If you haven’t been paying attention the Memphis Grizzlies this season, you’ve missed a lot.  Despite a serious lack of depth and a roster that is among the youngest in the NBA, the Griz are fighting hard for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, four games behind 8th-place Portland.   They need our support at the FedExForum to win their home games (they have two this weekend), and if basketball isn’t enough to make you buy a $5 ticket, consider what the Grizzlies are doing off the court.

Last night, guard O.J. Mayo, the team’s third leading scorer averaging a cool 17.5 points per game, was the keynote speaker at the 39th Annual Steak n’ Burger Dinner for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis. Mayo, a former B&GC kid himself, says he isn’t sure “if I would be where I am today if it hadn’t been for the time I spent in Boys & Girls Clubs growing up. I feel that as a leader on our team and in the Memphis community it is my obligation to help set an example for our youth, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity.”

Aside from individual player contributions like Mayo’s, the Griz are also working on a number of bigger home game promotions that encourage fans to watch the game and give back to the community at the same tonight.  Tonight’s game against the New York Knicks is Hoops for St. Judge Night, a fundraiser that allows fans to make donations to St. Jude using laptops set up inside the FedExForum. The first 3,000 fans will get a St. Jude t-shirt, and a donation of $20 or more will earn a St. Jude commemorative pin for the donor, the same kind worn by coach Lionel Hollins and announcer Pete Pranica.  Coolest of all, however, is that the entire crowd will be treated to a singing of the National Anthem by a St. Jude patient, a powerful and poignant experience which really can’t be replicated anywhere else; that by itself is reason enough to attend.

To close out their last 3-game homestand of the season, the Griz are holding their annual canned food drive in support of the Mid-South Food Bank. All fans who donate a can of food will receive a buy-one-get-one ticket voucher to be used for an upcoming game (i.e. if you buy a ticket for an upcoming Grizzlies game, you will receive a second one free).  The game, in which the Griz will battle the Denver Nuggets (3rd in the Western Conference), would be a huge win for Memphis, but it won’t happen if the fans don’t show up in full force, nor will thousands of homeless Memphians be able to eat if the crowd stays home.  Give it some thought, at least – either way you look at it, you’re supporting a good cause, and that’s always worth doing. Why not do both at once?

bradchristian99@MemphisConnect FreakEngine PrimeTime Improv tonight and tomorrow 8pm at Evergreen Theatre http://bit.ly/btLCzt

mandasuzy @MemphisConnect Brewers Festival in Handy Park on Saturday.

oldforest@MemphisConnect Overton Park nature hike tomorrow (3/12) at 10am. We meet next to Rainbow Lake parking area. Free to all, rain or shine!

ECMathews@MemphisConnect Voices the of South Hold Fast in Midtown.

MOCHatMemphis @MemphisConnect Pulitzer Prize winning author Ed Larson lectures on the Scopes trial on Tuesday at 7pm at UofM. http://tinyurl.com/mochevent

elizlemmonds @MemphisConnect We’re doing Creation Station at @MemphisBrooks on Sat morning. Maybe the St. Pat’s parade downtown Sat afternoon?

justinhand HOOKUP : LFORADIO Benefit @ Full Moon SATURDAY 10-3 $5 Jaedan / JustinHand / Confusion / SkyPatrol / J.Alexander @MemphisConnect

MemphisLovesKids So much Memphis fun this weekend! Family Studio tomorrow @dixongg and Daffodil Dash & My Big Backyard Campfire Party @memphisbotanic

PetePranica Last 3-game homestand of season starts 2nite. Man up time for the Grizz. NYK in town: be loud n proud at FEF or watch on SportSouth (7pm).

MinglewoodHall TOMORROW NIGHT: Stetsons & Stars – Cowboy Up For Alzheimer’s: Check out video from last years event Courtesy of… http://bit.ly/cgSAJL

PeabodyMemphis Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis and Stax musicians will have an after-hours jam session in the Corner Bar on Friday at 11PM. No cover.

It’s great to see so many people excited about what’s going on in this city. Hope you find something you like.

–

Its 6:00pm on Friday, March 5th.  The Tennessee Room at EmergeMemphis is crammed with innovative new ideas, enthusiasm, and an excitement to see what will materialize over the next 48 hours.  Fifteen presenters were given 3 minutes to pitch their “million dollar idea.”  Ideas ranged from a former-military personnel social networking site to a music website where you can locate regional artists.  After a series of questions from the audience, everyone dispersed around the room to meet with the presenters of each idea.  With a list of needs, the presenters hoped to acquire the necessary talents (marketing, programming, law, web design, etc) through the audience.

