Written by: JR Robinson

As CEO and Co-Founder of JustMy, I’ve seen firsthand how passionate Memphians are about lifting our city out of poverty. That passion sometimes spills over into heated debate, especially on social media. Last week, a wave of criticism swept through local feeds, targeting organizations like Jerome, Slingshot Memphis, and others. The core of the critique: these groups aren’t “publicly outraged” about massive systemic imbalances, don’t call them out, and are therefore compromised or even complicit in maintaining the status quo.

Let’s address this head-on, with honesty and humanity.

Addressing the Criticism: Outrage, Objectivity, and Impact

The criticism goes like this:

“Jerome, Slingshot along with other poverty remediation orgs, are not publicly outraged of massive systemic imbalances. They never publicly point them out. Because they are not outraged. This reality seriously compromises their work. Slingshot on balance is a status quo organization supported by the same people that have been ripping off and running the City into the ground for years…”

I understand where this frustration comes from. Memphis has endured generations of inequity. Many feel that if you’re not loudly calling out the roots of injustice, you’re not truly fighting for change.

But I believe there is more than one way to fight poverty in our communities.

Slingshot Memphis: Data-Driven, Not Apolitical

Slingshot Memphis takes a different approach. Their mission is to revolutionize the way Memphis fights poverty-not by shouting the loudest, but by measuring what works and investing in what makes a real difference. Their “Poverty-Fighting Feedback Loop” is designed to provide previously unavailable insights about poverty-fighting outcomes, empowering decision makers to allocate resources toward solutions that produce effective, measurable change for those experiencing poverty.

Slingshot’s leadership is clear about their stance:

“We’re apolitical and we’ll remain apolitical. We’ll need to work with organizations across the political spectrum… fighting poverty in Memphis cannot have too many people working on it, and Slingshot said it is committed to working with others.”

Their focus is on outcomes, not outrage. They conduct rigorous, objective impact studies for nonprofits, helping them improve programming and collaborate more effectively. This isn’t about maintaining the status quo-it’s about disrupting it with data, transparency, and accountability.

Collaboration, Not Competition

Instead of putting down others for not sharing our methods, why not look for ways to work together? Memphis needs every tool in the toolbox-from advocacy and protest to mentorship, athletics, and analytics.

Slingshot Memphis has assessed over 50 local nonprofits, providing funding and support to those delivering the highest poverty-fighting impact. Their Accelerate Impact Fund, for example, recently awarded over $650,000 to organizations demonstrating measurable results.

Why Not Both?

Public outrage and systemic critique have their place. So does data-driven, collaborative work. The real enemy is poverty, not each other.

It’s time Memphians start looking at issues as a Memphis problem that is all our problem. Seeking solutions for all of us. When we come together as One Community, we lift each other, we make the efforts of one and the efforts of all stronger. We can stay stuck on race, status, religion, or we can see each other as God created us, all his children working together as a family.

A Call for Unity and Support

• Let’s support organizations doing the work, whether they’re on the front lines or behind the scenes.
• Let’s celebrate every success, from national championships to first jobs out of trade school.
• Let’s look for ways to collaborate, not compete.
• Let’s keep the focus on people-on families like the Catheys, on every student, every neighbor, every Memphian.

There is more than one way to fight poverty. The diversity of approaches in Memphis is not a weakness-it’s our greatest strength. By working together, supporting each other, and keeping our eyes on the shared goal of equity and opportunity, we can transform our city for generations to come.

This article is written by JR Robinson, CEO/Co-Founder of JustMy, in partnership with the voices and stories of Memphis Inner City Rugby and the wider Memphis poverty-fighting community.