1 00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:04,650 good morning on behalf of the corners of 2 00:00:02,820 --> 00:00:06,480 Highland Heights Highland Heights United 3 00:00:04,650 --> 00:00:07,830 Methodist Racing prosperous of freedom 4 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,269 high rollaz College I would like to 5 00:00:07,830 --> 00:00:15,240 thank you for taking the time to share 6 00:00:09,269 --> 00:00:17,220 your story today is June 22nd 20 2016 my 7 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,439 name is Alana and I him a middle college 8 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:22,560 high school my name is Prince and I 9 00:00:19,439 --> 00:00:24,510 attend South Haven High School let's 10 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,699 just start off with some basics question 11 00:00:24,510 --> 00:00:30,150 about you in your life what's your name 12 00:00:26,699 --> 00:00:34,500 my name is Marshall Massey senior why 13 00:00:30,150 --> 00:00:37,800 that reference myself the first what you 14 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:44,460 really want I was born in 1977 there in 15 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:46,620 Memphis Tennessee currently I'm a driver 16 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:50,190 trainer for a rather innovative 17 00:00:46,620 --> 00:00:52,770 logistics didn't waiting well there's a 18 00:00:50,190 --> 00:00:55,949 big truck driver so it's very much what 19 00:00:52,770 --> 00:01:03,510 I do also I'm currently the owner of 20 00:00:55,949 --> 00:01:05,580 Danny Southern fishing BBQ it has its 21 00:01:03,510 --> 00:01:09,390 ups and downs some days are good some 22 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:10,979 days are bad but for the most part most 23 00:01:09,390 --> 00:01:16,950 part of it is it's an enjoyment 24 00:01:10,979 --> 00:01:19,500 something I love to do on the side yes 25 00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:29,880 I've been married now 14 years would be 26 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:31,950 15 years without a 14 actually well my 27 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,340 spouse's name is Jennifer masters she's 28 00:01:31,950 --> 00:01:36,170 uh 29 00:01:32,340 --> 00:01:38,939 a line supervisor at new breed 30 00:01:36,170 --> 00:01:44,939 corporations I deal with Disney and 31 00:01:38,939 --> 00:01:49,920 things like that we do have children 32 00:01:44,939 --> 00:01:56,490 total of six children oldest being 20 33 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:57,840 he'll be 21 arms on 28 so the oh this is 34 00:01:56,490 --> 00:02:00,570 martyrius Massey 35 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:03,530 then I have Marshall mess at a second 36 00:02:00,570 --> 00:02:08,340 then after him we have markeesha Massey 37 00:02:03,530 --> 00:02:10,849 Monisha Massey Elijah Massey and Orlando 38 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:10,849 master 39 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:16,460 and let's talk about your experiences 40 00:02:14,450 --> 00:02:18,350 growing up can you tell me about the 41 00:02:16,460 --> 00:02:22,060 neighborhood you grew up well I grew up 42 00:02:18,350 --> 00:02:27,320 in what we call Mitchell Heights or 43 00:02:22,060 --> 00:02:33,100 highlights grew up there actually moved 44 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:36,560 there in 87 from South Memphis area and 45 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:39,620 went to elementary and Sherwood 46 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:42,320 Elementary I mean just grew up in in a 47 00:02:39,620 --> 00:02:45,080 very diverse neighborhood it was I mean 48 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:47,470 it was something new to me coming out of 49 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:50,150 an area that was primarily you know 50 00:02:47,470 --> 00:02:52,940 african-american and going into a mixed 51 00:02:50,150 --> 00:02:55,670 community with I mean you had everyone 52 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:58,910 that was there yet Vietnamese all kind 53 00:02:55,670 --> 00:03:02,360 of Asians yeah Mexicans and you had 54 00:02:58,910 --> 00:03:05,030 European Americans yeah I mean from 55 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,920 every nationality you had it there so I 56 00:03:05,030 --> 00:03:14,180 mean it was a quite a different 57 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:23,240 experience my parents is our Blair and 58 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:25,160 Mary Blair I wasn't there but I