Before long, clusters of desks were arranged throughout the building and minds were budding with inspiration and eagerness; computers were set up, whiteboards were filled with notes, and Red Bull cans were everywhere.  For the rest of the night and into Saturday and Sunday, teams were formed and core groups were established around each idea.  Fifteen pitches turned into 8 startups: TippJar, TourneyCaddy, TheListofBands, OneSongConcerts, Romantic Playbook, One Day Pro, MyRepresentatives, ChronoComics.  Websites, Twitter accounts, Facebook fan pages, and logos were fashioned and the attendees could see the end in sight with just a few hours left.  Rendezvous BBQ, Finos, Ghost River, Red Bull, sodas, snacks, and hors d’oeuvre were available throughout the entire weekend to fuel the ambitious workers.

As the clock hit 6:00 on Sunday night there was a scramble to produce a final product with a PowerPoint.  Back to the Tennessee room, this time with a larger audience (open to the public), the founders of LaunchMemphis introduced the final eight startups and gave them the floor to impress the audience.  It was remarkable to see the passion for each idea just after a mere 48 hours.  Each presenter took the floor and pitched their idea and what they produced in just 48 hours with reassurance and relief.  Their ideas had finally materialized and all could see the teams’ hard work before their eyes.  Everyone was especially helpful and encouraging to the future of the startups.  With many more final pitches than the previous year, 48 Hour Launch created a wide spectrum of enticing and (hopefully) successful businesses.

A special thanks goes out to the sponsors: Center City Commission, Red Bull, Rendezvous, and Mouse Foundry Media.  Thanks to everyone who attended.  The LaunchMemphis team and I are looking forward to next year!

–

For information on running your own 48 Hour Launch head to www.48hourlaunch.org or contact the folks at LaunchMemphis (info@launchmemphis.com)

How old will you live to be? According to the 2003 National Vital Statistics Reports, overall life expectancy was 77.54 years. While there are numerous factors that contribute to an individual’s life expectancy, making some simple changes can make a big improvement. Here are some healthy habits (from US News & World Report) that can help you live independently well into your 90s:

1. Don’t Retire. Or at least stay active in something – gardening, volunteering, etc.
2. Floss daily. Flossing helps keep bacteria out of your mouth, from where it can get in the bloodstream and clog your arteries. I’m not kidding – flossing is good for your heart.
3. Move around. Exercise is the closest thing there is to a fountain of youth. Forbes magazine reported in November 2007 that Memphis was the most sedentary city in the US, with 30% of the population that did not exercise regularly. Don’t be a part of that trend.
4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. It helps control your blood sugar all day. Diabetes is the 6^th leading cause of death according to the Shelby County Vital Statistics; maintaining a consistent blood sugar level can help lower this risk.
5. Sleep at least 6 hours a night.
6. Eat whole foods, not supplements. There is no evidence that a single nutrient has an effect; rather it’s the interaction of everything in the food that seems to work.
7. Be less neurotic. Learn to roll with the punches instead of internalizing things.
8. Live like a 7th day Adventist. They live 10 years longer than average by treating their body like a temple and focusing on family and community.
9. Be a creature of habit. Develop healthy routines and stick to them, like going to bed and waking up at the same times each day.
10. Stay connected. Regular contact and involvement with others keeps depression away and gives you a second set of eyes on your own health. Memphis was classified as the 3^rd most miserable city in the US in February 2010 by Forbes Magazine. Let’s work to turn this around.

While these tips won’t guarantee you’ll live to 100, they can help put more years in your life…and more life in your years.

Forbes recently ranked Memphis the 3rd-most-miserable city in the country, and our community was quick to respond in opposition. Memphis Mayor AC Wharton published an open letter to Mr. Steve Forbes pointing out why Memphis is instead a city of joy, innovation and resilience:

…My point is not about a hospital or a housing complex.  It’s not about a basketball team or a ballet.  It’s about our people.  As their mayor, I simply cannot allow to pass without comment some of the things you have published about our city…

Memphis is not a miserable city, not by any definition, not by any metric…

Maybe it’s something in our water.  Maybe it’s something in our soil.  I think it’s something in our souls that makes us Memphians.  We know who we are – and miserable is not part of the definition.

