Our Story

Our Mission

Historic Clayborn Temple engages in culture and the arts inspired by the participants of the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike. Clayborn seeks to embody their declaration of the humanity and dignity of Black, poor, and working-class people and to continue their legacy of advancing human understanding through storytelling, engagement, and practice.

Our Story

Clayborn Temple has been a part of Memphis and American History since 1892. First built and opened as Second Presbyterian Church, in 1949 the building was sold to an AME congregation who changed the name to Clayborn Temple.

Because of its reputation in the community and proximity to City Hall, Clayborn was chosen as the organizing headquarters for The Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968, Martin Luther King’s last campaign. The campaign’s iconic “I AM A MAN” signs were made daily in Clayborn’s basement and have since become a universal symbol for human rights and dignity.

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From the ashes

In 1999, Clayborn Temple closed and fell into disrepair, but it has since reopened and begun revitalization. Officially named a National Treasure in 2018 by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Clayborn has come back to life with the promise of leveraging the stories of the past to tell the stories of our collective future.

Our mission, inspired by the 1968 Striking Sanitation Workers, is to continue their legacy of advancing human connection through storytelling, engagement, and practice. We do this by engaging in story, arts and culture, and embodying The Sanitation Workers’ declaration of humanity and dignity of black, poor, and working-class people.

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A Memphis Tradition

While Clayborn Temple is currently closed for restoration, our organization continues to implement story driven, community-centered programs that align with our vision. When we reopen in 2024, we will do so as a premier cultural arts center connecting downtown and historically Black South Memphis. We will be a breathtaking central space for gathering, celebration, story, and connection.

While under construction, we continue to bring Memphians together to lay the foundation for the future of Clayborn’s community based programs and explore through creativity and imagination, the values for which The Sanitation Workers so valiantly fought.

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The Renovation

The $14M restoration of our building will include the realization of performance space, gallery space, a museum that chronicles the history of the building and The Strike, a center for community centered restorative economics, a library, and rental space for meetings, events, celebrations, and other gatherings.

Our vision is to:

  • See the building fully activated with robust arts programming featuring artists from Memphis and around the globe.
  • See the mission fully activated so that the intention of The Strikers lives on in our community programs.
  • Become a hub for Memphis’ thriving cultural economy and a home where all are welcome and safe to build community across race and class and work for the safety, freedom, and joy for all.
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The Team

Anasa Troutman

Memphis-based Anasa Troutman is a writer, producer, & real estate developer who has dedicated her work to the importance of culture & the power of love. Anasa is a pioneer of cultural strategy & the building of narrative, economic, & political power. Anasa works hard to embody her belief in creativity as a transformative practice & engages art-making as a pathway to her own healing & spiritual expansion.
Working at the intersection of culture and the economy, Anasa is the founder of The BIG We LLC, The BIG We Foundation, BIG We Capital, and Historic Clayborn Temple, home of the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike in historically South, Black Memphis. She lives a life driven by love and an unwavering commitment to cultivating safe, abundant, and joyful communities through storytelling, community building, and strategic investment.

Anasa’s vision focuses on the wellbeing of Girls & Womxn as well as Black, Indigenous, LatinX, and AAPI communities. She believes a well culture translates to a just society, loving public policy, and community programs propelled by creativity, connection, and social innovation. Leaning into the future of social impact, Anasa’s cultural wellness framework and culture shift methodology come together to create a pathway toward healing, justice, and abundance. Through Culture Shift and Culture Shift 101, she has taught thousands of artists, organizers, and leaders the power and practice of culture and narrative-based social impact strategies.

Anasa’s unique brilliance and beautiful heart has propelled her to provide strategic and creative support to the country’s most important cultural, political, and social justice entities, including The Highlander Center, India.Arie, Kat Taylor, Kellogg Foundation, National Black Arts Festival, Sony Music, and more. Anasa been invited twice to the White House by the Obama administration to advise on cultural policy.

Brooke Sarden

Brooke Sarden has spent 20 years co-creating an equitable, thriving, and vibrant Memphis through her work with justice-serving, community-facing, and culturally rooted nonprofits. With a deep passion for the people and culture of her hometown, Brooke has established herself as a strong operational, creative, and community leader. In addition to 10 years as an Operations Director, Brooke's experience has included research and data, communications, grant-writing and programming for nonprofits including Memphis Area Legal Services, Memphis Fair Housing Center, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, and Center for Transforming Communities, as well as Hattiloo Theatre and the Orpheum Theatre Group.

Brooke is currently the Managing Director for Historic Clayborn Temple (Clayborn), which earned her commitment to serve for the expansiveness and deep humanity that is rooted in Clayborn's vision. As a Memphian, an artist, and a person always wanting be engaged in the best collective “human-ing” possible, Brooke is activating herself through Clayborn, working for a world where people are well in all the senses––included in community, valued, seen, heard in authenticity, inspired to pursue their own dreams and desires, connected to history, and moving toward the future in their own power.

Board of Directors

Tamika Turner

Granddaughter of Baxter Leach, a Sanitation Workers from the 1968 strike, Tamika Turner is a groundbreaking entrepreneur, master barber, stylist, and public speaker. In June of 2016, she embarked on a historic journey of opening Tennessee's 1st freestanding Natural Hair School, The Institute of Beauty, LLC. The program is designed to educate, empower, and equip students in the field of natural hair care and the business of beauty. The Institute of Beauty has introduced over 300 business savvy, natural hair stylist students and over 100 licensed natural hair professionals into a billion-dollar beauty industry.

