Memphis- The Summer Experience takes college students and summer interns through a journey of some of the city’s best assets. Along the way, participants are introduced to high-profile current city leaders and have the opportunity to network with leaders from the city’s best companies as well as their peers. Memphis- The Summer Experience is changing how many of these young people see the professional potential in our city, and is helping to influence their role in shaping Memphis’s future.
Recently, participants had lunch at the award winning Memphis Zoo for Leadership Training with Mayor AC Wharton. After Mayor Wharton’s enthralling speech, participants shared their impressions of the events, as well as thoughts on how the mayor impacted their view of the city.
Q: What impressed you most from the Mayor’s message?
I really appreciated the Mayor taking the time to speak with us. His message for keeping and bringing opportunities to Memphis was really relevant to the audience, with whom many are most likely debating the likelihood of such possibilities remaining at home. Making Memphis a city of choice is truly something he sold to the audience, and something I was truly impressed by. Cicely – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
I liked how he stressed that all cities have problems and that, in a place like Memphis, you can easily find groups actively focusing on improvement of situations. Bill – Rhodes College
He acknowledged the challenges that Memphis has as a community without pretending that they don’t exist. However, he also spoke of the solutions that are currently addressing these challenges. Rickey – Mississippi State University
I like how the Mayor shared some of his life experiences with everyone. I was able to relate and it made me want to stay in Memphis after Grad School. Felicia – University of Memphis
As someone who is likely confronted daily by the more dismal aspects of life in Memphis, I was awed by his optimism yet candor in addressing our cities problems. While he expressed a great love and hope for our city’s future, he was not without concrete ideas for affecting change for all Memphians. Samantha – Bowdoin College
Q: After hearing the Mayor, do you have a different view of the City of Memphis?
YES. Mayor Wharton convinced me that Memphis is on the cusp of great things and there are many people/organizations that are working to make this happen. Jessie – Rhodes College
YES. I did not know that there were so many places that offered assistance to the people of Memphis that are trying to better this city starting at the community level. Robin – University of Memphis
YES. After hearing Mayor Wharton, I have the drive and will to want to come back to Memphis and give back in ways that the city has helped me move forward and experience countless opportunities. Coretta - Bowdoin College
YES. Memphis has great potential. We have some of the brightest, eager, forward-thinking individuals. With proper direction and equal participation, the whole perception of Memphis stands to be changed. I think we can do it. Cicely – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
