It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

I have been apart of CCJ since the begining. After a lengthy campaign to remove inaccurate historical markers in our town square that glorify the Confederacy, I was part of the pivot to addressing systemic injustices in our town which led to the creation of CCJ. There are so many wonderful things about Collierville, but unfortunately there are many institutional problems that hold us back. As we listened to neighbors and friends in the oft-neglected parts of our community, and learned about the barriers they were overcoming, I knew I wanted to lend my energy to the work of removing those barriers. I am passionate about fair elections, DEI, affordable housing, and Black history preservation, and young people's empowerment. I also love that while CCJ is working to reverse institutional barriers, we also want to serve our neighbors and build community through mutual aid. My favorite part of CCJ is that it is diverse in terms of race and ethnicity, but especially because it is inter-generational. There are so few organizations out there where people of all ages and generations are working side by side as equals. In theory, I knew that an intergenerational organization would be special, but I had no idea just how much we would learn from each other and how transformational these relationships would be. It's a tough call because I love so many things about CCJ, but I think that is my favorite.

Written by CCJ member Emily Fulmer, “Chelsea was part of CCJ from the beginning. She was one of our founding members, a fierce advocate for the rights of all, and she had a persistent and prophetic voice to challenge each of us and our collective to always put justice and community at the center of our work. Chelsea lived in Collierville for most of her life, but her work for racial and economic justice spanned all of Shelby County (and beyond)! She was the lead organizer and a steering committee member for Decarcerate Memphis, and she co-led the strategy to pass 6 ordinances in Memphis following the death of Tyre Nichols. Chelsea believed in equity and justice for all and she lived that truth in her daily life. All of us at CCJ are grateful for the time we spent with Chelsea, and we all hope to continue this important work in her honor and in her memory.”

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

I joined CCJ in 2020 after reading about the protest of Collierville's Confederate Marker in local news. Having grown up in Collierville and been involved in Memphis-based civic initiatives during high school, CCJ seemed perfectly aligned with my passion for social justice and community organizing. My favorite part about CCJ is the diverse and inclusive coalition that we've built; it is truly special to be part of a community of people of such diverse backgrounds, religions, and cultures. My most meaningful experience has been helping transform CCJ into an intergenerational coalition by recruiting and mobilizing dozens of Collierville high school students to get involved. In 2022, I founded the CCJ Youth Organizing Fellowship, which aims to invest in the next generation of Collierville civic leaders through education, training, and hands-on organizing experience. Passionate about youth empowerment, I am grateful for all the CCJ members who have helped bring the Fellowship to life as well as all the students whom the Fellowship has positively impacted.

I have been apart of CCJ since 2021 and became involved during my sophomore year of high school, and it was a way for me to get involved in my community by doing hands-on work and working towards collective action to make our town more inclusive, but it was also the only opportunity I found to learn more about Collierville's rich black history, the history behind Collierville's founding, and how much of the past still lives on in our town to understand how and why we needed community action. My favorite part about CCJ, and what has kept me here, is the people and the fact that we all share the same goal of making the town a "home" for everyone. Being part of a group of passionate and dedicated people that love the town and want it to represent all its residents is what resonates with me most of all.

I got involved with CCJ 3 years ago to align myself with individuals who not only wanted to be a voice for the voiceless in our town, but pursue action through intentional programs and initiatives to address systemic issues. CCJ was my first experience in addressing systemic concerns when I took a leap of faith to speak about the town square confederate marker back in 2021 to the Board of Mayor & Aldermen. Ever since, I’ve gained fascinating knowledge on the deep history of Collierville, systemic issues in our town, and how to truly be an advocate. My favorite part of being in CCJ is without a doubt the community and continuous learning experience. Even as a coordinator for the CCJ fellowship, it’s an eye-opening experience to learn about others’ perspectives, beliefs, and values in a town we are so familiar with. What’s resonated with me the most has been the fellowship. Seeing the youth flourish in gaining organizing skills and show social justice in action has shown that the work of CCJ has not, and will not, go in vain.

I was originally drawn to CCJ with their dedication to uplifting voices within the community about a confederate monument in our town center back in 2021. It was really encouraging to see that there were people who cared about issues concerning DEI and empowerment of minorities in my small town. I love seeing the valuable cultural exchanges and how dedicated CCJ members are to creating a town environment for all residents of Collierville. I especially enjoy being part of the fellowship to further develop youth leaders in our town.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.