We know too that our city’s song is not complete.  It is being written every day, and it is sung by a chorus of hopeful, energetic voices that will resonate for generations.

After posting his letter, Mayor Wharton and his administration issued a call to action for Memphians to send their own stories to Steve Forbes. We are absolutely inspired by some of our community leaders’ compelling and passionate responses, gathered and shared below.  And we encourage you to post a comment and add your own!

Mr. Forbes,

I live in Memphis and I am not miserable.  I grew up in Memphis, left for nearly 20 years and have been back for 25 years.  When I moved back to Memphis I realized that I had lost a bit of my southern accent after living in Illinois, Ohio and Florida.  But that warm, homey, cozy sound made me strive hard to attain that accent again, because it oozes with love and welcome.

My father was a part of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation workers strike.  I now serve as one of the Vice Presidents at the University of Memphis where our students are top notch leaders.  The University of Memphis has the largest Honors Program of any university in our state.  Our Leadership Education and Development Program (LEAD) is one of the best in the country.  As a part of our LEAD program, we admit 50 scholarship Emerging Leader students each year.  These students not only learn about leadership, they put their leadership skills to work in the Memphis community in order to give back.

Our students initiated the Up’Til Dawn programs that raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  You might be surprised to learn that the students surpassed the million dollar mark this year.  Further,  because of a program that began on our campus, students across the country at colleges and universities annually donate $5 million dollars to St. Jude.

Memphis is a city where all citizens need each other and care about each other;  so when students from across the state, nation and globe come to Memphis, they become a part of that citizen community and begin to show that Memphis spirit by giving back.  I believe only people with joy in their hearts can do that kind of giving.

Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham
Vice President for Student Affairs
The University of Memphis

What a big deal that I came from China? No big deal, but I have a freedom to choose any city that I wanted to live. (None of the cities matter to me as I didn’t know anyone anyplace anyway.) I didn’t know much about Memphis at all before I came to the US 14 years ago. I had opportunity to live in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, but I settled down in Memphis. In reality, it is such an easy decision to settle down and enjoy the life in “America’s Most Miserable Cities!!!”

This “Miserable” city gave me a scholarship and allowed me for higher education which I couldn’t afford.

This “Miserable” city gave my wife a scholarship as well. And we met in Memphis and have three kids now. (Unfortunately, they are not miserable at all.)

I started the business in this “Miserable” city 12 years ago without any money but just passion. (It would not be possible in any other city due to high cost.) Now we have 400 employees with branches in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta. They are managed by the headquarters in this “Miserable” city.

Two months ago, we had a YPO forum meeting in Memphis. After the forum meeting, we went to a blues bar at the Beale street. One forum member from Atlanta was enjoying the great Blues music and he came to me and said one thing I will never forget: ” You know what, Wei, Memphis is a great city and I love this place.” It is easy for me to say “I love Memphis!” But it means a lot when a fellow YPOer from Atlanta said this to me loud and clear from his heart!

Well, I can go on and on that I don’t agree the comments on Forbes. I know the magazine has to pick some cities to be “America’s Most Miserable Cities” to gain attention. But, please do not name the city I love the most!!! It hurts…

Wei Chen
Chief Executive Officer
Sunshine Enterprise, Inc.

Mr. Forbes,

I just wanted to let you know what a huge mistake someone at your company made by listing Memphis as the 3rd most miserable city to live.

I am a life-long Memphian and can simply tell you that there is nowhere else I’d rather be. This is a wonderful place to raise a family, to build a career and to strike a meaningful work life balance.

It is sad that a city with our heritage, cultural diversification and wonderful citizens gets the kind of negative publicity that your magazine has chosen to highlight. I neither have the time or desire to understand your criteria, but I can certainly tell you that whatever the criteria is – your conclusion is wrong.

We have a city full of generous philanthropist; ethical, moral and devout Christians and other religious followings; and most importantly we have people with great hearts and kind spirits.

Here is the link to a wonderful web site that you need to pass along to your less-than-informed evaluation team so that they can either a) rescind their erroneous conclusion or b) make a much more informed decision next year: www.memphisconnect.com

I sincerely hope that you have taken a few moments to read this message and will act properly going forward. Selling magazines may be important to you, but the ripple effect of such uninformed criticism affects many more than you will ever know.

Regards,
Steve

Steve Fracchia
Chief Financial Officer
Southeastern Asset Management, Inc.

