November 2025

What inspires you to get involved?

Being from Memphis, I see firsthand the challenges our community faces. I’m inspired both by those needs and by Rhodes’s strong emphasis on service. That spirit of giving back really motivates me to do the same.

What do you love about your work?
I love meeting people — from students and mentors to legal professionals. It’s been an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field I want to pursue. I plan to become an attorney, and this internship has affirmed that passion.

How has this experience shaped your view of service?
It’s shown me how powerful small actions can be. Even a few hours of volunteering can make a huge difference in someone’s life. That realization has deepened my commitment to serving my community.

What would you tell others about getting involved?
It’s easier than you think! You don’t have to commit dozens of hours — even one to three hours a week can make an impact. You can volunteer on campus or throughout Memphis; it all counts.

How can others get started?
Start by exploring opportunities through Career Services, the Turley Memphis Center, or platforms like Handshake. That’s how I got connected to my internship. The Community Legal Center often has openings, and there are many other local nonprofits and firms that welcome student volunteers.

About the Community Legal Center:
The Community Legal Center (CLC) is a nonprofit law firm in downtown Memphis that provides affordable legal services to low-income Memphians in areas like family law, immigration, and housing. Students, faculty, and staff can all get involved by volunteering or supporting their work.

• Board Member, Girls Inc. of Memphis
• Executive Board Member & Treasurer, Shelby County Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Council
• Board Member, Sowing Justice (environmental justice organization led by Marquita Bradshaw)
• Executive Committee Member, Shelby County Democratic Party – and Chair of the Bylaws Committee
• Executive Board Member, Homeowners Association
• Member, Tennessee Democratic Women’s Party
• Member, Order of the Eastern Star

These roles allow me to support young women, advocate for survivors, engage in policy work, and help strengthen communities across Memphis.

“When you have a seat at the table, you speak for the people who aren’t at the table.”

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working with The Equity Alliance on Know Your Rights initiatives and canvassing in Memphis neighborhoods to help residents understand their rights—especially during this period of increased police occupation and community concern.

I’m also deeply involved with Girls Inc. as we prepare for our upcoming gala. Due to changes in legislation affecting single-sex organizations, some donors have pulled back funding. We’re working hard to secure new funding sources to continue empowering girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

What inspires you to do this work?

Service. I truly believe that to whom much is given, much is required.

When you have a seat at the table, it is your responsibility to speak for those who aren’t represented—those who may be disenfranchised by legislation, systemic barriers, or inequitable policies. My motivation comes from ensuring that all people, especially those who feel silenced, have a voice and the opportunity to thrive.

How can others get involved?

There are so many ways to serve:

• Girls Inc.
  • Volunteers are welcome at our Frayser farm
  • Help with STEM programs, special events, and mentorship opportunities
• The Equity Alliance
  • Volunteer for canvassing
  • Share literature, talk with residents, and help spread critical information
• Political engagement
  • Both Democratic and Republican organizations offer community volunteer opportunities
  • Anyone can participate, learn, and help educate others

What I want people to know is this: you can do this work too.
Service is not limited to a few people. Every person has something to offer. When we volunteer, raise awareness, and listen to each other, we open the door to solutions that can move our community forward—together.

This initiative helps preschoolers strengthen foundational language, math, literacy, and socio-emotional skills through evidence-based instruction woven together with play-based learning and family engagement. Across five summers, the program has consistently produced measurable improvements in school readiness among the 150 children served.

One of my favorite parts of my work is mentoring students—helping them conduct research that not only advances developmental science, but also makes a meaningful difference in the community.

“Every child deserves rich, language- and literacy-supportive learning experiences—regardless of their zip code.”

How long have you been at Rhodes?

This is my ninth year at Rhodes. During that time, I’ve directed five summers of the Summer Success program, mentored more than 30 undergraduate researchers, and had many “full circle” moments—including watching former research students launch careers in academia, education, healthcare, and community programming.

Tell us about your work in the community.

Our team’s primary community partnership is with Porter-Leath Early Childhood Academy, where we deliver the Summer Success program. Through this collaboration, we bring research-based instruction directly to preschoolers while offering Rhodes students hands-on experience implementing and evaluating early learning interventions.

We also study how children tell stories in authentic social contexts. One of our recent projects explores “story-sharing circles,” where preschoolers tell personal stories in small peer groups. We’re finding that children produce longer, richer, and more emotionally expressive stories when sharing with peers rather than in adult-led settings. These findings challenge traditional assessment models and highlight the importance of culturally responsive, collaborative learning environments.

Across all our work, we aim to reimagine what equitable, community-engaged early learning can look like in Memphis.

What community organizations are you involved with, and what projects are you working on?

My closest and longest-standing partnership is with Porter-Leath, where our team implements the Summer Success program each year.

In addition, I’ve built a service-learning component into my Infant and Child Development course in partnership with Church Health’s Well Program—a pediatric prevention and wellness initiative serving children ages 0–12.

Through this partnership, students spend up to 10 hours each semester supporting enrichment activities, engaging with families, and seeing firsthand how health, experience, and environment shape children’s development.

