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Southwest student and Walker Holmes advocate credits Southwest for giving her a voice for change

By Chris Caldwell 

Mary Murphy
Mary Murphy

A frustrating day for Southwest student Mary Murphy is seeing the Walker Holmes community she has been living in for over 30 years littered with trash. When Murphy began to notice more and more illegal dumping in her neighborhood, she decided to use her voice to become an advocate for her community. Murphy credits Southwest for giving her that voice. 

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Walker Holmes community has seen an influx of illegal dumping. According to city officials, illegal dumping in the area increased by 300-400 percent. 

Around the week of June 8, 2022, Murphy and other members of the Holmes community reached out to local new outlets for help in cleaning up all the blight and dumped furniture. Within a week, local officials sent Memphis public work crews to clean up the illegal dumping. 

“Attending Southwest’s fireside chats, leadership trainings and seminars, gave me the tools and the confidence I needed to speak up for my community and make a difference for the people living there,” Murphy said. She credits her participation as a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Southwest’s Honors Program in helping to find her voice. 

Murphy also sings high praises of Southwest President Dr. Tracy D. Hall and Student Development Director Phoenix Worthy as two exemplary people at the college who have shown her how confidence and effective leadership can lead to transformational change.

“Mr. Phoenix saw something in me and nurtured me because he saw me as the strong woman I am today,” she said. “Dr. Hall’s presence commands your attention and her leadership speaks volumes to me. They both gave me a sense of purpose and dignity.”

Murphy is earning her A.A.S. in paralegal studies  and will graduate in 2024. She plans to open her own office in Memphis as a resource hub for the community.