Dear Mr. Forbes,

Please come visit us….Memphis a great community and getting better every day. Before you criticize, you should ask some who live here and visit. We have a list of great amenities: beautiful parks and neighborhoods, a great Chamber, a vibrant business and civic community, a government which is assessing its very structure and effectiveness, wonderful caring people,  and a history which has shaped us with an ability to be Upstanders.

Do we have things we need to improve upon? Certainly, all great cities have challenges. As our  City Mayor, AC Wharton says, “Challenges are Opportunities”. We believe the best days for Memphis are ahead…we know our opportunities will be many for our city, for our county and for our region.

With regards,

Julie H. Ellis
Senior Attorney
Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC

Mr. Forbes-

By now all of Memphis knows that Mayor AC Wharton has responded to you regarding Forbes Magazine ranking our fine city the 3^rd most miserable city in the United States.  As a life long Memphian who travels the world a couple of times a year please know that I am always happy when my return flight lands in Memphis and as our mayor so eloquently said “Memphis is not a miserable city, not by any definition, not by any metric”.  I work for an institution that has served this city for 146 years; my wife and I are both active volunteers in our city.  I serve on the board of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; St. Jude is a crown jewel institution not only for our city, but for our nation as well, just ask the many patients and their families who come to Memphis to receive life saving treatments for their critically ill children the majority of whom have never been to Memphis, but come to soon find out what a great city it is.

Through the years I have served as chairman of the board of ArtsMemphis, Memphis Museums Inc., Carnival Memphis, Phoenix Inc., and hold board positions on the Leadership Academy Board, Trezevant Foundation, and held leadership positions on the boards of Boys and Girls Club, WKNO, Memphis Botanical Gardens, Opera Memphis, and volunteered for numerous other organizations dedicated to making our city a better place to live and work; you would not believe what all of these organizations and others do to make Memphis the best of the best.  Miserable is a word that I would never say about my city;  we are proud, we have worked hard to come together since the tragic assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, and take great pride in the many business, civic, medical and social accomplishments that define Memphis.  Like our mayor suggested I would like to invite you and others from the Forbes organization to come to Memphis for a visit as well, I would be glad to show you a few different views of our city from my perspective that your ranking obviously did not take into consideration.

Bruce B. Hopkins
Executive Vice President & Manager
Private Client Financial Services, Wealth Management & Trust Divisions

Mr. Forbes,

You spoke at an SAP convention in Phoenix in 1995. I listened to your address carefully. It was especially impressive because the media had prepared me to expect predictable bromides from a wealthy man who had never held office and expected to buy the presidency. You were thoughtful and straightforward that day. You deserved to be heard as Steve Forbes sans preconceptions. I enjoyed your speech.

Perhaps your publication could give Memphis the same opportunity. This is my hometown. I have great-grandparents on both sides of family buried here. I know this city and its people. It is at once a tough, poetic, engaging place with many examples of hardship overcome. Memphis is not a candidate for Potemkin Village shenanigans. Our problems are real and visible. You can’t grow up a Memphian and not understand that life is difficult. The great William F. Buckley once said that conservatives have “reality on our side.” We Memphians know what he meant. Living in Memphis will not allow any dodging the problems facing America everywhere. Crime, poverty, racial division, unemployment, public education challenges- they are all here in plain site. So are wealth, entrepreneurial genius, racial reconciliation, cultural nourishment, neighborhood regeneration and a lot of people enjoying life. We do not take ourselves too seriously. We know that Elvis could own the world at 21 and be dead at 42. We know that a contrarian elite like Shelby Foote could enjoy his whisky and southern roots while penning the best history of our nation’s Civil War. He will be read 100 years from now. How many American writers can you name who match that feat?

B.B. King lit up Beale Street and keeps it glowing today. Stax Records captured a sound to rival Motown. Our cuisine might not best that of New Orleans, but we can boast the same originality in more restaurants than you can cover in a Memphis spring. Yellow fever was our Old Testament plague driving out life and prosperity almost 150 years ago. But we recovered. Dr. King was murdered here, and as a very young white man I listened to one of his disciples, the Reverend James Lawson, preach on why we could not let his death be in vain. Today I am proud to be the CEO of a company wholly owned and founded by an African-American gentleman. That is Memphis for you.