have 59 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:28,810 seen it I actually seen the end of it so 60 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,810 I didn't see my mom 61 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:38,810 oh very what I would say religious 62 00:03:36,020 --> 00:03:41,090 people their religious family where they 63 00:03:38,810 --> 00:03:45,890 just order in it my dad actually is a 64 00:03:41,090 --> 00:03:48,590 minister as well so great concrete you 65 00:03:45,890 --> 00:03:51,140 know foundation making sure that 66 00:03:48,590 --> 00:03:54,770 children I mean stay on the solid you 67 00:03:51,140 --> 00:03:57,200 know role to success they didn't have 68 00:03:54,770 --> 00:04:00,440 the best education they did have some 69 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:03,080 college education but at the same time 70 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:05,030 they was making sure we knew and knew 71 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,690 what to do far as obtaining our 72 00:04:05,030 --> 00:04:07,690 education 73 00:04:08,550 --> 00:04:11,649 [Music] 74 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:19,180 my little school teacher was sure well 75 00:04:15,129 --> 00:04:21,970 was very exciting to me um I mean like I 76 00:04:19,180 --> 00:04:25,780 said from elementary on through high 77 00:04:21,970 --> 00:04:29,889 school met some of my best friends now 78 00:04:25,780 --> 00:04:33,190 today it's really well I can't say I 79 00:04:29,889 --> 00:04:36,610 have an enemy that I that I know of 80 00:04:33,190 --> 00:04:39,490 personally that I have ever met it sure 81 00:04:36,610 --> 00:04:42,370 will everybody was friendly they 82 00:04:39,490 --> 00:04:43,600 accepted me from day one when I first 83 00:04:42,370 --> 00:04:47,050 transferred from Cummings Elementary 84 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:49,630 over there they accepted me and I mean 85 00:04:47,050 --> 00:04:51,970 it it was great great experience the 86 00:04:49,630 --> 00:04:54,760 teachers I mean most of them was 87 00:04:51,970 --> 00:05:03,729 excellent teachers I mean some of them I 88 00:04:54,760 --> 00:05:05,410 remember to this day growing up I did I 89 00:05:03,729 --> 00:05:07,960 attend the free spirit Missionary 90 00:05:05,410 --> 00:05:12,639 Baptist Church on the pastor of Blair 91 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:15,340 which was my uncle later on as I grew a 92 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:17,470 little older I attended bountiful 93 00:05:15,340 --> 00:05:20,650 blessings ministry on the bishop giveth 94 00:05:17,470 --> 00:05:25,240 era Patterson why I actually began to 95 00:05:20,650 --> 00:05:27,070 minister myself and after that I went on 96 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,740 to true gospel church of deliverance 97 00:05:27,070 --> 00:05:35,650 under the leadership of Bishop Aaron 98 00:05:29,740 --> 00:05:37,419 leech well it was quite different 99 00:05:35,650 --> 00:05:41,349 because if you think about it going from 100 00:05:37,419 --> 00:05:43,750 a Southern Baptist Church to kojic 101 00:05:41,349 --> 00:05:47,830 church or when I would say a shouting 102 00:05:43,750 --> 00:05:50,650 church church that does more praising of 103 00:05:47,830 --> 00:05:52,630 lifting their voice and praising God it 104 00:05:50,650 --> 00:05:54,970 was totally different because I remember 105 00:05:52,630 --> 00:05:58,030 as a child going to it will be called 106 00:05:54,970 --> 00:05:59,800 sanctify the church we got kicked out of 107 00:05:58,030 --> 00:06:00,190 the church because it was laughing so 108 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,849 hard 109 00:06:00,190 --> 00:06:05,650 but old I grew and understood the reason 110 00:06:03,849 --> 00:06:08,349 why they was praising God so much and 111 00:06:05,650 --> 00:06:10,930 the reasons I had to praise them that 112 00:06:08,349 --> 00:06:11,289 that you know fitted me and a whole lot 113 00:06:10,930 --> 00:06:16,020 better 114 00:06:11,289 --> 00:06:16,020 also it grew my relationship with God 115 00:06:17,449 --> 00:06:24,180 can you share some memories from your 116 00:06:19,949 --> 00:06:28,560 childhood that influenced you later I 117 00:06:24,180 --> 00:06:30,780 have to say the boys club growing up I 118 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,900 mean in our neighborhood we didn't have 119 00:06:30,780 --> 00:06:35,130 much to do but the boys club gave us her 120 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:37,919 out 121 00:06:35,130 --> 00:06:40,470 it taught us a few things about gaming 122 00:06:37,919 --> 00:06:42,210 she'll