Memphis has made national headlines more than a few times this year. For most Memphians, it has been a hard year in the city. While this can be discouraging as locals may find themselves internally associating with the reputation that Memphis holds in the news spotlight, so much national attention can also be an opportunity to show the world the best of what Memphis has to offer. Locals may disagree on many things, but the one of the things which Memphis residents tend to hold in unison is what defines Memphis at its core: soul. 

You can see it everywhere. There is soul in the food. There is soul in the music. There is soul in the grit and grind of the Grizzlies. There is soul on Broad Avenue and on Beale Street. There is soul in the FedEx employees and in the public school teachers and in the midtown artists. There is certainly soul in each employee and patient walking the halls of St. Jude, fueling the deep sense of hope and determination that Memphis runs on.

We saw it last July when Kirk Franklin owned the stage at the FedEx Forum. We saw it in the tireless work of our nonprofits to meet the needs of the most vulnerable during the pandemic. We saw it in Ja Morant’s epic dunk against the Pacers a few weeks ago. 

Amidst the slights which people underhandedly aim at the city of Memphis, no one could ever accuse our city of being lifeless. And this is the very thing which inspires such loyalty and resilience in its locals. There is an energy and depth of significance that few other cities could ever mimic. 

If you ever need to be reminded of why you love Memphis, check out some of these organizations and resources that highlight all of the incredible things happening in our beloved city:

• Choose 901: This organization’s whole mission is to gather the best of what is going on in Memphis – restaurants, events, job openings, and stories – and compile them for locals to have access to the most current happenings in the city. 

• We Are Memphis: If this website can’t make you fall in love with Memphis, nothing else will. We Are Memphis aims to educate people about some of the best assets of the city while capturing the essence of what makes Memphis so special. Check it out! 

• I Love Memphis Blog: Stay up-to-date on the most cutting edge events and happenings in the city. This blog has a flair for highlighting hidden gems throughout the city and appreciating the rich culture of Memphis. 

The city of Memphis has soul like no other. Take a moment this week to stop and appreciate the beauty of this historic and amazing place!