Where There’s a Will

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
It’s an English proverb that’s stood the test of centuries. It means that when someone is determined—when their heart is set on something—they’ll find a way to make it happen, no matter the obstacles in their path. Willpower can defeat any difficulty. Strong determination can conquer any problem. This is the optimism that built Memphis, that built Shelby County, and that can rebuild it again, one block, one family, one dream at a time.

Why Shelby County Needs This Spirit

Let’s be honest: Shelby County is hurting. Our crime rates are among the highest in the nation. In Memphis, your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is far too high. Property crime is even more common, affecting countless residents every year. Behind every statistic is a family, a child, a dream deferred.

But the numbers that break my heart most aren’t just about crime—they’re about family. In Shelby County, fathers are absent in nearly half of all families. In Memphis, a majority of families are headed by a single parent, and only a small percentage have a single father present. Nationally, nearly one in four children lives without a father in the home. The research is clear and devastating:

• Most juveniles in state-operated institutions come from single-parent homes
• Fatherless children are much more likely to be incarcerated than those raised in dual-parent households
• Individuals from father-absent homes are significantly more likely to carry guns and deal drugs
• Father absence is directly tied to poverty, school dropout rates, and substance abuse.

These aren’t just numbers. They’re the faces of our sons and daughters, our neighbors, our future. They’re the reason why, when I say “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” I mean it as a call to action.

How This Attitude Changes Lives—and Communities

I’ve seen what happens when people believe in this spirit. I’ve seen young men in Frayser and South Memphis who, despite the odds, choose a different path because someone believed in them. I’ve seen single mothers who, with the help of a neighbor or a mentor, kept their families together and their children on track. I’ve seen teachers, pastors, coaches, and business owners step up—not because it was easy, but because they had the will to make a difference.

This attitude doesn’t just change individuals—it transforms communities. When we choose to believe that we can make a way, even when the path isn’t clear, we start to see solutions where others see only problems. We start to invest in our schools, demand better for our neighborhoods, and hold each other accountable. We build businesses that hire locally. We start after-school programs and mentor the next generation. We refuse to let our children fall through the cracks.

The Power of Men of Impact

One of the greatest honors of my life has been helping to launch the Men of Impact initiative. We started this because we saw the pain in our city—especially among our young Black men. Memphis and Shelby County are at a crossroads. Our city bleeds potential, but it also bleeds pain. Too many of our boys are growing up without fathers, without role models, without hope.

Men of Impact is about changing that narrative. It’s about men stepping up to be present, to mentor, to guide, and to love. It’s about holding each other accountable, equipping ourselves to be better fathers, husbands, and leaders. It’s about showing our sons—and our daughters—that there’s another way, a better way. That with willpower, with faith, with community, we can break the cycle.

A Tear in Every Statistic, A Hope in Every Heart

If you’re reading this and your heart is heavy, you’re not alone. I feel it, too. I see the pain in our neighborhoods, the empty seats at our dinner tables, the dreams deferred by violence and poverty. But I also see the hope. I see the single mom who never gives up. I see the retired coach who fixes bikes for kids so they can get to school. I see the neighbor who organizes a block party just to remind us we’re not alone.

This is the spirit of “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It’s the spirit Shelby County needs now more than ever.

Your Turn: Nominate a Local Hero

I know there are heroes among us—people who, every day, embody this spirit. People who refuse to give up, who find a way, who lift others as they climb. I want to tell their stories. I want to celebrate them, learn from them, and let their example light the way for the rest of us.

Will you help me?
If you know someone in Shelby County who lives out “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”—a neighbor, a teacher, a coach, a parent, a young person, a business owner—please take a moment to nominate them below. Tell me how they’ve made a way where there seemed to be none. Let’s honor those who are making our community stronger, one act of will at a time.

And to every man reading this: I’m asking you to step up. Become a Man of Impact. Mentor a young person. Show up for your family. Be the difference our community needs.

Because where there’s a will, there’s a way. And together, there’s nothing Shelby County can’t overcome.

Let’s lift each other up. Let’s make a way, together.