We are on the move again. Memphis has an honorable and visionary mayor leading the city. It is an exciting time to be in the Bluff City.  Please do visit as Mayor Wharton advised. Stay at the world famous Peabody hotel. Listen to Memphis. You might be as surprised as I was that day in 1995.

Respectfully,

Steven Howard Smith
President and CEO
Zycron Information Technology Services and Solutions

Dear Mr. Forbes,

Six months ago, I packed up my stuff and moved to Memphis.  Admittedly, I was a little hesitant.  After growing up in Dallas, and spending the last several years in cities like Washington, DC, New York City, Atlanta, and London, I was not sure that I was ready to move to a smaller city like Memphis.  To my delight, I have found a loving and comfortable home in this great city.

I work for an amazing non-profit organization, unparalleled by any other in the United States.  I serve a fantastic church, and have been warmly welcomed by the pastors and congregation.  I live in a beautiful townhouse in the heart of midtown Memphis, something I could never afford in the other cities in which I’ve lived.  I am able to easily and actively participate in the life of the city.  I was recently in a theatrical production, I have met great friends, and I enjoy soul-stirring music and food and culture – all here in Memphis.  And, I am only about seven hours driving distance from Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Kansas City, and New Orleans, all of which are cities where I have friends or family, and can now travel to without long-range planning or the hassle of a plane ticket.

I am not miserable.  In fact, I am mesmerized by the heart of a town that has taken the hard hits, and is now finding ways to assist and lead other communities who are experiencing hardship.  For all the fantastic glamour of the other big cities in which I’ve lived, I have found Memphis to be gracious, fulfilling and energizing in a way that the others just can’t touch.

With gratitude,

Rev. Stacy C. Smith
Supervisor, Christian Formation in Wellness, Church Health Center
Parish Associate, Idlewild Presbyterian Church

Hello Mr. Forbes,

I’m sure by now you have been inundated with emails, calls and letters from Memphians who disagree with your assertion that Memphis is a miserable city.  I pray that among the barrage of emails you received is the email sent by our illustrious mayor, A. C. Wharton, Jr.  I read with pride the contents of his letter.

I was born and raised in Tunica, Mississippi (pre casinos) and I dreamed of making Memphis my home.  Although only 26 miles north of where I grew up, I always thought of Memphis as the ideal place to live.  Upon graduation from high school in 1980, I made that dream a reality.  I’ve visited numerous places from Los Angeles to Paris, France and was always happy to return home to Memphis.

Memphis has a lot to offer.  It is centrally located within the country.  Memphis is large enough to be a city, yet small enough to be neighborly.  Memphis experiences all four seasons.  Memphis has experienced some great tragedies, yet it has borne some great legends.

I could go on and on about the wonderful things Memphis has to offer, but ultimately I hope you take the Mayor up on his offer to visit our fair city and experience the friendliness, hospitality, beauty and pride for yourself.

Another proud Memphian that is smiling and full of gratitude.

Annette Webb
Administrative Assistant to Dean Rajiv Grover, University of Memphis
State of Tennessee Notary Public

Mr. Forbes,
May I ask a question? Did you or your reporter actually visit here before the recent article was written? It might have been good for someone to actually come to our ‘miserable’ city and discover just how good misery can be.

Just a few examples for your consideration:

1) Consistently, The Chronicle of Philanthropy cites Memphis as one of the ‘most generous’ cities in America in terms of support for philanthropic endeavors. Much of that focus is the faith community giving time, money, human resources and love into the poor and under-resourced areas of our community. An example might be helpful. For more than 20 years a just one faith-based organization, Neighborhood Christian Centers , has provided caring help and services to our city’s poor and marginalized. Currently serving more than 70,000 residents each year, this organization, for example, provides food, clothing, tutoring, prenatal services, and much, much more. Or how about The Church Health Center, which serves our city by providing cooperative health care services to many, many people on a free or reduced cost basis? How miserable!

2) There are more than 25 agencies or charter schools in our city with laser focus on ‘at risk’ kids.  Making a difference is proven. In fact, Bill and Mylinda Gates determined the efforts being made to address education deserved a $90+ million investment in our education efforts focused on our core city children. Misery loves company, so perhaps you could join the Gates and make a family investment in us?  Maybe just writing a fully factual article could be a grand start.

