Memphis Parent announced its search for the next class of 10<20 youth and young adults who are striving to impact their community through school, business, leadership, or service, by committing themselves to changing the lives of others for the better.
With so many stories of young people seeking to make a positive difference in the world, we wanted to recognize them and celebrate their wonderful efforts!
Give it up for Memphis Parent’s 10<20 Class of 2025!
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Memphis Parent - Summer Cover 2025
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Khoi Rich 9
Khoi is a fourth-grade student at Journey East Academy in Memphis, whose personality is bursting with love and positive energy, even at her tender age.
Khoi is actively engaged in various school activities and has a passion for dance, theater, and community advocacy. She has emphatically impacted society through dedicated volunteer work, inspiring performances, and involvement in organizations that promote empowerment, education, and cultural enrichment. She is a strong champion for fresh food access and community advancement, dedicating herself to promoting healthy lifestyles alongside her parents, who own Black Seeds Urban Farms in Uptown Memphis.
Through her involvement in youth programs and neighborhood gardens, Khoi engages with her peers, educating them on how growing their own fresh organic fruits and vegetables not only enhances their well-being, but also strengthens their communities.
Some of her favorite crops to grow are blueberries, pears, snap peas, and watermelons, but she recently developed a keen interest in growing cotton. She recognizes its many uses and sees it as a creative alternative to materials like slime and Play-Doh. From an early age, Khoi understood the deep connection between farming, arts, and culture, realizing how they shape identity, storytelling, and community resilience. Her passion and curiosity continue to inspire those around her, making her a true leader in the next generation of food advocates.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: Girl Scouts of America, Youth Empowerment Academy, TL Williams Dance Academy, Community Volunteer - Black Seeds Urban Farms, Frayser Urban Garden, Greenlaw Community Center, plus neighborhoods in Whitehaven, Magnolia-Castalia, and Uptown Memphis
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Haley Floyd 18
Haley is a senior at Hutchison School in Memphis, and is a blazing student determined to help alleviate the negative impact on mental health in teens.
Haley has witnessed first-hand the countless ways school affects mental health, be it anxiety over grades and college applications, or even burnout from the constant heavy academic workload — especially with female students. Knowing the significant role stress can play in just managing the responsibilities of everyday life — financially, socially, safety, abuse, and bullying — she sought out to create a program to generate a healing environment for students and faculty through human-animal (therapy dog) interactions within the school called Pause for Paws.
Through this initiative — with the help of a few mentors — Haley was able to design a feedback system to evaluate the therapy dog’s effectiveness in relation to mental health, and has since further researched mental health benefits and outcomes in students utilizing collected data. She discovered that studies indicated interaction with animals can lower cortisol (stress) levels, blood pressure, and feelings of loneliness, while boosting serotonin (neurotransmitter that decreases feelings of depression), social skills, and students’ overall mood.
She hopes to see Pause for Paws grow into a larger preventative system across campus to create a culture of mental health support. Her program has fostered greater awareness and provides tools for support to teens throughout the Hutchison community.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: Operation Red Shoes Foundation (Ambassador), Hutchison myExperience, Honor Council, Philanthropic Literacy Board, National Honorary Beta Club (Treasurer), Rock Climbing Club (Co-President), Hutchison JV/Varsity Soccer, Purple Rain Soccer Club, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hutchison Theater, Panther Creek Farms, and Lichterman Nature Center
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Christian Love 16
Christian is a sophomore at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, and is one of the first welcoming faces greeted on campus.
As the school ambassador, he extends his communication skills and hospitality as a tour guide for families considering enrollment. Christian is known for his kind heart, and as a speaker and representative for the Lausanne Connection (PTA), he aims to be especially friendly to new students. He has a diverse circle of friends who can count on him to support them when needed. Whenever witnessing a peer feeling awkward or left out, Christian acknowledges it by maintaining a positive image and influence, knowing that high school can be a tough world for some.
It has been expressed that Christian is an exceptional young man who is willing to invest the work needed to bring forth his creative and innovative ideas. He founded his own lip balm business, C-Love Balm, after experiencing previous products that didn’t have durability and were made with synthetic ingredients. He wanted to create something better with long-lasting effects and all-natural, hydrating ingredients such as cocoa butter and grapeseed oil. As an aspiring entrepreneur, his business not only empowers him as a young owner, but with every purchase, he gives back a portion of proceeds to local nonprofits, helping advance communities and foster positive change.
Christian seeks out opportunities to make connections across the city, such as shadowing local businessmen in various fields — real estate, telecommunications, etc. — which he believes is essential for competing successfully in the current global market. It is important to Christian to make his voice heard and encourage his peers to do the same.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: Lausanne Collegiate School (Ambassador), Lausanne’s PRISM Publication (Editorial Board), Mandarin National Honors Society, Lausanne Summer Camp (Intern), Black Student Association, BRIDGES USA (Youth Advisory Board), Bridge Builders, Sunset @ BRIDGES (Event Emcee), Community Volunteer - A Step Ahead Foundation and Mid-South Food Bank.
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Alexis Anderson 16
Alexis is a junior at Collierville High School, and on track to become one of the youngest certified female pilots.
