Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Rabbi Micah Greenstein of Temple Israel – Memphis and Dwania Kyles, one of the “Memphis 13” and Co-Founder and President of the Memphis 13 Foundation, who both highlight the recent collaboration between the two organizations with the Look Back, Launch Forward, Community Screening Series of “The Memphis 13” Documentary. The event took place on Tuesday, June 25 at Temple Israel, and around four hundred attendees enjoyed a reception, followed by the screening of the documentary, and then a Q&A featuring members of the Memphis 13, moderated and emceed by Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon and shared stories from the audience. The event commemorated the historic actions of the Memphis 13, who courageously desegregated Memphis Public Schools in 1961. The ongoing series of community screenings serves as a beacon of reflection and inspiration, engaging the community in vital conversations about inclusion, tolerance, and social change, so the community can reflect on the past, embrace the present, and pave the way for a promising future.
During the interview, Dwania Kyles highlights the Memphis 13 Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of the Memphis 13, and talks about the organization’s efforts and impact in the community with educational initiatives, inspirational murals at the four schools where the Memphis 13 students attended, historical documentation, and community engagement. She talks about why the community screening series is so important for bringing diverse audiences together and having shared experiences and conversations to move forward with love, compassion and understanding. Rabbi Micah Greenstein highlights Temple Israel and their mission to be a “force for good,” and then shares his own personal experiences and thoughts on why the collaboration is so important, some of the key takeaways and action steps moving forward to help open hearts, bring our city together, and work together to make a difference.
Visit www.m13f.org to learn more about the Memphis 13 Foundation and visit www.timemphis.org to learn more about Temple Israel – Memphis. For more information about the film, visit www.thememphis13.com.
