Save Christopher and Sarah's Home!
Donation protected
Christopher Reyes, Sarah Fleming, and their two daughters are fighting an eviction from their home where Christopher has lived for 25 years. Many of you have read the recent press coverage and you know the situation is very very complicated. That said, Christopher and Sarah are up against a Luxury Hotel Group with gobs of money and power. They need your voice and financial support. If you can help financially please do so. If you can’t, please lend your voice to your social networks. Let these outsiders know what you think of them coming into our community this way. All funds raised are solely for the family’s legal fees.
If you have lived in Memphis for more than six months, it is incredibly likely that you have encountered Christopher Reyes, Sarah Fleming, or a combination of their work. Both of these Memphians have been outspoken advocates for artists, musicians, filmmakers, and creatives in the Bluff City for years.
In the last 25 years, this space has not only been their home, it has been a part of the fabric that helped downtown to become a vibrant city center. Here’s some of the highlights:
*Perhaps most notably, this home served as the headquarters for Live From Memphis, a platform dedicated to providing free support to local musicians, filmmakers, and artists for over a decade. LFM helped to launch and showcase the careers of many up and coming creatives through their various programs including Flipside Memphis, Li’l Film Fest, Music Video Showcase, Bikesploitation Film Festival, and 60 Seconds. Many other film, web, and music projects have called this place home.
*My Memphis was conceived and developed right here - an amazing film all about Memphis that aided in city talent recruitment and retention.
*Christopher taught free self-defense lessons here for 20 years before moving the classes to envision fitness to help make room for his growing family.
*Christopher and his family have continuously opened their home to other members of the creative community. Weddings have been held here, movies have been filmed here, photography sessions, live recordings, film screenings, and so much more - all free of charge.
*Hundreds of Memphis artists and musicians have graced this space with their talent, and the space has even hosted visiting artists from as far away as Japan and New Zealand. Christopher and Sarah are true ambassadors of this city.
*And who can forget the nightly art projections for the Downtown neighborhood to enjoy.
*Finally, this space is a home. In addition to all the wonderful things listed above, Christopher and Sarah have made two amazing daughters and this is their home.
Not only have these people been avid supporters of their community they have supported their neighborhood working with the Downtown Memphis Commission for over a decade.
PLEASE, don't let a faceless luxury hotel conglomerate based in Chicago forcibly push out this family of artists who have done so much for their community.
Christopher and Sarah are steadfast members of this community, and it would be a tragedy to lose their fervor and support. The funds raised here are solely for the family's legal fees. They have already spent thousands of dollars and cannot afford to fight this suit alone. They need your help. Think back to what they may have done for you personally, and donate. If all of their friends and supporters could find it in their heart to donate $25 or more, it would go a long way to helping resolve this terrible situation.
Show your grit and grind, MEMPHIS!
(Regarding the campaign organizer: Christopher and Sarah, as well as their immediate families, have been close friends of mine for almost a decade. I am honored that their parents refer to me as "the other daughter," and their children call me "Auntie Mac." Setting up this campaign was the least I could do to repay them for ten years of incredible creativity and generosity.)
(Regarding disbursement of funds to Christopher and Sarah for their legal expenses: a dedicated escrow account has been created so that these funds are deposited and only used for legal proceedings.)
For a comprehensive timeline of how this has gone down, CLICK HERE.
If you have lived in Memphis for more than six months, it is incredibly likely that you have encountered Christopher Reyes, Sarah Fleming, or a combination of their work. Both of these Memphians have been outspoken advocates for artists, musicians, filmmakers, and creatives in the Bluff City for years.
In the last 25 years, this space has not only been their home, it has been a part of the fabric that helped downtown to become a vibrant city center. Here’s some of the highlights:
*Perhaps most notably, this home served as the headquarters for Live From Memphis, a platform dedicated to providing free support to local musicians, filmmakers, and artists for over a decade. LFM helped to launch and showcase the careers of many up and coming creatives through their various programs including Flipside Memphis, Li’l Film Fest, Music Video Showcase, Bikesploitation Film Festival, and 60 Seconds. Many other film, web, and music projects have called this place home.
*My Memphis was conceived and developed right here - an amazing film all about Memphis that aided in city talent recruitment and retention.
*Christopher taught free self-defense lessons here for 20 years before moving the classes to envision fitness to help make room for his growing family.
*Christopher and his family have continuously opened their home to other members of the creative community. Weddings have been held here, movies have been filmed here, photography sessions, live recordings, film screenings, and so much more - all free of charge.
*Hundreds of Memphis artists and musicians have graced this space with their talent, and the space has even hosted visiting artists from as far away as Japan and New Zealand. Christopher and Sarah are true ambassadors of this city.
*And who can forget the nightly art projections for the Downtown neighborhood to enjoy.
*Finally, this space is a home. In addition to all the wonderful things listed above, Christopher and Sarah have made two amazing daughters and this is their home.
Not only have these people been avid supporters of their community they have supported their neighborhood working with the Downtown Memphis Commission for over a decade.
PLEASE, don't let a faceless luxury hotel conglomerate based in Chicago forcibly push out this family of artists who have done so much for their community.
Christopher and Sarah are steadfast members of this community, and it would be a tragedy to lose their fervor and support. The funds raised here are solely for the family's legal fees. They have already spent thousands of dollars and cannot afford to fight this suit alone. They need your help. Think back to what they may have done for you personally, and donate. If all of their friends and supporters could find it in their heart to donate $25 or more, it would go a long way to helping resolve this terrible situation.
Show your grit and grind, MEMPHIS!
(Regarding the campaign organizer: Christopher and Sarah, as well as their immediate families, have been close friends of mine for almost a decade. I am honored that their parents refer to me as "the other daughter," and their children call me "Auntie Mac." Setting up this campaign was the least I could do to repay them for ten years of incredible creativity and generosity.)
(Regarding disbursement of funds to Christopher and Sarah for their legal expenses: a dedicated escrow account has been created so that these funds are deposited and only used for legal proceedings.)
For a comprehensive timeline of how this has gone down, CLICK HERE.
Organizer and beneficiary
MacKenzie Stonis
Organizer
Memphis, TN
Newton Anderson
Beneficiary
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