Finding Home
Never say never!
On more than one occasion I said, “I will never move to Memphis.” Six years later, I find myself still here and loving it. My job with Youth Villages transferred me to Memphis and I have to say it’s been the best decision I ever made.
My first priority in coming to the city was to find a church home. I learned that Memphis is statistically one of the most churched cities in America. Finding my church home accomplished two major things for me.
Stained glass from St. Peter Catholic Church, one of hundreds of places of worship in Memphis.
First, I connected to people and they became not only my friends but also my local family. Secondly, I joined a church that loves the city of Memphis in a contagious way. I have had the opportunity to serve the city through a variety of community service projects partnering with local organizations and ministries. These experiences have opened my eyes to the serious needs in our city but have helped me see that I can make an impact.
On a lighter note, my second priority was food. I love finding local, non-chain restaurants, and Memphis has plenty! While I’m far from having explored them all, I do have a few favorites.
The chefs at Las Tortugas take pride in using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.
For Mexican, a must try is Las Tortugas and La Playita and for the best fries in the city, Young Avenue Deli is hard to beat. A great burger can be found at Off the Hoof in Arlington, and while it is impossible to pick my favorite dessert spot, I have to give Jerry’s Sno Cones credit for offering some amazing sno cones. Hands down the Pancake Shop is my new favorite breakfast spot.
Jerry’s Sno Cones, in the Berclair neighborhood.
My top three priorities in life are my faith, family, and friends, followed closely by my love for great food! I came to Memphis unsure I’d find all of those things here, however, I found all three and more in this amazing city.
Each Thursday, MemphisConnect publishes a piece by one of the graduates of the Leadership Academy’s Fellows Program. Writing about what moves them to live and work in Memphis, their connections to the community are as diverse as the Fellows themselves. Learn more about the Fellows Program here.