3) Crime is a problem in every major city! Anyone who will take the time to research and understand the subject of national crime reporting knows statistical comparisons of crimes between metro areas are misleading and not factual.  Tennessee reports in a most thorough manner, not required in most other states, thus our numbers are more accurate and therefore higher.  Not to worry, our miserable crime fighting efforts in Memphis has reduced crime more than 20% in the last year and more than 15% since 2006. (That should have been reported and it is factual!)  Seems someone missed those facts in their rush to misery conclusions.

4) Come on down in May and join our miserable month long celebration called Memphis in May. Each year for the last 20+ years we have joined together as a community to honor a particular country. This year the country of Tunisia will be honored. There is the International Barbecue Cooking Contest, The Blues Festival, and finally the last weekend The Sunset Symphony.  All of these events occur in our miserable downtown, where more than 28,000 people live in a vibrant and renovated district just south of St. Jude Childrens’ Research Hospital campus. St. Jude has more than 4000 people who show up each day for live-saving research and medical work for the children of the WORLD!

5) Almost forgot about our innovation and entrepreneurial environment.  If you ever need a bio-device such as a joint replacement you should look closely because it will likely have been made in misery in Memphis by one of the companies which lead the research and innovation globally.  Global logistics and transportation have been changed by another miserable business: FedEx. I assume you occasion a grocery store which was pioneered here by Piggly Wiggly or you stay in a hotel, which is an industry developed by another misery loving company, Holiday Inn. How about changing the car parts industry to a retail business—AutoZone? Or how about our biggest employers whose headquarters grow and thrive in this miserable place: FedEx Corp, FedEx Express, International Paper, ServiceMaster, AutoZone, St. Jude, Guardsmark, Helena Chemical, Hunter Fan, ACH Foods, Lucite International and others.

6) Greenbelts and parks are a priority here.  Consider how miserable it must be to have 4500 acre public park operated by a citizens’ board smack in the middle of the miserable metro area with trails soon to be connecting from all over the area and people using it every for recreation and exercise. Let’s see…Shelby Farms Park is five (5X) larger than Central Park.  Or how about our zoo which is a critically acclaimed, world class zoo operated by a public-private partnership.

Mayor AC Wharton is a national leader in urban issues and he would be a great feature story sometime.  If your reporter had been to Memphis and if he had toured and talk to us, I believe the article would have been more representative. It seems he just took a bunch of research statistics and the result was he wrote a most miserable article.  In any event if you and the reporter would like I am certain we could arrange a ‘miserable’ all expenses paid trip on one of our corporate jets and you can probably stay in the world class, five star Hotel Peabody.  We’ll leave the welcome mat out for you!
Miserably yours,

Larry Jensen
President & CEO
Commercial Advisors, LLC.

A 169,000 square foot and $50 million project, the new UC is simply three floors of gorgeous, bright, purposeful space.

From a facilities standpoint, Tigers can be very proud of the new UC, our beautiful new Law School downtown, and a new 486-bed dormitory opening later this year.

(SIDE NOTE: The new UC has a Dunkin Donuts and one of only three Burger King Whopper Bars in the country. Orlando, South Beach, and Memphis. What’s more exciting – a Dunkin Donuts on campus or a Whopper Bar? I vote Whopper Bar.)

The UC was designed for the school’s 21,000 students, faculty and staff, and thousands will use the building each day.

Many student organizations are headquartered in the UC, so at the Preview Event on March 6th, I completely agreed with Dr. Rosie Bingham, Vice President of Student Affairs, who spoke about The University of Memphis as a center of excellence for student leadership.

Memphis is a home where it’s easy to plug in, and The U of M is no different. For high school students who want to get involved on their campus it’s the perfect place.

The opportunities for students to sculpt and flex leadership muscles are endless here. And now they can do just that, from the comfort of a spectacular new facility.

Go Tigers! Yaay Whopper Bar!

What’s The Rising? Their Web site describes it as “a two-day multicultural experience in the urban core of Memphis designed to engage the mind, heart and soul.”

This is The Rising’s second year and director John Bryson is excited about the downtown venue as it “gets young people into the center of our city and they see Memphis in a new light.” Bryson, a teaching pastor at Fellowship Memphis, is passionate about racial reconciliation and he and his team have crafted a culturally-diverse weekend that “represents the diversity and beauty of Memphis” and is the only gathering of its kind in the country.

Vibrant Christian faith is often illustrated by the shape of a cross, with both vertical (relationships between humans and God) and horizontal (person-to-person) components. Teaching will focus on both dimensions and will challenge participants to connect with a church or nonprofit and serve their community. Bryson hopes to instill a vision for a life of servanthood and introduce participants to what he calls “an amazing network of cause-oriented organizations in our city.”

