Soulsville Foundation

It was a great week for Memphis, and the students of #StaxMusicAcademy as the Live Nation Entertainment broke ground on the Satellite Music Hall, a new music venue across from Crosstown Concourse. Not only will they be bringing more than 100 shows in their first year, they've graciously offered our #MusicEmploys students the opportunity to practice their production and other skills through an in-kind collaboration, meaning our students will have real-world training with one of the largest music companies in the world. Thank you to everyone at Live Nation and Crosstown, as well as our donors and supporters who help make this programming possible. In addition to the moving speeches from our CEO Pat Mitchell Worley and SMA Director Isaac "iD" Daniel, graduating senior Zipporah Israel stole the show with her heart-warming share about her time with us. We're not crying. You're crying.

Huge shout out to the incomparable Deanie Parker, former CEO of the Soulsville Foundation and Stax artist, will be announcing this year's GRAMMY nominations tomorrow morning, 9:45 am! Previous winners are selected to help announce the next year's nominees, and with two GRAMMYs under her belt from this years wins for "Written in their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos," Deanie has certainly earned this honor. Watch live tomorrow morning at LIVE.GRAMMY.COM.

IN HER WORDS: ALEX SMITH, Donor and Board Member I'm Alex?Smith, a proud member of the Soulsville Foundation Board of Directors for two years and counting. What initially captivated me about the Soulsville Foundation is their unwavering commitment to empowering the youth by imparting the rich history of Soul Music. Growing up in Gary, IN, home of the Jackson 5, I came from a family with a deep-rooted passion for soul music. Whether it was my mother energizing our Saturday mornings with Isaac Hayes' soulful tunes like "Walk on By," or my grandparents sharing captivating stories while Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" played in the background. Soul music has undeniably been engrained in the soundtrack of my life. When the opportunity arose to join the Soulsville Foundation and contribute to preserving and continuing?the soul music legacy for the next generation, I wholeheartedly embraced it. Understanding that the Soulsville Foundation supports?the Soulsville Charter School, Stax Music Academy, and the Stax Museum. Over the past two years, I have witnessed the Foundation's transformative effect, whether is through the Soulsville Charter School's role in shaping young individuals' lives,?the Stax Music Academy classically training and preparing the next bench of musical talent,?or the Stax Museum's?extraordinary ability to showcase the history of soul music authentically. Amidst numerous deserving causes, the Soulsville Foundation's transformative effect in shaping young individuals' lives?and preserving a significant cultural heritage?makes it a cause that deserves unequivocal support. Thank you Alexandria Smith! We are lucky to have you.

PURE JOY WEDNESDAY! The excitement was palpable on the Soulsville campus last week when #StaxMusicAcademy executive director Isaac "iD" Daniel pulled into our breezeway with not one but TWO shiny, new vans for our students to use for traveling out of town and all around the region for performances. A huge thanks to the #AssisiFoundationofMemphis for their generous funding support that helped make this possible. And thank you to the crew at #HomerSkelton Ford in Millington and our wonderful salespeople Randy and Tony for working with us. Enough words...watch for yourself what an impact on things many of us take for granted have on the students at SMA. VOLUME UP!

Another hard-working organization making #Memphis a better place. Thank you for all you do. https://lnkd.in/e34fmPAj

The Soulsville Foundation is proud to present Soul Notes, our annual magazine celebrating another impactful year of preserving the rich legacy of soul music while empowering the next generation of artists through the #StaxMusicAcademy. This year's issue features inspiring stories from legacy artists who have shaped the foundation of soul music, alongside testimonials from current students whose lives have been transformed by the opportunities provided through the generosity of our donors and sponsors. Your support continues to make a profound difference in the lives of young people and in the preservation of Soulsville's important cultural heritage. This year's design pays homage to "Written in Their Souls," the retro look box set that brought home two GRAMMYS this year. Read about the GRAMMY wins and what's new at the #StaxMuseum, and check out amazing photos of SMA students performing with the legend herself, #CarlaThomas. https://lnkd.in/eQQwVkFM

The #Stax Museum has been awarded a State Board Programming Regrant to support the preservation and digitization of the Alan Copeland Collection, an extensive archive of nearly 2,000 photographs, slides, and negatives, including images of notable local and touring musicians, such as Booker T. and the MG’s, Buffalo Springfield, and the Allman Brothers Band, as well as historic Memphis venues. This grant enables the museum to ensure long-term preservation of the collection to inspire future generations of young creatives. Special thanks to Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett who came to Soulsville for a quick tour of the museum and to personally present CEO Pat Mitchell Worley and the museum's Jeff Kollath with this important contribution. #TennesseeArts #901

October is Donor Appreciation month, and we're kicking it off by highlighting a long-time supporter and first-year board member, Liz Landrigan Keough, who explains in her own words why she chose Soulsville Foundation to volunteer her time & talent: I’m a Memphis-born lawyer, proud Evergreen resident, sharing life with my restaurant-owner husband, and our amazing teenage son. Growing up in #Memphis, I’ve always felt a deep connection to this city’s unique culture and history. Stax is quintessentially Memphis – it represents everything I love about my hometown. As a lifelong Memphian, I want to be part of celebrating and preserving that legacy, but also helping it grow and evolve to impact future generations. I’m passionate about investing my time and energy into organizations that don’t just talk about change, but make it happen. At the Soulsville Foundation, the work we do translates directly into tangible results. Whether it’s fostering careers through the Stax Music Academy or continuing the important work of the Stax Museum, Soulsville is filled with purpose and action. When I walk into a board meeting here, things get done – real progress that impacts students, families, and the broader Memphis community. I have deep respect for Pat Mitchell Worley’s leadership and vision, and consider it a privilege to be on this journey with her and the incredible team she’s assembled. Her dedication reminds me of that day 24 years ago, at the groundbreaking of Stax Music Academy. I still remember the electric energy, the joy, and pride on Deanie Parker’s face – it felt like something magical was returning to Memphis. One of the things that moves me the most is the bridge the #SoulsvilleFoundation provides to its students. The support these young people receive is life-changing, opening doors to the next stage of their educational journeys and, ultimately, their lives. The Stax legacy cannot thrive without strong leadership and a clear vision, and the leadership is ensuring that both good work and great music continue to happen. I’m thrilled to be part of this legacy. - LK Thank you Liz! See you at the next board meeting!

It's a happy Friday here in Soulsville, as copies of Goldmine - a national music magazine catering to music collectors and vinyl lovers - are hitting mailboxes and screens around the country, with none other than the legendary #StaxMuseumofAmericanSoulMusic on the cover (featuring #JamesAlexander, founding member of the legendary #BarKays). It's an entertaining and insightful read - take a peek at the link below. And a big shout out to #Memphis photographer #JayAdkins for snapping the amazing shot. We love sharing all the wonderful things about #Memphis with the world! https://lnkd.in/erDMdvZ3

What a great weekend it was for the city as the folks at #Mempho Music Fest, did yet another incredible job of bringing music lovers and national talent here to the Bluff City! As part of the festival, Mempho partnered with #PositiveLegacy to host a charity auction, with proceeds benefitting the #StaxMusicAcademy and our wonderful friends at #LeBonheurChildrensHospital. Thanks Mempho Presents! The #Stax Soul Mobile team getting to meet #TheRoots was something that will be talked about on this campus for a WHILE!