State and Local Politics

The parent who helps their child’s teacher with homework and activities. The individual who helps feed the homeless on Thanksgiving. The person who helps organize a neighborhood effort to address crime or blight or to promote a cause. They are all volunteers.

As a woman, a business owner, and a nurse - Katrina Robinson is no stranger to perseverance. In her greatest pursuits she has diligently concentrated her work to serving as a community advocate and problem solver.Katrina came to state-wide attention as an entrepreneur in 2015, when she successfully wrote her own grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with no prior formal training or education in grant writing. She secured a $1.6 million federal grant, and began The Healthcare Institute Inc.

Progressive Challenger, Torrey Harris, is a proud community leader and advocate for all Human Rights and Equal Opportunity here in Memphis, Tennessee. Torrey came to Memphis in 2011 by way of corporate relocation and has made the obvious decision to 'Choose 901', literally, making Memphis his home ever since. Torrey believes that everyone should be given the same chances and opportunities he was presented with.

When the publication of "Fire and Fury" was announced, it was an instant bestseller. Despite cease and desist orders, Henry Holt & Co., defied the threat and moved up the publication date to January 5th instead of waiting to publish on the originally planned January 9th date. A record 1.7 million copies have been sold. 

In 2014, Lee Harris was elected to the State Senate, becoming the youngest senator in the state of Tennessee. Other Democratic senators selected him as Senate Minority Leader, making him the first African American leader of the state senate in Tennessee history.

First, here’s why I even wanted to read this book. Prior to the 2016 election, I felt that voting was enough. After November 8, I realized that voting wasn’t nearly enough, nor was complaining to like-minded individuals on Facebook. I needed to do something. While I looked around for how to help the Democratic Party, I discovered Future901. Here was a grassroots organization where I could contribute my time and talent locally to elect progressive public officials.

A military child, Racquel Collins was born in the Philippines and raised in d’Iberville, MS. To follow in her father’s footsteps, she also joined the Air Force, where she learned critical teamwork and leadership skills while trainingfighter pilots in electronic enemy warfare. Passionate about pediatric cancer research since childhood, Racquel returned to college after

Michael Whaley is the founding Director of Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) in Memphis where he works with current and former teachers to build their civic engagement and leadership. Prior to joining LEE, Michael served as the Founder and Executive Director of Memphis College Prep, a kindergarten through fifth grade public elementary school. Michael is active in several local community and civic boards, including the Downtown Memphis Commission, and Let’s Innovate Through Education (LITE).

Tami Sawyer is the Director, Diversity & Cultural Competence with Teach For America Memphis and a writer, speaker and social justice & education advocate. Tami was named by The Tennessean and Commercial Appeal as one of 18 Tennesseans to watch in 2018 and was included in the Commercial Appeal’s 2017 Person of the Year recognition. She is an alumna of the University of Memphis and attended Howard University School of Law.