Memphis Medical District Collaborative Brings Wellness Wednesday to Teachers
“Wellness is at the heart of our District’s identity, but we know that wellness isn’t just for healthcare providers—it’s for the people who keep our communities alive through knowledge: teachers. Sponsoring Wellness Wednesday is our way of providing a moment of “care for the caregivers.” We want to ensure that those who pour so much into our children have the space and resources to invest in themselves.”
Teaching is one of the most demanding and most important jobs in Memphis. And on April 29, Teach901 planned an event to give educators something they rarely get enough of: time to just breathe.
Teachers joined a free yoga session at Sana Yoga Downtown, then gathered for an evening of community featuring Playa Bowls, French Truck Coffee, and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. No lesson plans. No to-do lists. Just good people and good vibes.
The evening was made possible by the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, a non-profit community development organization anchored and funded by world-class educational and medical institutions dedicated to making the surrounding community a premier place to live, work, learn, and play. And their sponsorship made all of that possible for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Month.
About Memphis Medical District Collaborative
The Medical District is a significant force in Memphis, a 2.6-square-mile area that employs over 30,000 people and hosts 14,000 students, while reaching far beyond its geographic footprint through workforce development, public spaces, and economic initiatives. When an organization with that kind of reach chooses to invest in teachers, it sends a message to the whole city.
“The Medical District is vital to Memphis—both literally and figuratively. While we focus on a specific geographic footprint, the District serves as a healthcare and economic engine for the entire Mid-South. People from across the city, state, nation, and world connect with the District through workforce development, public spaces, real estate, and economic initiatives. They visit our restaurants, shop at our grocer, invest in our developments, and shape our future. There is no Memphis without the Medical District.”
Why Teachers
MMDC's investment in Wellness Wednesday reflects a longer view of what Memphis needs to thrive. The students sitting in classrooms right now are the future workforce of the city, including the Medical District itself.
“Many of the students taught by Teach901 educators today will become the doctors, nurses, researchers, and entrepreneurs working in the Medical District tomorrow. For us, investing in teachers is a no-brainer. Building great teachers means building great leaders.”
The belief that teacher investment is community investment shapes how MMDC thinks about partnership more broadly.
“When organizations like MMDC and Teach901 collaborate, we move beyond silos toward a unified front that truly displays the Power of Collaboration. Our impact multiplies when we combine our strengths: our physical space and resources paired with Teach901's reach and mission create a multiplier effect that benefits the city far more than any single organization could achieve alone.”
Supporting Teachers Secures Memphis's Future
“Every profession—from the surgeons at Le Bonheur to the placemakers, realtors, and connectors at MMDC—begins in a classroom. When a community supports its teachers, it secures its own future. By reducing burnout and demonstrating that educators are valued, we ensure that Memphis remains a place where talent wants to stay and grow.”
That's the work Teach901 does every day: recruiting, supporting, and retaining excellent educators across Memphis schools. And it's the work that Give901 exists to sustain — connecting partners, donors, and community members to programs that are building something lasting.
“Memphis has given us a rich history and a unique platform. By giving back, we ensure that the Memphis of tomorrow is even more equitable, resilient, and vibrant than today. We believe that when one part of the city thrives, we all do.”