basketball soccer something I 123 00:06:40,470 --> 00:06:44,550 would have never played with soccer but 124 00:06:42,210 --> 00:06:47,699 they put us out there told us the game 125 00:06:44,550 --> 00:06:52,490 and it was quite interesting 126 00:06:47,699 --> 00:06:55,889 playing foosball all kinds of different 127 00:06:52,490 --> 00:07:00,750 games and not only taught us how to work 128 00:06:55,889 --> 00:07:03,449 together you know having a hobo stew 129 00:07:00,750 --> 00:07:05,639 days where everybody just bring a canned 130 00:07:03,449 --> 00:07:08,580 good and they just put it in this big 131 00:07:05,639 --> 00:07:10,770 pot and coach Arnaz will cook it up and 132 00:07:08,580 --> 00:07:14,130 we'll sit down with eat hobo stew in 133 00:07:10,770 --> 00:07:17,479 same same boys club songs I got that 134 00:07:14,130 --> 00:07:17,479 boys club spirit 135 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:22,380 different stuff like that so that stuff 136 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:23,910 that grows with you and as you grow 137 00:07:22,380 --> 00:07:25,199 older you want to share it with your 138 00:07:23,910 --> 00:07:33,360 children and the children that you 139 00:07:25,199 --> 00:07:39,229 encounter well for us in it we have what 140 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:42,180 we are called a consumer home egg we had 141 00:07:39,229 --> 00:07:44,070 future homemakers of America so they 142 00:07:42,180 --> 00:07:45,330 used to teach us things at school that 143 00:07:44,070 --> 00:07:47,909 we could actually take into the 144 00:07:45,330 --> 00:07:50,400 community and teach our parents how to 145 00:07:47,909 --> 00:07:54,870 so if they didn't know how to Sol teach 146 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:57,060 them how to cook fancy dinners or fancy 147 00:07:54,870 --> 00:08:02,280 meals if they wasn't you know pretty 148 00:07:57,060 --> 00:08:07,110 good in the kitchen so we also had what 149 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:09,630 we call the community builders and mr. 150 00:08:07,110 --> 00:08:11,699 Isaac little was was our director at the 151 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:13,530 time and he used to come to the school 152 00:08:11,699 --> 00:08:16,620 and interact with the children and after 153 00:08:13,530 --> 00:08:18,620 school we will go there and he would not 154 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:21,720 only teach us about community building 155 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:23,960 but he was also teach us about spiritual 156 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,960 build 157 00:08:24,020 --> 00:08:29,070 did you have any fun things you didn't 158 00:08:27,090 --> 00:08:30,780 run in the neighborhood well in the 159 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:33,090 neighborhood all we did so many thing 160 00:08:30,780 --> 00:08:37,260 freeze tag I mean we had everything 161 00:08:33,090 --> 00:08:42,380 going I don't think I spend much time at 162 00:08:37,260 --> 00:08:45,390 home basketball hardball football or 163 00:08:42,380 --> 00:08:48,570 horseshoes we did it 164 00:08:45,390 --> 00:08:51,570 I mean ride our bikes from sunup to 165 00:08:48,570 --> 00:08:53,550 sundown if we couldn't so I mean it's 166 00:08:51,570 --> 00:08:56,760 it's a lot of different things we did 167 00:08:53,550 --> 00:08:58,650 growing up in the neighborhood what 168 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,630 significance the tree will have on the 169 00:08:58,650 --> 00:09:03,000 neighborhood 170 00:08:59,630 --> 00:09:04,980 well sure was the core value in a 171 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:07,950 neighborhood yes that's pretty much 172 00:09:04,980 --> 00:09:10,170 where I mean it's the nucleus of the 173 00:09:07,950 --> 00:09:13,980 neighborhood everything branches from 174 00:09:10,170 --> 00:09:15,540 trail well if you notice even everybody 175 00:09:13,980 --> 00:09:18,600 that moves over there their children end 176 00:09:15,540 --> 00:09:20,520 up going to trail well so everything 177 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:23,220 that happens at trail will sprouts out 178 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,320 into the community so if you get a 179 00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:26,340 negative spirit going on and trail where 180 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,930 that's what you're gonna have any 181 00:09:26,340 --> 00:09:30,210 community if you have a positive 182 00:09:27,930 --> 00:09:32,190 atmosphere it sure will that's what's 183 00:09:30,210 --> 00:09:34,350 gonna happen in the