Saturday’s schedule features worship and teaching in the morning, followed by a service project at Zion Cemetery on South Parkway East in South Memphis. Zion, which has fallen into disuse and neglect over the past 15 – 20 years, is the oldest predominantly African-American cemetery in Memphis, is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts a rich Memphis history. The group will clean up and clear overgrown vegetation, which must be done primarily with small equipment and manual labor.

Bryson urges young people to consider Memphis as a place to live, connect and serve and hopes that the weekend will help enable our city to retain its native talent and attract a new generation of young people to make Memphis their home. He sums up his vision for The Rising in these words: “Lock arms with us and make a difference.”

The weekend is supported by ticket sales and donations from an anonymous private foundation. Registration for the entire event is $49 and is open until March 11. Group pricing is available. Click here for more information.

MpactMemphis @MemphisConnect the @48HourLaunch and @rmhmemphis Oscar Night on Sunday at Minglewood!

lunaweb @MemphisConnect We’ll be at @48HourLaunch this weekend getting a heavy helping of entrepreneurial spirit! http://budurl.com/3auq

leanncary @MemphisConnect spread the word. @seeingredband will be playing @DrusPlace this Sat. Music starts at 9 p.m.

DCPMemphis @MemphisConnect Supporting Girl Scouts by purchasing cookies at a cookie booth!

elizlemmonds @MemphisConnect Ian headed to @48HourLaunch. There is also Ballet Memphis Abundance. Darius Wallace ‘Hold Fast’ performance at Theatreworks!

bethgsanders @MemphisConnect i guess I don’t have to mention Clapton tonight, do i? [Eric Clapton is playing alongside guitarist Roger Daltrey from The Who tonight at the FedExForum]

unseenthings @MemphisConnect what @bethgsanders said

SpiritofMemphis Hip Hop for Haiti this Saturday at Stax Museum of American Soul Music… http://bit.ly/diY155

marythompson @MemphisConnect Apparently just going outside. Yay 60+ degrees!

MemphisConnect Darius Wallace “Hold Fast” opens tonight http://bit.ly/buOIn5 -see him on @livefrommemphis @ArtsMemphis TV http://bit.ly/a7XszK Mention you heard it on Twitter & get Darius Wallace “Hold Fast” tix at Theatreworks for only $10! http://bit.ly/buOIn5

SarahStramel @MemphisConnect ‘Rake, Shovel, and Hoe’ this Saturday from 9:00am-2:00pm @memphisbotanic Please help get the garden ready for spring!

DowntownMemphis FAMILYFUN: @Hattiloo Children’s Theatre: The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring shows today at 3 & 5pm!

memphisart @MemphisConnect here are our events this week (lecturer was last night) but the gallery shows are open this weekend — http://bit.ly/b9txiE THANKS!

squarebeans @MemphisConnect Nothing special but it will be a nice Saturday to come out and enjoy the [Collierville] Town Square and all its shops and restaurants!

hitonecafe T-Model Ford, Tyler Keith, Hobo Nephews Of Uncle Frank Fri/ WEVL Concert w/ Jack O Sat/

Tickets are $29.50 for individual days or $65 for a 3-day pass. They can be purchased online here but note that Ticketmaster fees apply.

Learn more about 2010 Memphis in May events, including Barbecue Fest, the AutoZone Sunset Symphony and the many ways to celebrate featured country Tunisia all month long!

We need you and your talents to help get entrepreneurial juices flowing starting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Launch Pad at Emerge Memphis. Get yourself registered and get ready to dive into a start-up project for 48 hours. In the course of a weekend, teams will work to develop a business from idea to reality. Here’s a little more info from Launch Memphis:

48 Hour Launch is one of the most powerful and unique entrepreneurship programs in the country. It promotes the development of local economies and the implementation of innovative ideas with new launched startups. Simply put, creative individuals from all industries unite their talent in one location to launch new enterprises in a 48 hour period.

All your food, drink, wifi, and other needs are included. Register at 48hour.eventbrite.com. We take care of the rest while you take care of business.

The festivities kick off this Friday at 6 p.m. at the Launch Pad at Emerge Memphis. If you want to find out more about the ideas taking shape for the weekend, visit the Launch Memphis Facebook event to read about a sampling of pitches proposed at Pitch Night.