{"county":"shelby","description":"","district":"7","districtgroup":"memphis_city_council","id":179,"key":"city_council_district_7","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Michalyn Easter-Thomas","next_election":"2019-11-08","notes":"189","officegroup":"memphis_city_council","partisan":0,"party":"","qualities":"- Policy judgment on Memphis-specific matters \u2014 budget, ordinances, MPD oversight, land-use, code enforcement, infrastructure \u2014 within the Memphis Charter and Tennessee municipal law.\n- Budget literacy: the 13-member Council approves the annual city budget and sets the city property-tax rate.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on ordinances and resolutions; committee work that precedes full-council action.\n- Constituent relations in a single-member district of roughly 90,000 residents \u2014 case-work, neighborhood issues, council-district services.\n- Memphis-specific issue depth: MLGW, MATA, EDGE incentives, blight, and the city's relationship with Shelby County government.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2028-12-31","term_start":"2024-01-01","term_years":4,"terms":[{"current":1,"description":"","electiondate":"2019-11-19","name":"Michalyn Easter-Thomas","person":{"biography":"Michalyn Easter-Thomas was elected to the Memphis City Council District 7 seat in November 2019.\n\nMichalyn C.S. Easter-Thomas is a native North Memphian. She is the daughter of Cassondra Love-White and the late William Michael Easter (2014). After matriculating through the Memphis City School system, Michalyn took her educational quest to a new level at Christian Brothers University, graduating Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with minors in Political Science and Peace Studies in May of 2013. Yet, this proved to be a mere stepping stone for Michalyn, as she took her educational pursuit to the next level as she received her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Columbia University of New York. Michalyn took a step further and received her Education Specialist degree in Principalship from Arkansas State University. Councilwoman Easter-Thomas is currently a Doctoral student at Vanderbilt University.\n\nAside from public education, Councilwoman Easter-Thomas discovered another calling on her life: to partner with residents in the transformation of the North Memphis community. With this in mind, she founded Our Grass Our Roots Nonprofit Organization(OGOR), a grassroots movement centered around the North Memphis community, informing the community of resources, resisting gentrification and advancing the community and individuals of the community.\n\nHer commitment to community is evident through her service with other organizations. She serves on boards and leadership teams for various organizations and non-profits in the Memphis area.\n\nIn her private time, Michalyn enjoys visiting Memphis museums and parks with her younger sibling. Michalyn has been joined in happy and holy matrimony to Darren L. Thomas II since September 2017.\n\nMichalyn serves as the Chair for Personnel and Government Affairs committee. She also serves as the Vice Chair of Housing and Community Development committee.","firstname":"Michalyn","lastname":"Easter-Thomas","token":"asdf7"},"term_end":"2028-12-31","term_start":"2024-01-01"}],"title":"Memphis City Council District 7","type":"legislative","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-04-25 19:49:19"}