Opinion: ‘Every time we lose a child, we have failed’
“Jack didn’t die because he didn’t want recovery. He didn’t die because he was a bad kid. He died because the systems around him were inadequate, uncoordinated, underfunded and broken.”
Topic: Guest Columns
RSSThere are 248 article(s) tagged Guest Columns:
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July 2025
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May 2025
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Opinion: On STD rates, we need to start having ‘uncomfortable conversations’
“If middle school students are having unprotected sex and contracting sexually transmitted infections, do we really think they are going to log onto a website and order a test?”
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April 2025
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Opinion: The potential impact of tariffs on Memphis
A slowdown in global trade because of the tariffs could mean layoffs, lower investment or worse for many Memphis companies big and small.
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Guest Column: Regional One is nothing short of a miracle
“Every day, Regional One quietly performs life-saving work, often without the recognition or resources it deserves. It serves our entire region – rich and poor, urban and rural, young and old – without pause or prejudice.”
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Opinion: Memphis needs plastic-bag ban
“Progress for the city doesn’t only come from attracting big name companies and potential new jobs, it must also include environmental justice and protecting the health of all residents.”
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March 2025
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Opinion: Cohen says Memphis wants results, not chaos
“Congressman John Lewis taught us that sometimes we have to get into ‘good trouble.’ Necessary trouble. Because when the system is under attack, silence eventually becomes complicity.”
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January 2025
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Opinion: The case for patience in MSCS leadership
The consequences of dismissing Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Feagins may have unintended consequences that won’t serve the district’s 110,000 students, board member Amber Huett-Garcia says.
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Opinion: Can I get some vouchers?
A public school teacher on vouchers: “Let’s be honest, today we’re far more interested in satisfying our own personal interests and we expect the taxpayer to foot the bill. We are entitled.”
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December 2024
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Opinion: Sen. Taylor calls DA’s bail decisions ‘disheartening’
State Sen. Taylor to DA Mulroy: “Stop trying to be a social justice warrior, aggressively prosecute the laws as written and passed by the General Assembly, and do your job!”
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August 2024
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Guest Column: U of M makes a major impact on families
“The benefits of receiving early intervention and therapy in the formative years is well supported by decades of research.”
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July 2024
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Opinion: The rule of law is not optional for a healthy society
Opinion: Will the Mid-South continue supporting trendy cultural rebellions against traditional civilizational norms and natural law? Can the River City stand against lawlessness and humanism that is influencing the leadership in our city?
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June 2024
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Guest Column: What happens when children learn differently?
“If children are learning, then they can begin to think with more complexity, solve bigger problems and experience success. ... If they are learning, they have hope.”
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May 2024
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Guest Column: The beauty of track and field
“Track is unique because it is both an individual and a team sport. It is a meritocracy in which the best time wins and the fastest athletes get to perform regardless of the opinions of parents or coaches. But the competition in track is not just between runners, but most importantly within each runner too.”
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March 2024
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Opinion: Rental owners can help reduce crime
“Rental property owners can reduce crime by utilizing police calls for service information at their properties. This is no untested theory. It is a proven method that has been put into practice in other crime-ridden neighborhoods in Memphis. And it works.”
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January 2024
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Toni Williams: ‘Unite for youth protection — it’s a collective responsibility’
“It takes all of us to act with a sense of urgency to address the root causes that push our children to commit or be impacted by crime. We must come together to put them on the path of safety and success with our respective resources.”
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Opinion: Look at the facts, not the hysteria, on school choice
“I had a positive experience in public schools. I don’t, however, find it impossible to believe that the same school that worked for me ... isn’t the best fit for every other child in my community.”
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Opinion: Private school choice isn’t the answer for Tennessee
“We need to continue to focus our efforts on building and strengthening a robust system of public school choice that delivers for all types of learners and families of every background.”
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Guest column: Diversity ‘pivotal’ in Memphis construction industry
“Pursuing a diverse workforce should be a commitment to prioritizing the well-being and unity of each member within our workspaces and our communities. Our journey toward forging a construction landscape that reflects these efforts goes beyond erecting buildings.”
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Guest Column: Include mental health in our ‘pandemic-level’ response to crime
“Our leaders should also consider what we are experiencing with increased crime rates as a deeper issue with how we recognize and support mental health and well-being.”
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December 2023
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Guest Column: ‘It is the will of my constituents to fight’ Satanic Temple
“If we have district policies that made sense in the past but now show that we are failing in the best interest of students, we will find a way to correct them.”
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Guest Column: Childhood trauma is ‘an epidemic in our city’
Addressing childhood traumatic stress is a gift that will keep on giving, a step forward that will benefit all Memphians.
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Opinion: An argument against the MLGW rate hike
“The council chairman failed to take advantage of an opportunity to positively affect the lives of thousands of Memphians. Rather than receive help, they were served up hollow words.”
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October 2023
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Opinion: Why creative music engagement in the classroom matters
“The formative years in grades 6-12 are prime years to cultivate a love for music. Together, we can impact our children, from the classroom to the community.”
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Opinion: When it comes to Gershun Freeman, ‘this case is different’
“The jailers were attacked by a man having a psychotic break, defended themselves and subdued their attacker. What should they have done differently?”
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Guest Column: Memphis and all of us need ‘an economy of grace’
“I wonder, if we resist the urge to focus on the transactions and lean into grace, might we smooth our path forward into becoming a city where everyone is seen, heard, and cherished as a gift.”
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