As an active member of Memphis Challenge, she joins top-ranked youth across the city in personal development activities and community service initiatives. Some of her work includes community beautification projects and peer mentorship.
Alexis is very active within her school and the larger community. She especially hones her focus on areas including academics, aviation, and athletics. She is a dual enrollment aviation student at both Collierville High and the University of Memphis, currently holding a 4.1 GPA.
She is also a member of the ladies varsity basketball team at Collierville, and through her love of aviation and basketball, she often mentors younger students.
Alexis has completed the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), ACE Academy, and the Solo Flight Academy, which only selects 24 students annually. As a result, she has successfully achieved all requirements, passed the knowledge portion of the pilots test, and fulfilled her first solo flight at just 16 years old. She is currently 15 hours away from her Private Pilot License and on her way towards flying high.
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Kaitlyn Simpson 17
Kaitlyn is a junior at Overton High School in Memphis, and is a bright young lady on the path towards leadership, diligently seeking positive change in her community and beyond.
As a teen ambassador for Be Strong in Tennessee, she is part of a global network of young leaders dedicated to promoting kindness, inclusion, and resilience in the fight against bullying. Kaitlyn believes every individual deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported, no matter their circumstances. Alongside other teen ambassadors worldwide, she helped to raise funds in support of the National Anti-Bullying Awareness program.
Kaitlyn is a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society, working with fellow teens and student mentors to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She raised $500 for St. Jude to support their mission of providing free treatment and care to children with serious illnesses. This reflects her passion for helping others and aligns with the values she hopes to bring to other young people — the quality of giving back to others.
Kaitlyn has experienced an amazing canvas of growth and development opportunities that have equipped her to confidently embrace her role as a leader. Some of her journey has included: building chairs at Habitat for Humanity as a participant in Ivy League, creating art galleries for teens at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, learning investigative skills to solve crimes and cold cases with her True Crime Club, and discovering historical content and landmarks in her own backyard of Memphis through Facing History & Ourselves.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: Be Strong in Tennessee - Teen Ambassador, STS Enterprise, Facing History & Ourselves, Ivy League, CAPA Choir, P.O.W Club: Powerful Overton Wolverine Club, True Crime Club, Dixon Gallery and Gardens Teen Council, and National Honor Society
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Londyn Ivy 13
Londyn is an eighth grader at Maxine Smith STEAM Academy in Memphis, and is a glowing advocate for young achievers.
During her pre-K years, Londyn was diagnosed with a speech impediment and struggled with severe stuttering. Despite this challenge, she demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience. She was invited to be a guest for the first season of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South’s podcast, World Ready Radio. Londyn did such an amazing job that she was subsequently asked to return as a co-host, interviewing prominent business leaders regarding their stories of how they became “World Ready.”
Londyn’s talent and dedication were soon recognized by The UPS Store, a national Junior Achievement partner. She was invited to attend a virtual meeting with over 300 people to share her experience with Junior Achievement, which caught the attention of Yahoo! Finance, resulting in an interview and national news story about her inspiring story. Moreover, The UPS Store flew Londyn to Las Vegas, to open the third day of their national conference, where she spoke to an audience of over 2,000 attendees.
Additionally, Londyn appeared as a co-host on Bluff City Life with Gina Neely, further showcasing her ability to overcome her speech impediment and inspire others.
Londyn’s journey is a testament to her incredible courage and determination. She did not allow stuttering to hinder her, but instead, used it as a platform to inspire others and advocate for equal rights and opportunities. Londyn’s success helps to break down stereotypes and misconceptions about people with speech impediments. It demonstrates their capability of achieving great things and should never be underestimated.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: National Beta Club, Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South (Teen Ambassador), World Ready Radio (Co-host), Community Volunteer - Memphis Public Library and local homeless shelter
Photo Courtesy of Derek Rooks
Photo courtesy of Derek Rooks
Chayse Hawkins 14
Chayse is an eighth grader at Bellevue Middle School in Memphis, with a strong sense of conviction about what is right, and not afraid to stand up for what he believes.
Chayse has a giant personality with the charm, tact, and responsibility to drive others to join him in fighting the good fight. Over the past two years, he has become a standout camper at the Orpheum Theatre Group, participating in Mending Hearts — a performing arts day camp designed for young people who have experienced the death of one or both parents.
Despite his own personal tragedy, Chayse is always a leader amongst the group, spreading positivity and humor amongst his peers. He shows tremendous talent for not just singing, acting, and dancing, but being an all-around host and entertainer in all scenarios.
This past school year, Chayse joined former Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ “Legacy Builders” group, and regularly met with her to share input on how to make classrooms better. He could regularly be seen at school board meetings in support of her mission for the District. Most recently, Chayse organized a school walk-out at Bellevue Middle (in solidarity with other local schools) to show student support for Dr. Feagins (after being fired by MSCS), and was interviewed and featured on multiple news media platforms as the main voice and driving force of the movement.
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Addison Nichols 15
Addison is a sophomore at Collierville High School, who exhibits elegance at its finest.