These collaborations bridge research, teaching, and service—demonstrating how academic work can extend beyond campus and create meaningful impact.

What inspires you to do this work?

I believe deeply that every child should have access to high-quality, language-rich, and relationship-centered learning experiences—no matter their circumstances.

The preschool years are a powerful developmental window, and I’m motivated by the potential to create programs that strengthen children’s trajectories early on.

I’m also continually inspired by my students. Watching them connect theory to practice—whether through research, classroom work, or community engagement—reminds me why I love what I do. Their curiosity and empathy fuel my own.

How can others get involved, and what do you want people to know?

There are many ways for students and community members to engage:

• Join the Language & Literacy Lab to gain experience in developmental research and data analysis
• Apply to be a Summer Success Fellow and work directly with preschoolers in Memphis
• Enroll in the Infant & Child Development course with a service-learning component at Church Health
• Partner with us through shared programming, workshops, or early learning initiatives

Above all, I want others to know that this work is deeply collaborative. It thrives because of the teachers, families, community partners, and students who share a commitment to creating equitable opportunities for children to grow, learn, and succeed.

Community Partner Spotlight -  Refugee Empowerment Program (REP)

Interview with Sarah Babb, Deputy Director

Tell us about yourself and the organization you represent.

My name is Sara Babb, and I am the Deputy Director for the Refugee Empowerment Program (REP). REP is an ethnic community-based organization walking alongside refugees and immigrants as they build new lives in Memphis. We are headquartered in the Binghampton neighborhood, and we a variety of offer culturally and linguistically competent wrap-around programs and services, including afterschool and summer enrichment, adult education, civic engagement, mentorship, and more.

How long has REP been around?

REP began in 2002, when Mama Ruth Lumo, a refugee mother from South Sudan, partnered with local community leader and now–Executive Director, Camela Echols. What began as a small afterschool program for 12 children has grown into a multi-generational organization serving hundreds of youth and adults through a trauma-informed, collaborative, impact-focused approach.

How does REP partner with Rhodes College?

Rhodes is REP’s longest-standing continuous institutional partner, with involvement going back to 2001, when REP was just a dream in Mama Ruth's heart. A Rhodes student named Rachel was already organizing fellow students in opposition tp the Sudanese genocide when she met Mama Ruth and other resettled refugees in Memphis. She and the student group decided to take action. They hosted a mock refugee camp on Rhodes campus to spread awareness about both the genocide and our new neighbors who were in need of welcoming support. Their direct action was a success, and many other Rhodes students joined the effort.  The dream of REP became a reality once these students, along with other local volunteers and community members, launched the elementary after-school program that became REP. 

REP's partnership with Rhodes has continued to deepen and expand over the past 24 years, and now includes the following opportunities:

• Afterschool tutoring and mentorship for PK-12th grade (our largest volunteer need)
• Bonner Scholar placements
• City Lynx internships
• Academic internships
• Summer Service Fellowships
• Art & Music clubs with Professor Vanessa Rogers
• Special projects and grant-funded collaborations
• Campus events like Rights to Play, cultural celebrations, and supply drives

Rhodes students consistently go above and beyond—helping coordinate events, securing resources like backpacks and funding for cultural programs, and offering specialized skills that strengthen REP’s capacity.

How would you describe your organization’s impact, and who do you primarily serve?

REP is led by the vision, culture, and leadership of the refugee and immigrant newcomers themselves. We serve individuals and families from around the world, providing programs that honor home cultures while supporting families as they build new lives in Memphis.

Our approach is guided by a core belief:
“Nothing for the people without their leadership.”

We listen first—shaping programming based on families’ goals, languages, and cultural values, not assimilation. REP’s impact is seen in academic growth, community belonging, leadership development, and the way young people remain connected to the organization long after they’ve grown up.

Is there a story or project you’re especially proud of?

We’re proudest of the longevity of our work and the full-circle stories that have emerged over two decades. Many REP students have grown up in our programs, gone to college, returned to volunteer, and later served on our board or joined our staff.

Rhodes students have also contributed in meaningful, lasting ways:

• A Bonner Scholar created a third-grade retention law training for staff and parents—an invaluable resource during major policy changes.
• An academic intern rewrote REP’s staff handbook and onboarding system, strengthening internal operations.
• Students have supported grant writing, special events, and cultural celebrations, including securing funding for an International Women’s Day ceremony with catering and a cultural dance performance support.
• Rhodes volunteers have coordinated backpack drives, helped families navigate educational resources, and led art, music, and cultural identity projects.
• Notably, a recent Rhodes intern did such impactful work that we hired him! Over the years, several Rhodes interns and fellows have returned after graduation to volunteer, join our staff team, and even our Board of Directors!

These collaborations work because Rhodes students don’t just serve for our community—they serve with the community and learn alongside us.

What inspires you to do this work?

REP’s founders, Mama Ruth and Cam Echols, were my first models of indigenous leadership—leaders advancing their own communities’ goals with clarity, compassion, and vision. That shaped my understanding of what service truly looks like.