Draft:Community Alliance Group of Memphis

• Comment: Primary sources do not establish notability per WP:ORG. We need to see significant coverage, directly of this subject, in multiple secondary sources that are reliable and entirely independent of the subject. DoubleGrazing (talk) 14:21, 6 July 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Please see H:REFB. '''[[User:CanonNi]]''' (talk • contribs) 03:30, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Unsourced at time of review ~Liance^talk 17:26, 24 June 2024 (UTC)

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Community Alliance Group Memphis

Motto	Building Relationships & Bridging The Gap
Founder(s)	LaTasha Thornton
Key people	Joan Chavez, Latonia Richardson, Christopher Walton, Dykeshia White, Sarah Davis, Jewell Love, Brian Harris
Website	https://www.cagmemphis.org

Community Alliance Group of Memphis

The Community Alliance Group (CAG) is a non-profit organization based in Memphis, Tennessee, that focuses on education and teacher preparation for urban school environments.[1][2] CAG emerged from New Memphis, an organization involved in educator development and retention.[7]

History and Context

CAG was established in 2023 by LaTasha Thornton, an educator with experience in Memphis's urban school system.[1] The organization was formed in response to challenges faced by urban schools in Memphis.[3] According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Memphis schools have experienced issues such as lower graduation rates, achievement gaps, and resource disparities compared to national averages.[3]

Mission and Programs

CAG's stated mission is to develop and support a network of educators to address issues in urban education.[1] The organization reports operating a teacher education program that includes:

• Praxis Exam Preparation
• Practicum experiences in urban schools
• Job Placement Assistance
• Mentoring for program participants[1]

According to CAG's website, the teacher education program covers topics including:

• Equity and equality in education
• Foundational literacy instruction
• Instructional practices and strategies
• Data-driven instruction
• Classroom management
• Special education and ESL accommodation
• Social-emotional learning
• Lesson planning
• Teacher effectiveness measures
• Educational technology[1]

Community Engagement and Partnerships

CAG reports engaging in community-focused activities, including:

Partnerships with community members and leaders Facilitating discussions on student academic needs Providing resources for parental support of education[1]

The organization has partnered with other local non-profits. These include collaborations with The Metamorphosis Project on initiatives addressing homelessness in Memphis,[4] and with MDL Inc. on mentorship programs aimed at increasing high school graduation and college acceptance rates among Memphis's youth of color.[5] CAG has shown support for community events such as sports camps led by former Olympic athletes, which aim to provide opportunities for local youth.[8]

Teacher Support

CAG's work aligns with broader efforts in Memphis to address teacher shortages and improve retention rates. In 2024, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) approved a $28.4 million investment in teacher salaries, raising the starting annual teacher salary to $50,000.[9][10] This focus on teacher support comes as national data from the National Education Association indicates that in 2022, there were 567,000 fewer educators in public schools than before the pandemic.[11]

Organization and Structure

CAG operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[2] As of 2024, founder LaTasha Thornton serves as the organization's leader and sole member according to public records.[2]

Recognition and Reported Impact

CAG is recognized by Shelby County, Tennessee as a participating non-profit organization.[6] The organization states that it has trained educators who are now working in Memphis urban schools.[1]

Challenges and Future Plans

As a new non-profit in the education sector, CAG faces challenges such as securing sustainable funding and scaling programs. According to its website, the organization plans to expand its teacher preparation program through partnerships with local universities and school districts, and to develop a research component focused on urban education strategies.[1] CAG's work occurs alongside other educational initiatives in Memphis. For instance, Crosstown High, a public charter school founded in 2018, has implemented project-based learning and efforts to create a diverse student body.[12] While CAG and Crosstown High are separate entities, they both represent part of ongoing efforts to address educational challenges in Memphis.

References

1. "Community Alliance Group". cagmemphis.org. https://www.cagmemphis.org/. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
2. "Community Alliance Group / Latasha Charnell Thornton Sole MBR". Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/community-alliance-group-latasha-charnell-thornton,932619772/. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
3. "Education in Memphis". National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
4. "The Metamorphosis Project". morphproject.org. https://morphproject.org/who-we-are/. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
5. "MDL Inc.". mdlinc.org. http://www.mdlinc.org/about.html. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
6. "Participating Nonprofits". Shelby County, Tennessee. https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/3921/Participating-Nonprofits. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
7. "Educator Engagement". New Memphis. https://www.newmemphis.org/educator-engagement-. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
8. Kontji Anthony. "Former Olympic Team USA Bobsledder Sable Otey invites kids to upcoming sports camp". WREG.com. https://wreg.com/on-air/live-at-9/former-olympic-team-usa-bobsledder-sable-otey-invites-kids-to-upcoming-sports-camp/. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
9. Tonyaa Weathersbee. "MSCS board approves $1.8 billion budget for 2024-25, with money for higher teacher salaries". Chalkbeat Tennessee. https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2024/06/26/mscs-board-approves-budget-2024-25-with-higher-teacher-pay/. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
10. John Klyce. "MSCS to inject additional $28.4M into teacher pay, bring starting teacher salary to $50K". Memphis Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2024/04/30/mscs-raises-teacher-salaries-memphis/73520968007/. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
11. FOX13 Memphis News Staff. "School districts make efforts to recruit, retain teachers for next school year". FOX13 Memphis. https://www.fox13memphis.com/education/school-districts-make-efforts-to-recruit-retain-teachers-for-next-school-year/article_b95d8920-1692-11ef-a42f-f37bfcdace53.html. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
12. Teresa Xie. "How a Memphis High School Built a Model for Education From Scratch". Bloomberg CityLab. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-11/-the-first-class-showcases-memphis-xq-charter-school-crosstown-high. Retrieved July 8, 2024.