community and that's 184 00:09:32,190 --> 00:09:37,170 what we grew our best of friendships as 185 00:09:34,350 --> 00:09:40,830 I see it here it is 20 years on the day 186 00:09:37,170 --> 00:09:51,420 that I graduated and I'm still enjoying 187 00:09:40,830 --> 00:09:54,560 my childhood friends I wouldn't say that 188 00:09:51,420 --> 00:09:57,660 that was different I would say that no 189 00:09:54,560 --> 00:10:00,960 economically they have more challenges 190 00:09:57,660 --> 00:10:03,330 than we had growing up the cost of 191 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:05,010 living here is totally different a lot 192 00:10:03,330 --> 00:10:08,580 of people say generally on the same 193 00:10:05,010 --> 00:10:10,020 scale but far as employment and 194 00:10:08,580 --> 00:10:13,110 different things like that 195 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:18,300 it has offset it you know that community 196 00:10:13,110 --> 00:10:20,370 not only that of course when we came up 197 00:10:18,300 --> 00:10:23,100 and we was buying well when my parents 198 00:10:20,370 --> 00:10:24,210 bought homes it wasn't this thing called 199 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:26,610 a balloon rate 200 00:10:24,210 --> 00:10:29,520 it's if you qualify for the home you got 201 00:10:26,610 --> 00:10:31,470 the home now they have the balloon rates 202 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:36,209 where people buy houses and they can't 203 00:10:31,470 --> 00:10:39,179 afford it five years later they either 204 00:10:36,209 --> 00:10:42,269 you know losing the houses and now you 205 00:10:39,179 --> 00:10:44,910 have what we call outside vendors or 206 00:10:42,269 --> 00:10:46,819 outside landlords they've never seen the 207 00:10:44,910 --> 00:10:49,740 property they just invested in it and 208 00:10:46,819 --> 00:10:51,360 now the neighborhood is going down 209 00:10:49,740 --> 00:10:55,050 because they don't want to put any money 210 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:57,420 or anything in the properties the 211 00:10:55,050 --> 00:10:59,220 opportunities that we had growing up we 212 00:10:57,420 --> 00:11:00,959 did have youth programs and different 213 00:10:59,220 --> 00:11:03,509 things like that to keep us out the 214 00:11:00,959 --> 00:11:04,829 street in the summertime it's a lot of 215 00:11:03,509 --> 00:11:10,199 things over there that they don't have 216 00:11:04,829 --> 00:11:13,730 anymore so but other than that I can't 217 00:11:10,199 --> 00:11:17,309 say it's much different it has went down 218 00:11:13,730 --> 00:11:19,879 but that that's depending upon the 219 00:11:17,309 --> 00:11:24,709 different you know I guess economical 220 00:11:19,879 --> 00:11:24,709 issues that they're faced with today 221 00:11:26,540 --> 00:11:32,689 youth profiles youth programs we did we 222 00:11:29,550 --> 00:11:36,269 had pretty much the Boy Scouts you had 223 00:11:32,689 --> 00:11:38,519 you had different organizations come in 224 00:11:36,269 --> 00:11:41,730 in the summer and they grabbed up all 225 00:11:38,519 --> 00:11:44,939 the children and the I mean congregate 226 00:11:41,730 --> 00:11:49,230 pretty much they had multiple activities 227 00:11:44,939 --> 00:11:51,629 know certain names different groups but 228 00:11:49,230 --> 00:11:54,119 they will come churches with send 229 00:11:51,629 --> 00:11:56,220 missions to the neighborhood to do 230 00:11:54,119 --> 00:12:00,389 certain things you had to know that did 231 00:11:56,220 --> 00:12:02,309 the free lunch programs and all of the 232 00:12:00,389 --> 00:12:04,920 community centers they had something 233 00:12:02,309 --> 00:12:07,470 going on for the youth Internet was a 234 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:10,470 you could all swim in you could do I 235 00:12:07,470 --> 00:12:12,389 mean pretty much everything I had it I 236 00:12:10,470 --> 00:12:15,089 had it available for the youth in the 237 00:12:12,389 --> 00:12:16,709 community I played football so I didn't 238 00:12:15,089 --> 00:12:18,660 get to do a whole lot of community 239 00:12:16,709 --> 00:12:21,990 things in the summer because I was 240 00:12:18,660 --> 00:12:24,509 practicing so but a lot of other kids 241 00:12:21,990 --> 00:12:27,910 they was able to know being part of 242 00:12:24,509 --> 00:12:29,620 those different community events 243 00:12:27,910 --> 00:12:31,480 come closer together in the neighborhood 244 00:12:29,620 --> 00:12:35,380 oh definitely because they knew each 245 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:37,570 other now it's like people don't even 246 00:12:35,380 --> 00:12:39,940 know their neighbor two houses down they 247 00:12:37,570 --> 00:12:43,690 don't know