Profiles
Black Love: Memphis couple finds it is within reach and can be for others, MLK50.com
Women advocates want their story to give the next generation hope — and a glimpse of what life, love and joy can look like
Meet Paula Raiford, Memphis’s Disco Queen, Style Blueprint Memphis
“With a family so lovingly embedded in Memphis that both her father and his famous dance club were known simply by their last name, Paula Raiford has built her business on a legacy of love.”
FACES of Memphis: Wendi Thomas, MLK50 Founder, Editor & Publisher, Style Blueprint Memphis
“Her bylines appear in publications all over the country, but with MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Wendi C. Thomas puts the issues that impact Memphis on the national map and in historic context.”
FACES of Memphis: Community Organizer and County Commissioner Tami Sawyer, Style Blueprint Memphis
“When Tami Sawyer worked as a Congressional intern, she saw the masses of people who navigate and filter floods of information and work together to get things done.”
FACES of Memphis: Mary Conley of Living LeReve, Style Blueprint Memphis
“When she said yes to a date with a fellow Ohio State freshman, she unknowingly took a first step toward the worlds of fashion and professional sports.”
FACES of Memphis: Anasa Troutman, Executive Director of Clayborn Temple, Style Blueprint Memphis
“From india.arie to Dennis Kucinich, Anasa Troutman has helped a spectrum of visionaries share their stories and reach their goals by building community and love.”
FACES of Memphis: Carol Coletta, Urban Advocate and Strategist, Style Blueprint Memphis
“Meet a Memphian who has spent her career focusing on what makes urban spaces reach their potential — the newest president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership and this week’s FACE of Memphis, Carol Coletta.”
FACES of Memphis: Oona Mitchell, Co-Owner of Royal Studios, StyleBlueprint-Memphis
“As co-owner of Royal Studios and program director of Royal Radio, she is shaping the next generation of Memphis music and sharing it with the world.”
FACES of Memphis: Amy Faulk, CEO & World Champion Racer, StyleBlueprint-Memphis, August 14, 2017
“Amy Faulk’s automotive education began at her father’s body and radiator repair shop in Union City, TN, where she and her brother spent their days learning the parts and processes that keep cars running. Under the watchful eye of a father who didn’t believe women should drive at all, Amy never imagined that she would one day be drag racing at 260 miles per hour.”
FACES of Memphis: Natasha Sen-Fizdale, StyleBlueprint-Memphis, June 12, 2017
“As the owner of marketing and design agency The Creative Penny, Natasha Sen-Fizdale knows the power of a strong personal brand. She expresses her own through social media, where more than 30,000 followers keep up with her style, travels, professional ventures and, of course, fandom of the Memphis Grizzlies.”
Opinion
In the Affirmative, Substack, June 2, 2023
“Everyone around me knew we’d taken this step, and no one, regardless of political or religious leaning, voiced the slightest objection.”
Another April, still snowing, Medium, April 16, 2017
“I realize it seems silly to think that as a copywriter in Memphis I’d ever have this type of bond with an international superstar, but the thing I knew about Prince is that you really never could know.”
The Wheelhouse: A Fond Farewell to the Hi-Tone, Memphis Flyer, February 12, 2013
“The room was a little rough and grimy, but the atmosphere was homey. Well, if your home had a beat-down pool table and a bathroom unfit for company.”
The Wheelhouse: Wisdom from the Mind of a Child, Memphis Flyer, January 23, 2013
“As a Memphis public school attendee and child of the new millennium, he’s got a grip on the essence of the struggle for civil rights.”
The Wheelhouse: Keeping the Monster at Bay, Memphis Flyer, December 19, 2012
“It’s a truth we try to swaddle in waffled cotton and tighten down in five-point harnesses, but the reality is that we are all one fallen oak limb, one slippery intersection, one frayed wire away from potential disaster.”
A More Humane Society, Memphis Parent, December 1, 2012
“Over the course of the past year volunteering at HSMSC, Brianna has experienced a shift in her perspective that transcends animal welfare. ‘Once you realize that all of these animals have a story, it makes you think about other people differently.'”
The Wheelhouse: A Dog’s Story, Memphis Flyer, October 10, 2012
“She wasn’t the prettiest dog at the park; most of her left side was shaved to the skin, and large scars were visible in the bare patches. Without exception, everyone asked what had happened to her, and each time the volunteer at her side calmly replied, ‘She was set on fire.’”
The Wheelhouse: The Manassas 10, Memphis Flyer, September 5, 2012
“They’re not only setting high expectations over there, they’re eliminating excuses. And when you’re dealing with hundreds of teenagers, that’s a critical first step.”
A Plain-Text Email to My Freshman Year, Punchnels.com, May 21, 2012
“Depeche Mode. Really—that’s his move. And what’s worse, it will work.”
Babies, Elephants, Walks, Main Street Journal, July 17, 2012
“I held my baby on my hip and looked out on their miniaturized veldt. “Tyranza,” I said, my voice no louder than if I were talking to a friend beside me. The stately matriarch turned to look at me.”
Southpaw: Our Blessing and Our Curse, Main Street Journal, May 1, 2012
“Perhaps no style of music represents Memphis better than the blues. It’s low-slung, self-deprecating, heart-broke, funny, sly and sexy. And yes, it can be damn repetitive.”
Southpaw: Being Memphisotan, Main Street Journal, March 6, 2012
“Not only do I own cowboy boots, I’ve had them resoled. I’m pretty sure that’s a step toward becoming a naturalized citizen, right after dropping the second A in Graceland and somewhere before running against a Ford for local office.”
Features
Photographer’s work reveals forever can mean forgotten for black graves, MLK50.com
Brooks exhibit celebrates the history of photography in Memphis, exploring who is remembered, how — and so much more
The Orpheum Theatre: The History Behind This Memphis Landmark , Style Blueprint Memphis
“The Orpheum Theatre is 90 years old and more dynamic than ever. We uncover the intriguing stories behind this Memphis landmark and track its journey to today.”
3 Unexpected Event Venues in Memphis, Style Blueprint Memphis
“With a city as creative and inspiring as Memphis, your options for event venues are as unique as your own special occasion.”
Only in Memphis: 10 Things That Make Us What We Are, Style Blueprint Memphis
“Memphis is truly one-of-a-kind, and these 10 people, places, and products are just as unique as the city that made them.”
Your Ultimate Guide to Front Street: A Downtown Corridor on the Rise, Style Blueprint Memphis
“After a decade of growth and reinvestment along Downtown Memphis’s Front Street, the empty lots and abandoned structures of the area once known as Warehouse Row have been rejuvenated by new apartments and condos, reimagined public spaces, thriving businesses and burgeoning entrepreneurs.”
10 Memphis Facts & Stories We Bet You Didn’t Know, StyleBlueprint-Memphis
“So, you’ve lived here all your life, been to all the museums and iconic landmarks, and shown off the city to dozens of visiting friends and family. You know this city like the back of your hand, right? Think again.”
Crosstown Concourse: A Vertical Village Built on Art & Collaboration, StyleBlueprint-Memphis
“This once-deserted behemoth is now a revolutionary collaborative of residential, commercial, educational, healthcare and arts spaces.”
The Bluff City’s Biking Revolution, StyleBlueprint-Memphis, August 4, 2017
“Just seven years from our low point, Memphis has made dramatic progress in becoming bike-friendly, and thanks to city planning and grassroots efforts, biking is now a realistic and enjoyable option for everything from work commutes to weekend adventures.”