Memphis Soul Prize

Many people want to know: "Where does the 'blues' come from?" Located right off of Beale Street is a little house packed full of history. Watch the video we made for you to learn about it!
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Have you heard of the Memphis Soul Prize?
Every year there is a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Not enough people know about the rich history of Memphis music and culture. The story of Memphis is an important one, but it's not well known outside of our city. We want to change that by honoring our past while celebrating the present and future.

We need to come together, celebrate the good in our city and elevate the story that we all share. The Memphis Soul Prize is designed to engage students from across the city and help them create poetry about what makes their neighborhood special or how they see themselves as part of the larger community.

It all started at Humes High School in 1952. Elvis Presley got his start after being encouraged by his homeroom teacher to enter a talent show.

Have you heard of the Memphis Soul Prize?

Every year there is a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Not enough people know about the rich history of Memphis music and culture. The story of Memphis is an important one, but it's not well known outside of our city. We want to change that by honoring our past while celebrating the present and future.

We need to come together, celebrate the good in our city and elevate the story that we all share. The Memphis Soul Prize is designed to engage students from across the city and help them create poetry about what makes their neighborhood special or how they see themselves as part of the larger community.

7 DAYS UNTIL RACE DAY. If you haven't already registered for the Race for Reconciliation, you still have time!
https://R4R.ONE

Like many African Americans of his generation, John “Peter” Chatman – better known as Memphis Slim – was forged by the fires of racism and poverty, only to emerge as one of the world’s greatest blues pianists!!!

Learn more about his legacy on this video!
Memphis Jones

Isaac Hayes showed young people what talent and hard work can do. If there’s one story we can learn from Isaac Hayes it’s that no matter how low you think the ceiling is... with talent and commitment the sky is the limit! 🙌🏼
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Memphis Jones

Memphis rides in town
The wind blowing in your hair as
the music sways to the rhythm of
the road
Passing by spray painted bridges
and buildings
Smoke fills the air
Lonely children roaming the streets
no home in sight
Gunshots or fireworks the game
we play all night
The city of brokenness

Watch now “The Broken Beauty” written by Cadance Yarger, winner of the 2022 Memphis Soul Prize Edition 🔥🔥

Congrats Cadence Yarger - The Broken Beauty🏆 for being the winner of the 2022 Memphis Soul Prize edition! Stay tuned as we turn Cadence’s into a short film 🔥

ANNOUNCING! 📣📢
The winner of the 2022 Memphis Soul Prize!

🏆Restaurant gift cards

🏆Deluxe writing set

🏆year of movie passes

🏆$5000 Scholarship

Cadence Yarger, East High School
“The Broken Beauty”

Thank you to Memphis Memphis-Shelby County Schools - MSCS 103.5 WRBO WKNO - 91.1 FM Memphis University of Memphis Visible Music College Vaco Memphis Sue Layman Designs ServiceMaster by Stratos My Town Movers Menage Fine Stationery Malco Theatres David Porter Music Kix 106 Memphis Cumulus Media cityCURRENT 98.1 The Max 4U Recording MEM10 Consulting LLC, The Belz Family, The Bruns Family & many more amazing Memphis Families!

Follow us through the summer as we create a short film featuring the poem with Cadence and the team at Creation Studios that will be aired on WKNO in August.

🏆 Our students get SO MUCH from your support. The winner will be announced soon. Thank you everyone who participated in the voting process! 🙌🏼

We want to thank to all these amazing companies for their recent sponsorship of our organization! We are thrilled for your partnership in YEAR 4 of The Memphis Soul Prize. As a sponsor, your contribution is vital to continue our important work of helping kids LOVE their city. We cannot succeed without the generosity of supporters like you all! 🙌🏼

"The Music" written by Kevin Medrano from Southwind High School. If you like his lines, check his poem out at ➡ www.memphissoulprize.org/vote2022 and vote for him to show him some support!
We are not author of the music playing. Music belongs to Future Islands- Black Rose ©

"Confessions about Memphis" written by Nevohn Jones from Overton High School. If you like his lines, check his poem out at ➡ www.memphissoulprize.org/vote2022 and vote for him to show him some support!
We are not author of the music playing. Music belongs to Coldplay - Up & Up ©

"Where Whispers are Heard" written by Autumn Meadows from Kirby High School. If you like her lines, check her poem out at ➡ www.memphissoulprize.org/vote2022 and vote for her to show her some support!
We are not author of the music playing. Music belongs to Coldplay - Sparks ©