Known to the rest of the world as the "Home of the Blues" and the "Birthplace of Rock and Roll," Memphis's citizens also hail their city as "The City of Good Abode" and "The Soul of the Global Economy." Memphis is a vibrant center for business and culture. Its bustling, cosmopolitan downtown complements Memphis’s historic, riverboat town appeal. The Beale Street entertainment district is a popular hot spot for entertainment with its 25 nightclubs featuring blues, rock, pop, and jazz. The Memphis in May International Festival celebrates Beale Street's music, barbeque, and international flavor.
| Quick Stats |
|---|
| Site Since: 2006 |
| Corps Size: 89 |
| Average yearly temperature: 62.3° |
| Car: Access to car is essential |
Salary: See cost of living  |
Memphis has 230 parks and more than 60 miles of bike routes which link the city's diverse neighborhoods. Memphis also offers an array of cultural attractions with close to 20 museums, including the National Civil Rights Museum, the Peabody Place Museum of Chinese Art, and The Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The city is also home to two state-of-the-art sports facilities and more historical sites per capita than any other U.S. city.
Memphis offers corps members a variety of neighborhoods. The downtown district, once primarily industrial, is now the city's definitive entertainment center, alive with restaurants, cafes, bars, sports arenas, and cultural venues. With condominiums, apartments, and houses continuously popping up, this district's population of 25,000 is expected to grow. To the east, offering a more residential and scenic setting, Midtown is home to Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, the world-class Memphis Zoo, and the Memphis College of Art. Midtown's Cooper-Young area has various coffeehouses, ethnic restaurants, and art galleries, while due north at the Overton Square Entertainment Complex visitors can find wine bars, funky shops, a movie house, and two theaters. East Memphis is home to Shelby Farms, the country’s largest urban park. Outside Memphis, corps members will find quieter bedroom communities with affordable housing in neighboring towns such as Germantown, Cordova, and Bartlett.
Corps Culture
In 2006, Teach For America established Memphis as a regional site. As in all of our regions, Memphis corps members can expect to attend monthly all-corps meetings, participate in learning teams with professional educators, as well as enjoy cultural events and social gatherings with colleagues and friends. Currently, there are numerous opportunities for new corps members to assume leadership positions in this region’s third year. Memphis corps members have valued the unique experience of leading Teach For America's movement in a new area of the country. Memphis corps members will play a significant role in the ongoing development of this region’s programming and corps culture.
Click to hear from two Memphis corps members from a recent broadcast of Smart City, a public radio show.
Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
