Thousands of Memphians could be missing out on better jobs for one reason

Good morning, Memphis!

This is Executive Editor Mark Russell, and we appreciate you reading the Daily Briefing, our one-stop digital shop for the best Memphis stories from our award-winning Commercial Appeal team. We are here to curate some of the best stories from some of the city’s best journalists.

Garrett Ferby was the only member of his family who hadn’t graduated from high school and attended college. The 22-year-old had been, as he put it, “a bit of a knucklehead” as a teenager, which had prevented him from initially crossing the finish line and earning his diploma, John Klyce reports in this story.

But he wanted to complete high school and pursue a postsecondary degree. He wanted to make his grandmother and his mother ― a high school English teacher ― proud.

“I just wanted my grandmother to know that I really appreciated her for all she put into me going to school, and my mother as well,” Ferby said.

Homelessness in focus: The Memphis Sports and Events Center was crowded Thursday morning but not with athletes warming up for games or practices. Service providers from around Memphis and Shelby County packed the courts with tables, medical tents and even employment opportunities for Project Homeless Connect, Brooke Muckerman reports in this story.

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