. We're proud of you, Whitney!

This week the law enforcement committee approved the first reading of our ordinance to ban the abusive use of seclusion (also known as solitary confinement) and establish restorative practices when youth are detained. We are raising the bar when it comes to the standard of care, education, and rehabilitation for youth in Shelby County.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. For too long, stigma has prevented people from seeking the care they deserve. This administration has helped change that by expanding access to services like opening our first transitional house, hosting our first Mental Health Town Hall this spring, and providing free telehealth therapy for employees. Now, we look forward to opening the Shelby County Government Mental Health Safety and Justice Center later this year.

This summer's World Cup has shown sport’s unique ability to unite people across borders. This feels like an especially fitting time to celebrate the opening of Memphis Inner City Rugby's home field in South Memphis. This $1.1M investment by Shelby County Government and partnership with MICR and MSCS, has turned a once blighted corner into a premier multi-use field for the entire region.