Why does early childhood matter? | More for Memphis: South Memphis Zone

In our city, the ZIP code where you grow up can define almost every part of your life. For example, a child born and raised in a South Memphis neighborhood may attend under-resourced schools or see the doctor less often than children in wealthier areas because of cost or distance. Problems like these add up over time until life feels unbearable. Then, rather than getting to pursue their dreams, that child and their family are stuck in survival mode. The earlier we intervene, the bigger the impact of those interventions. That’s why local partners have come together through the More for Memphis Early Childhood workgroup to discuss solutions to wide-ranging issues impacting early childhood care and education in the South Memphis Zone (SMZ). This zone includes all of ZIP codes 38106 and 38126, and parts of 38109 and 38114. In this short interview, Kellie Spilman and Moneice Barner talk about their work with the Early Success Coalition and the organization's role in the More for Memphis: South Memphis Zone Early Childhood Workgroup.