Jermaine Swagerty
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Jermaine Swagerty S.O. What! Success Story

One thing in life that we all need is SUPPORT. And that comes in different forms from different people. It’s hurtful when it doesn’t come from where you expect it, but it’s beautiful and encouraging when it comes from unexpected places. When…
Tanisha Pugh
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Tanisha Pugh S.O. What! Success Story

Do you remember your high school Biology class?  Connected to dissecting a frog is my memory of my classmate, Tanisha (Johnson) Pugh. It actually goes back to elementary school but most vivid are my memories from Biology class. When we…
Greg Caesar
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Greg Caesar S.O. What! Success Story

What are some of the positive moments in your life that you’ll never forget? One of those moments for me was when as a teen mother I stood on the football field at halftime during the University of Memphis homecoming game in October 2000. And…
Odell Bizzell
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Odell Bizzell S.O. What! Success Story

Doesn’t it feel good when you meet someone doing the same thing as you and they immediately cheer you on and offer real help? I met Odell Bizzell as part of the National Speakers Association a few years ago but really got to know him when…
Montorius Herron
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From Imprisoned to Inspiring: Montorius “GG” Herron S.O. What! Success Story

Recently, I saw a short documentary about someone I knew in high school. I remembered Montorius Herron, known as GG to me, very well. He was a few years older than I am and part of the “cool” clique.  I didn’t know what he did after…
Andy Dallin
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Andy Dallin S.O. What! Success Story

You know the saying about how a person may forget what you did, but they won’t forget how you made them feel? Well, I have not seen or heard from or even about Andy Dallin. Ever since the first few months of the Memphis Grizzlies’ move to…
Summer Owens and Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis
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3 Lessons Learned from 36 Years of Powerful Women of Achievement Stories

Exactly 10 years ago, I became a part of the Women of Achievement sisterhood. It was and has been one of the greatest honors of my life as I sat with women I admired including my African American history professor from a decade earlier, Dr.…
Wanda Taylor
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From Just Surviving to Helping Others Survive: Wanda Taylor S.O. What! Success Story

Starting a business is not easy. I learned this when I started both an LLC and a 501(c)(3) organization. But in the learning process, I’ve met some incredible people. At a workshop on bookkeeping for nonprofits, I was amazed by the lady who…
Leshundra Robinson
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Leshundra Robinson S.O. What! Success Story

Many nonprofit organizations are born out of need and many are created from painful personal experiences. When I met Leshundra Robinson she asked me to speak at an anti-bullying conference she organized for the nonprofit she co-founded, UCAN…