An estimated 3,000 people visit Crosstown Concourse each day, most of them working for or a customer, client or patient of one of the building’s tenants. There are also more than 260 apartments on the property as well as a high school that just opened its doors for its first class of 125 freshmen.
In addition to all the people who visit Crosstown daily since it opened in August 2017, there is also a steady stream of people showing up to do freelance assignments or to work remotely from their employer’s or home office.
Shannon Little left her job in marketing with the Huey's restaurant chain in Memphis to start her own solo marketing and social media venture. Such ventures at first glance might seem like a dime a dozen, leaving her with a task that had to be addressed before meeting with her first client.
She now handles marketing and social media efforts for several small businesses and is able to juggle all the tasks that go with that because she took the time to form a plan for herself at the very beginning.
"Define your target audience, your offerings and what value those offerings can bring to that audience," Little said, "My business became stronger, and my processes more streamlined, when I was able to define those terms."
A two-day joint undercover operation by special agents with the TBI Human Trafficking Unit and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Jackson Police Department, in conjunction with Operation United Front, a 12-state human trafficking operation led by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has resulted in the arrest of 11 men accused of seeking illicit sex from minors.
With a deep passion for serving others, Rachel Haaga knew she wanted to be a part of the nonprofit world from an early age. After graduating from the University of Memphis, she embarked on a journey to the other side of the world and came back to the Bluff City with a mission: to eradicate human trafficking. Her time in Cambodia working with Youth With A Mission gave Rachel the knowledge and determination to confront the evil that exists right here in Tennessee. In 2013, she co-founded Restore Corps to raise awareness, fight for systemic changes and empower survivors. Under Rachel’s leadership as Executive Director, Restore Corps is now designated as the official Single Point of Contact Agency for West Tennessee, runs two safe houses in Memphis, and has written or lobbied for the legislative changes that make Tennessee number one in the nation for anti-trafficking laws. Meet this determined and compassionate FACE of Memphis, Rachel Haaga!
In the second part of the interview, Rachel and Julia share some success stories they have gotten to see, what the organization needs most during the pandemic, and plenty of book recommendations, so that all of us on the sidelines can start to learn more about the human trafficking happening around us all the time. (PART 2/2)
First episode featuring two guests, and once you listen, you'll know why this mission takes a team. Rachel Haaga is the co-founder and executive director of Restore Corps (RC), an anti-human trafficking organization based out of Memphis with oversight of West Tennessee too. Julia Bey is a coach for Memphis Athletic Ministries, a faith-based urban ministry focused on helping youth thru sports, and also volunteers as a resident advocate for RC. (PART 1/2)
