Shelby County Government 101: City of Memphis

Government 101, Memphis: Understanding the Issues, Empowering the People (From Confusion to Clarity)

Ever asked, “Why hasn’t this been fixed?” or “Who’s actually in charge of that?” Government 101 in Memphis is a community-centered, interactive session that breaks down how local government works in real life, what the city handles vs what Shelby County Government handles, and exactly how to get help without getting the runaround.

You’ll hear the top concerns raised by South Memphis residents, get a clear “who does what” breakdown (no civics degree required), and join a conversation with the people who can actually solve problems, including city leadership and Shelby County teams.

What to expect

• The Top Local Issues, based on resident feedback
• Who’s responsible, City of Memphis vs Shelby County Government vs State
• Quick historical and data context that makes it make sense
• A panel + Q&A with frontline problem solvers
• Resource tables, clear next steps, and a take-home civic toolkit (including The People’s Guide)
• Recovery resources available on site

Who should come

• Residents, parents, homeowners, renters, students, seniors, new to town or born and raised
• Anyone who makes referrals or helps neighbors navigate services
• Anyone ready to swap confusion for clarity and leave knowing what to do next

Presenting City Hall on the Go:

City Hall on the Go brings city services to community, allowing residents to take care of to-do's that would typically require a visit to city agencies right from their neighborhood. This concept was a recommendation from Mayor Young's Transition Committee and is being piloted on March 28th at Gatson Community Center from 1:30-3:30p in partnership with the County's Government 101 event. Residents can engage with services including scheduling smoke detector installations, getting library cards, purchasing copies of birth certificates, signing children up for headstart and more. The City is looking forward to seeing how residents engage with the available services and hoping to learn more about what other types of services you want to see.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Shelby County District Connector Program