Konda Mason

Konda Mason is a social entrepreneur, earth, and social justice activist. She is a co-founder of Jubilee Partners and President of Jubilee Justice; a nonprofit working to bring economic equity to BIPOC farmers and ecological sustainability. Ms. Mason, along with her partner's actors Woody Harrelson and Laura Louie, owned the first home delivery service of organic food in the Los Angeles area and were the first to negotiate an organic food section in a major grocery store. She is the Strategic Director of the Runway Project Oakland, a micro-lending fund for African American entrepreneurs, and co-founder of the annual COCAP conference in Oakland focused on “Building the We Economy”.

Nykesha Cole

Nykesha Cole is the Shelby County Liaison for Arts & Culture. She has an extensive background in the nonprofit and public sectors, most recently working as the executive director of Mustard Seed Inc., a social services nonprofit. She also previously worked with the city and county in the joint Division of Planning and Development and with the Greater Memphis Chamber. holds a bachelor of arts in journalism from Southern Methodist University and is a candidate for a master's degree in public service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Ed Whitfield

Ed Whitfield is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities. A long-time social justice activist, Ed has been involved in labor, community organizing, and peace work since the late 60’s when he was a student at Cornell University. He was chairman of the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission for 9 years and was formerly chairman of Greensboro's Triad Minority Development Corporation. Ed is deeply involved in conceptualizing and spreading the idea of democratic ownership and the reclamation of the commons. 

Talibah Saifya

Talibah is a multi-disciplinary artist with a focus on healing through music, writing, and experience curation. Safiya is currently serving as an artist in residence at the University of Memphis exploring the power of collaboration while bridging the gap between the original blues and new expressions of it. She has recently contributed to the soundtrack for shows on both HBO and STARZ and is releasing her second project in collaboration with Deepwater and Highwater records, titled Black Magic in February of 2024.

Building Committee

Heather Koury

As Director of Strategic Alignment for archimania, an award-winning firm based in Memphis, Tennessee, Heather works directly with clients and their projects, strategic partners, and the communities we serve to advance design, expand public understanding of architecture, and broaden its impact. She served as AIA Memphis Executive Director for 18 years, President of The Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), and CACE Representative on the AIA Board of Directors. Heather has been recognized nationally by the American Institute of Architects as a Richard Upjohn Fellow and Louise Blanchard Bethune Fellow, honored with the National Council of Architectural Component Executives Leadership Award, and is an Honorary Member of the AIA and the Tau Sigma Delta Silver Medal for outstanding service to the field of architectural education.

Allison Springfield

Allison has over 20 years of experience and demonstrated history working in Facilities Planning and Maintenance with an emphasis in the aviation industry. A creative team player and entrepreneur professional with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Master of City and Regional Planning focused in City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning from Clemson University, Allison is currently a Project Manager with Allworld Project Management, LLC (AWPM), a professional service firm launched in 2010 and based in the Memphis, TN area. Her diverse roles include construction support, economic and community development, and Geographical Information Systems.

Tony Bologna

Tony Bologna has led the architectural and planning firm of Bologna & Associates, Inc. for 21 years, concentrating his design activities on the restoration, revitalization and redevelopment of downtown Memphis. Bologna Consultants, LLC has expanded its mission to provide Project Management services on a variety of developments. Tony is a past chair and member of the Memphis and Shelby County Building Code Advisory Board. He was instrumental in the development and adoption of the first seismic building code for Memphis and Shelby County and each subsequent seismic upgrade of the code. He was instrumental in developing the city's first anti-neglect ordinance.

Jimmie Tucker

For 26 years as a Founder and Managing Principal of Memphis-based Self + Tucker Architects (STA), Tucker has led his firm through its evolution from a project-focused, general practice architectural firm to a multi-faceted firm that takes a holistic and collaborative approach to plan and design. Self + Tucker Architects is an exemplary Tennessee-based firm that serves as a leader in sustainability and community-engaged design practices and has led cultural projects such as the Memphis Heritage Trail, National Civil Rights Museum, STAX Museum, and the restoration of Historic Clayborn Temple. Jimmie holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University and received his Master's degree in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Alexandra Willis Bodie

After working at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for seven years, Alexandra joined the ComCap Partners team in 2018. Experienced in project management and strategic planning, Alexandra currently manages the implementation of the South City Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives neighborhood plan. Additionally, Alexandra assists the firm’s senior management in analyzing project feasibility and researching the market and industry trends. She is currently active with the Urban Land Institute and currently serves on the board of RegionSmart.

Katie Harris

Katie Harris is a Memphis-based philanthropist and currently serves on the founding team of Story Tellers Live Memphis. She started her career as an NCIDQ Certified designer for an architecture firm where she worked on a number of notable commercial and civic projects in Memphis. Katie is committed to Historic Clayborn Temple and has participated in all HCT programming. Believing that justice acts on the disparity between the world that exists now and the world that ought to be, Katie is passionate that Historic Clayborn Temple will be a manifestation of that action for years to come. In addition to serving on the Historic Clayborn Temple Building Committee, Katie is also an active member of the organization's Board of Directors.

Margot Payne

Margot is an Urban Design & Preservation Planner with the City of Memphis. Holding a Masters Degree in Preservation Studies from the Tulane School of Architecture, she most recently worked as a historic preservation consultant researching and documenting historic buildings and districts for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, Federal Historic Tax Credit program applications, and the creation of architectural design guidelines for historic neighborhoods. She also provided historic materials, finishes, and design consulting for restoration and adaptive reuse projects, specializing in wood window restoration. Margot was appointed to the State Review Board of the Tennessee Historical Commission in 2018 and the Memphis Landmarks Commission in 2020.