Addison has demonstrated a deep commitment to positively impacting her community through various volunteer efforts and leadership roles. She provides support and fosters a spirit of care, empowerment, and dedication in the lives of others.
One of the most notable examples of Addison’s positive impact is her well-developed plan to execute a fundraising strategy benefitting families of St. Jude — helping to raise awareness and financial support for families who rely on the hospital’s services. Additionally, Addison’s support for the Collage Dance Collective further showcases her dedication to improving the lives of young people — she raised $2,300 in five days to help provide scholarships for students who were financially under-resourced. Her commitment and tenacity helped make the transformative power of the arts more accessible to under-served students.
Beyond fundraising, Addison commits to mentoring a younger student at her ballet studio, serving as a role model and providing invaluable support to help her navigate within a professional ballet division.
Addison has also shown compassion through her volunteer work with Clara’s Foundation, creating care packages and delivering them to homeless shelters. Her empathy for others directly impacts the lives of individuals experiencing hardship. By offering support and demonstrating kindness to those in need, Addison fosters a sense of dignity and humanity for some of the most vulnerable people in our city.
Overall, Addison’s positive impact on her community is profound and multifaceted. She consistently demonstrates a deep sense of responsibility and care for the well-being of others.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: Collage Dance Collective (Showcase Program Design Lead, Student Mentor), St. Jude Leadership Society, Reach Memphis, Pharmacy Camp (Auburn, Alabama), African American Student Union, Houston Ballet Academy, Clara’s Family Foundation, Volunteer Reader (Atlanta), and Bridge Builders
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Mirriam Okafor 19
Mirriam is a senior at St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, who exudes a meek and humble spirit.
Mirriam’s passion for a sense of community and belonging runs very deep. As a young African female student living in the United States, hospitality, kindness, and generosity are at the core of her relationships.
As a new student at St. Agnes (then), and feeling a bit out of place — not to mention a long way from home — Mirriam knew the struggles of finding a place to belong, to be seen, and to be heard. Hence the start of her idea to assemble other students who may have experienced the same, whether from an underrepresented group, immigrants far from home, or just didn’t fit in anywhere.
She created the first Multicultural Club at St. Agnes, with emphasis on the enrichment and positive impact that community and belonging can establish. The club’s mission is to create a safe space to convene with students of various cultural backgrounds to help foster an environment where differences are celebrated rather than feared — an opportunity to share traditions through music, food, languages, fun, and games.
Through various campus events, members of the club share their cultural experiences and values with the entire student body, while helping build a strong and more connected school community. As founder of the club, Mirriam is setting an example of leadership for younger students, encouraging them to set their sights on building their own initiatives or engage in other forms of community involvement.
She hopes to leave a lasting impact on promoting growth and open-mindedness to students about the world around them.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: St. Agnes Multicultural Club (Founder), National Beta Club, National Honor Society, St. Louis Youth Group, St. Michael’s Youth Group, Bridge Builders, Ladies First Choir, Starlette Singing Group, Youth in Government, Model United Nations, English Honor Society, Licensed CPR Program, QuestBridge, MLGW Cookie Drive, Basketball, Soccer, Track, Leading Lady Award, Miss St. Agnes Court, and more
Photo by Justin Fox Burks
Cinthia Torres 17
Cinthia is a senior at St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, who sincerely believes in youth empowerment, and is destined to positively impact her community as she invests her time and efforts working with local youth organizations.
Some of her work is reflected in her role as the Shelby County Youth Council District 5 Representative.
As a second-year participant, Cinthia has rolled up her sleeves to tackle the duties at hand, and is the bridge between the representatives and youth in their communities. She spends the entire school year deep canvassing and learning about what issues youth within the District feel strongly about. She believes in the importance of this type of reflective work and strongly professes that youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and therefore, should have some contribution towards decisions that may potentially affect them.
Cinthia is also a member of the MICAH Youth Council — an extension of MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope) — the student-led coalition aiming to make systemic changes through community efforts and amplifying the voices of Memphis youth.
During her time on the council, she assisted with hosting a press conference alongside Justin J. Pearson, raising awareness about gun violence in the community, and later leading to further conversations about change. Cinthia’s hope is that her impact improves the lives of youth in her community, hopefully paving the way for future leaders to continue advocating for change.
She strives to inspire the next generation by encouraging them to find and use their voice, as well as take action to improve their community for the better.
Additional Achievements, Extracurriculars, and Volunteer Service: St. Michael Youth Group, Book Club (Officer), Culinary Club, Government Club (Officer), Hispanic Organization Club, French Club, Bridge Builders, Youth in Government, Model United Nations, MICAH Youth Council, Shelby County Youth Council, National Beta Club, Spanish Honor Society, Speech Dual Enrollment, Miss Multicultural, New York Fine Arts Trip, Active Citizenship Program, Softball, Cross Country, and more
Photos by Justin Fox Burks
Special thanks to Crosstown Arts for hosting this year’s 10<20 photo shoot! Crosstown Arts is a nonprofit contemporary arts organization dedicated to further cultivating the creative community in Memphis. To learn more, visit crosstownarts.org.