their name or know anything 248 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:46,840 about them it's more it's more of a I 249 00:12:43,690 --> 00:12:50,310 guess uh separate separate communities 250 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:53,230 this is my house and I don't belong or 251 00:12:50,310 --> 00:12:55,420 but back then we played with each other 252 00:12:53,230 --> 00:12:57,160 we knew you know mom oh we know your 253 00:12:55,420 --> 00:12:59,230 grandmother even if she wasn't from 254 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:02,800 Memphis we knew her name 255 00:12:59,230 --> 00:13:07,780 we knew stuff about each other and that 256 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:11,050 brought us closer together way is the 257 00:13:07,780 --> 00:13:14,590 reputation of how the night oh how nice 258 00:13:11,050 --> 00:13:18,580 was uh I was saying it's a pretty much 259 00:13:14,590 --> 00:13:23,620 it's a work area a lot of people middle 260 00:13:18,580 --> 00:13:26,350 class people moved from local low-income 261 00:13:23,620 --> 00:13:31,300 areas or lower areas in they built 262 00:13:26,350 --> 00:13:34,960 families there we had I mean a whole lot 263 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:36,490 of different things that benefited you 264 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:50,460 know the middle-class people at that 265 00:13:36,490 --> 00:13:50,460 time my opinion I know it can be better 266 00:13:50,520 --> 00:14:02,230 I think more so I feel that the city 267 00:13:57,850 --> 00:14:06,550 itself how to implement strategies to 268 00:14:02,230 --> 00:14:09,070 make that area grow not only collects 269 00:14:06,550 --> 00:14:12,820 tax money but put more tax money into it 270 00:14:09,070 --> 00:14:15,520 if you allow community to stay 271 00:14:12,820 --> 00:14:17,440 undeveloped for such a period of time 272 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:21,730 it's gonna diminish it's gonna 273 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:23,590 eventually fade away so the the city 274 00:14:21,730 --> 00:14:26,020 would actually get involved with some of 275 00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:28,270 the community leaders in that area and 276 00:14:26,020 --> 00:14:31,150 help support them and the things that 277 00:14:28,270 --> 00:14:33,910 they're trying to do restructure homes 278 00:14:31,150 --> 00:14:36,460 and I mean get people that kind of Ford 279 00:14:33,910 --> 00:14:38,200 to put a roof on the house put a roof on 280 00:14:36,460 --> 00:14:39,040 it I mean have to say it could help 281 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,230 along with 282 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:44,800 as well that would actually boost the 283 00:14:41,230 --> 00:14:46,630 growth in the neighborhood back do you 284 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:52,089 have any fond memories of your life in 285 00:14:46,630 --> 00:14:55,630 Highland Heights fun memories that's 286 00:14:52,089 --> 00:14:59,589 where I met my wife at so yeah and so I 287 00:14:55,630 --> 00:15:02,529 had my first child that's why I grew up 288 00:14:59,589 --> 00:15:07,690 that's where I learned the basics of 289 00:15:02,529 --> 00:15:13,449 life and highlights everything went on 290 00:15:07,690 --> 00:15:19,779 in and Mitchell hikes how I sweat that's 291 00:15:13,449 --> 00:15:22,389 my that's my footprint if you ask how do 292 00:15:19,779 --> 00:15:24,040 you and your wife meet um she was 293 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:27,160 actually walking down the street I was 294 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:31,120 driving and I saw this pretty young lady 295 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:34,199 and I had to pull over so I pulled over 296 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:36,699 and I asked her name and she was 297 00:15:34,199 --> 00:15:39,970 reluctantly at first I think cuz it was 298 00:15:36,699 --> 00:15:41,560 couple of guys in the car with me and I 299 00:15:39,970 --> 00:15:43,389 said well I'm gonna put it in park and 300 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:45,519 I'm gonna get out on a max your name 301 00:15:43,389 --> 00:15:47,980 again but I didn't help so she went on 302 00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:50,199 and told her Knight and I gave her my 303 00:15:47,980 --> 00:15:52,959 number but she then called me for three 304 00:15:50,199 --> 00:15:54,819 weeks so I was riding down that Street 305 00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:57,180 trying to see if I see you again so 306 00:15:54,819 --> 00:16:00,130 helping ID and then one day she called 307 00:15:57,180 --> 00:16:03,610 so I just thought that was the faith to 308 00:16:00,130 --> 00:16:07,569 die so I hurry up 309 00:16:03,610 --> 00:16:11,380 when and visit and we talked and next 310 00:16:07,569 --> 00:16:14,160 thing you know you know 19 years later 311 00:16:11,380 --> 00:16:14,160 we still here 312 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:32,279 how has Memphis made progress like I 313 00:16:28,149 --> 00:16:36,850 said far higher heights we do have 314 00:16:32,279 --> 00:16:39,970 different organizations that helps it 315 00:16:36,850 --> 00:16:43,569 helps a lot in the community far as the 316 00:16:39,970 --> 00:16:45,190 city of Memphis are we've been I mean we 317 00:16:43,569 --> 00:16:47,319 have a lot number of different things 318 00:16:45,190 --> 00:16:50,730 that they're allowing us to do and 319 00:16:47,319 --> 00:16:53,649 that's to buy abandoned properties and 320 00:16:50,730 --> 00:16:57,100 some of it that the land bank that allow 321 00:16:53,649 --> 00:16:59,800 us to get it to redevelop it to put no 322 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:01,589 make low income family homes for people 323 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,490 that don't have a place to stay or 324 00:17:01,589 --> 00:17:06,160 possibly have a place where they really 325 00:17:03,490 --> 00:17:07,780 can't afford to live there so we're 326 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,740 giving them more affordable homes in 327 00:17:07,780 --> 00:17:13,150 that area so to see they have been more 328 00:17:10,740 --> 00:17:15,730 helpful with with that and the blight 329 00:17:13,150 --> 00:17:18,750 situation trying to clean up blight in 330 00:17:15,730 --> 00:17:22,809 the neighborhood so they're coming along 331 00:17:18,750 --> 00:17:25,240 we stand on them as a community but 332 00:17:22,809 --> 00:17:29,100 they're coming in off ours being more 333 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,100 help in that area 334 00:17:39,090 --> 00:17:45,029 I know you said described your 335 00:17:42,389 --> 00:17:47,159 neighborhood as being your footprint in 336 00:17:45,029 --> 00:17:49,340 a place where everything happened it's 337 00:17:47,159 --> 00:17:52,759 been really nice to you 338 00:17:49,340 --> 00:17:57,960 what is Highland Heights mean to you 339 00:17:52,759 --> 00:18:03,539 Highland Heights means a great deal to 340 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:08,580 me I have a passionate place in my heart 341 00:18:03,539 --> 00:18:12,029 for that area of town like I said my 342 00:18:08,580 --> 00:18:15,990 footprint is everywhere I go I talk 343 00:18:12,029 --> 00:18:18,450 about highlights I'm willing to tell the 344 00:18:15,990 --> 00:18:21,509 world that how nice is the best place to 345 00:18:18,450 --> 00:18:23,730 live in Memphis I don't care about the 346 00:18:21,509 --> 00:18:27,269 German towns the Bartlett's you can say 347 00:18:23,730 --> 00:18:28,919 I grew up in Midtown I said you ain't 348 00:18:27,269 --> 00:18:32,850 grew up in Highland Heights you didn't 349 00:18:28,919 --> 00:18:46,559 grow up nowhere that's just how I feel 350 00:18:32,850 --> 00:18:50,490 about how basically I would like to 351 00:18:46,559 --> 00:18:54,210 thank Amy in a center for transforming 352 00:18:50,490 --> 00:18:57,269 communities I'd like to thank the how I 353 00:18:54,210 --> 00:19:00,330 Salaam zone I'd like to thank the 354 00:18:57,269 --> 00:19:03,869 heights CDC for the things that they're 355 00:19:00,330 --> 00:19:06,889 doing in our community to uplift the 356 00:19:03,869 --> 00:19:10,320 morale of the people that live there to 357 00:19:06,889 --> 00:19:16,499 educate them on you know a better well 358 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:19,769 life not only that just in I mean their 359 00:19:16,499 --> 00:19:23,580 willingness to help out in any way that 360 00:19:19,769 --> 00:19:25,999 we asked them is amazing to me for 361 00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:29,009 people that don't live in a community to 362 00:19:25,999 --> 00:19:35,909 have the wilderness in the heart to help 363 00:19:29,009 --> 00:19:37,409 out a community they're struggling in 364 00:19:35,909 --> 00:19:39,370 the Crossroads the freedom in 365 00:19:37,409 --> 00:19:42,340 neighborhood history projects 366 00:19:39,370 --> 00:19:43,840 we greatly appreciate your you sitting 367 00:19:42,340 --> 00:19:46,960 down and doing your story with this it 368 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:49,680 was good it was enjoyable thank y'all 369 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,680 for having me