Our goals include the promotion of a safe neighborhood, general beautification, and economic development as Crosstown returns to its previous prominence.
Safety encourages more interesting and diverse people to consider Crosstown for their home or business.
Beautification through restoration of previously derelict properties and installation of art-inspired projects enriches the lives of the current residents and is a catalyst for growth.
Economic development helps to bring jobs and motion to our area.
By creating a safe, beautiful, vibrant community, we have an opportunity to revive a traditionally important neighborhood in our great city.
The Crosstown Memphis CDC will support and promote the development of a healthy, vibrant, attractive, and sustainable community.
Seeing a need for energetic, nonprofit work in this area, we formed our organization to provide sensible solutions. We've consistently grown since then, all thanks to the helping hands of this amazing community!
Interim Board President
Lived in the Crosstown neighborhood since 2020
Occupation: Urban Planner
Interesting Fact: Sydney served as a volunteer and intern for the Crosstown Concourse redevelopment project beginning in 2013, when she helped inventory items left in the vacant building. She was able to continue involvement in the project throughout her four years at Rhodes. Now, years later, she is proud to be a homeowner in the neighborhood!
Sydney coordinates the Memphis Medical District Collaborative's Quality Public Realm work. Prior to her time at MMDC, she graduated from Rhodes College and then received her master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin. She is driven by a love for cities and a desire to help cultivate vibrant, safe, welcoming, and equitable places for the people that inhabit them. When she is not caring for or playing with her 3 cats, she loves to garden, take neighborhood walks and bike rides, and catch up with her book club.
Board Treasurer
Justin Gillis is a life long Memphian and a Crosstown resident for over 20 years. He and his family live in Speedway Terrace with their dog and a sea of cats. He has a technology and program management background, with more than twenty years of consulting experience. In 2015, Justin was one of the founding members of the Crosstown Memphis Community Development Corporation and the organization's first elected President. Justin remains an active board member with the CDC and an advocate for the community. In his "spare time," Justin volunteers with his son's Cub Scout Pack 13 (at Trinity Methodist), the Crosstown Cookers BBQ Team, the VECA Greenline, and Snowden Elementary' s "Snowden Dads".
Board Secretary
Bianca Phillips serves as the secretary for the Crosstown CDC board of directors. By day, she manages communications for Crosstown Concourse and Crosstown Arts. And when she's not working, she enjoys ultra-running, yoga, kayaking, and cooking vegan meals. Bianca is the author of Cookin' Crunk: Eatin' Vegan in the Dirty South (a Southern vegan cookbook), and she posts daily on her food blog, Vegan Crunk. Bianca lives in the Crosstown neighborhood with her partner Paul Dillard, their rescued pit bull Maynard, and their three cats: Polaris, Ozzy, and Seymour
Board Member
Worked in Crosstown since 2017. Lived in Crosstown since 2019
Occupation: Travel Nurse Recruiter and Influencer Manager
Interesting Fact: Anna Joy was a gymnast for 14 years growing up. She went to the Rio Olympics Games in 2016 and worked for the Olympic News Service as a reporter covering gymnastics. While there, she got to meet and interview all the Olympic gymnasts including Team USA.
After working in Crosstown Concourse for two years, she and her husband decided it was time to buy a house in the neighborhood. She loves Crosstown because it has everything she needs. She can often be found at the YMCA in the Concourse. She is bilingual and loves to travel. Anna Joy graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in broadcast journalism and Spanish and is currently in school at Christian Brothers University pursuing an MBA with a focus in project management. She envisions Crosstown as the neighborhood where all Memphians want to live and where all businesses want to be located.
Board Member
Lived in 2.5 years in Crosstown, 4 years in Evergreen
Occupation: Construction Project Manager for AutoZone
Interesting Fact: Clay teaches chess as a side job and play in competitive tournaments.
He is a Crosstowner who has lived in the area for 6+ years. He bought his house here in 2019 and loves being a part of this neighborhood! He is originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi and moved to Memphis for work. His hobbies include chess, outdoors and exercising, cooking, and many other things.
Board Member
Lived here almost 5 years
Occupation: Fitness instructor at the YMCA and the Kroc Center
Interesting Fact: Randi often sings (out loud) and dances when she goes on runs in the neighborhood.
Randi, a Memphis native, has proudly called the Crosstown neighborhood her home since 2016. With a background in ministry and theology, Randi has worked in various church and nonprofit settings. Currently she fills her days chasing three energetic children and teaching fitness classes at her neighborhood gyms. You’ll often find Randi outdoors (probably wearing a fanny pack) hiking or running, drinking a good local beer, playing some music, or perhaps getting a little artsy.
Board Member
Lived in Crosstown since 2019.
Occupation: Civil Engineer and Project Manager
Interesting Fact: Ivan played for the national basketball team in Ecuador.
Ivan Tamayo was originally born in Ecuador and moved to the US to pursue a career in Engineering. He received an undergraduate in Civil Engineering from Christian Brothers University. He is an avid reader and enjoys learning about Sustainable Infrastructure. Ivan has lived in Memphis for 10 years and chose to live in the Crosstown Neighborhood 2019. He is committed to the betterment of the neighborhood and loves the potential that Crosstown has for Memphis.
Board Member
Worked in Crosstown Concourse 4 years; worked in Crosstown area 7 years
Occupation: Workforce Development Coordinator at Church Health
Interesting Fact: Alan once took a 134 meter dive into a canyon while bungee jumping.
After studying anthropology at the University of Memphis, Alan became involved in the Crosstown community when he began work at Church Health. As one of Crosstown Concourse's anchor tenants, in 2014 Church Health had an office located along the Cleveland corridor where Alan focused on community and organizational engagement and development. From there he transitioned to Crosstown Concourse with Church Health. He has served as a volunteer for the Crosstown Memphis CDC since 2019. Moving forward, he hopes to bring a compassionate, strategic mindset and community development skills to support the Board in staying rooted in the community and moving toward community goals.
In times of uncertainty please extend a helping hand within our community and do what you can to support our neighbors. #wearecrosstownmemphiscdc
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