Written By JR Robinson

Dear Memphis and Shelby County Neighbors,

Memphis and Shelby County, we know about grit. About fighting for respect, about picking ourselves up, and about loving our children so fiercely that we sometimes forget to dream for ourselves. But what if the next big Memphis dream—the one that changes everything—wasn’t about a sports team, a hit song, or a new skyline? What if it was about finally getting our schools right, for every child in every zip code?

That’s what Project FutureForward MSCS is all about: “Where Learning Meets Community.” When we build on the right foundation, amazing things happen—not just for our kids, but for all of us. And it starts with a promise, kept in six bold pillars. These aren’t just ideas. They are the stones on which we can change our children’s future, and with it, the soul of this city.

1. Investing in Our Educators

At the beginning and end of every school day, it’s teachers who shape tomorrow. Project FutureForward MSCS will double teacher salaries—because our children deserve the best, and our best deserve to be valued. Imagine the difference when the greatest teachers in America want to come to Memphis and stay, year after year. This is how we create classrooms full of inspiration, consistency, and hope.

2. Flexible, Future-Ready Learning Spaces

The world doesn’t sit still, and neither should our classrooms. Our vision? Bright, open spaces that move and change as fast as our students’ dreams, where learning happens in circles, in labs, in the community—not just in rows of desks. With cutting-edge technology and mobile support built into every student’s day, even the quietest voice will be heard and helped. Here, no child is “just a number”; every story gets a chance to shine.

3. Community Learning Hubs

Why should learning end when the bell rings? Project FutureForward MSCS will turn schools into vibrant community hubs—with event spaces, small business cafés, and after-hours programs for all ages. Parent is between jobs? There’s a resume clinic just down the hall. Grandma wants to learn computer skills? There’s a place for her at the table. A neighborhood meal, a business meeting, an art class—it all happens here, together.

4. Workforce & Life Skills Development

In Memphis, “making it” has never just been about books. We’ll bring after-school and weekend opportunities for career skill-building, mentorship, and workshops on everything from being a dad to managing your money. We invest in our kids by investing in our families. Every lesson learned at Project FutureForward MSCS brings opportunity—and dignity—home.

5. Smart, Sustainable Operations

Memphis is strong, but we’re not made of money. So we’re thinking big and thinking smart: solar panels on schools, ride-share vouchers replacing old bus routes, and online learning platforms that break down barriers of distance and cost. Every dollar is stretched, every resource opened to the fullest, to make this transformation real for every neighborhood.

6. Holistic Accountability for All

No more pointing fingers or passing the blame. Every student, every teacher, every parent, and every leader is accountable—measured, supported, and celebrated. Our promise is clear: “We’re in this together. We rise together.” You’ll see the progress in open, honest report cards for every level, showing exactly what’s working and where we must do better.

7. Expanding Access: Education Hubs in Every Community

We know transportation can be a barrier. That’s why Project FutureForward MSCS leverages partner sites—community centers, churches, and libraries—to bring school closer to home, using the same world-class online curriculum everywhere. Every student belongs to a larger school family, joining main campuses for rallies and milestones, but learning right in the community where they live.

You might ask: Is it possible? Look at every time Memphis rallied for something that mattered. We grit, grind, and fill arenas with pride. Now let’s fill our schools—and our future—with the same passion. Because this doesn’t just change test scores or buildings. It changes lives.

Ask yourself: What would Memphis be, if every child grew up believing their dream was worth fighting for—and knowing their neighbors and leaders fought for them, too?

Our city has wasted too many resources and hopes on projects that never delivered. This is the moment to build new foundations—together. We can create something so powerful, the whole nation will watch: Memphis, the city that taught itself to dream, and then made those dreams real.

Join the movement. Join the discussion. Let’s make Project FutureForward MSCS the heartbeat of our next chapter.

With Grit, With Love, With All of Us—
Let’s build the Memphis our children deserve.
Join the Facebook group and let your voice be part of the future.

With hope,
JR Robinson
CEO & Co-Founder, JustMy