When Pastor Ali Chambers and his wife Anetta (pictured with sons Benjamin, Nathaniel, and Samuel) relocated from Olive Branch to Memphis to open Mosaic Church, they landed in a neighborhood zoned for White Station Elementary, where they enrolled their middle son, Samuel. A self-motivated learner, Samuel dove into 1st Grade ready to chase his dream of becoming a doctor at St. Jude.
“We realized he was having learning difficulties but they weren’t measurable to a degree that met the criteria for interventions through public school resources,” said Ali. “We explored options but learned that because of our income as ministry leaders, we were limited.”
Through a pastor at Second Presbyterian Church, the family learned about Presbyterian Day School, which offered the support Samuel needed, if they could figure out a way to remove the financial barrier.
“The school was walking distance to our house and checked all the boxes, but that first year we couldn't make it work,” said Ali. “They encouraged us to apply for a M.O.S.T. Scholarship for the next year, our first time hearing about scholarships for elementary, middle, and high school students in Memphis.”
With the support of M.O.S.T. Scholarships, they were not only able to enroll Samuel in PDS for 2nd Grade, but also PreK-4 for his younger brother Benjamin. Today the boys are 7th and 10th Grade students at Memphis University School, where they are thriving.
“We saw the impact immediately, because once Samuel got there, they saw that he needed help,” said Ali. “An educational evaluation detected a very specific form of dyslexia, which affected his reading and learning. In a matter of days, they provided tutoring and resources. His unique needs didn't trigger any help at White Station because he wasn't as far behind as their threshold for resources designated, but at PDS, they identified the issues and provided the help.”
Beyond the adaptive academic support and college-prep curriculum at MUS, Samuel and Benjamin also found opportunities to explore the arts and athletics. Both play in the band and orchestra, and Benjamin is on the school's fencing team, where their diverse teammates introduce them to new ideas and cultures. The Chambers see this last benefit as one of the most important things the school provides.
“All students in this city need to interact with all of Memphis and have relationships with the whole range of Memphians,” said Ali. “It was great to see PDS Kids who wouldn't have crossed paths become friends and continue as friends from elementary school to high school. Those relationships have a lot of potential to bring diversity and connection to communities where there might otherwise be barriers.”
“M.O.S.T. helps families but also the city,” said Ali. “People are investing in Memphis when they support M.O.S.T. because these scholarships empower students to be part of the whole city. It’s an investment in real lives, and I think if people have been blessed by God to have resources, it's a beautiful thing to help these talented students access something they otherwise couldn't.”
“I've gotten to know people that I wouldn't have without my sons’ relationships. Through their friendships with classmates, I’ve formed friendships with their parents who are from very different communities. We hang out at birthday parties or pick-ups from sleepovers. I’m grateful for those kinds of connections because I know they make this city stronger.”