{"id":27212,"date":"2024-09-11T14:16:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T19:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/?p=27212"},"modified":"2025-06-16T10:59:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T15:59:35","slug":"bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/","title":{"rendered":"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In our city, \u201csoul\u201d isn\u2019t just a word. It\u2019s a feeling, it\u2019s a movement, it\u2019s a vibe. As Memphians, we wear soul with pride. Our city isn\u2019t just<\/em><\/strong> the birthplace of musical icons or the city where food, music, and culture come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our city\u2019s soul is described by generosity that knows no bounds and the thousands of Memphians building community with each other on the daily. It\u2019s the activism that stirring in our hearts, pushing each other and the world to see better and do better. It\u2019s in the limitless innovation fueling insatiable curiosity and so, so much more. Memphis has always been a place of big hearts and even bigger ideas, where the spirit of soul finds its home. So, when you\u2019re seeing your fellow Memphians\u2019 faces across the city, you\u2019re seeing a mirror reflecting our collective pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll be sharing stories of how your fellow Memphians connect with our city through food, fitness, music, and so much more! Be sure to keep an eye out for billboards across the city featuring some familiar faces!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet <\/strong>Dr. Wigginton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Russell Wigginton, the President of the National Civil Rights Museum, has a deep connection with the city of Memphis. Beyond his role at the museum, his love for the city\u2019s vibrant energy and culture is rooted in the authenticity of its people, the places he visits, and the inspirations he draws from fellow Memphians. His perspective on Memphis is more than just about its landmarks; it’s about its soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about his favorite places in Memphis, Dr. Wigginton\u2019s picks are personal yet universal to anyone who appreciates the city\u2019s charm. Among his top choices are Overton Square and Overton Park, a lively district blending nature, art, and entertainment, and Caf\u00e9 Eclectic, a beloved spot for locals to unwind over coffee and community. These places represent more than just locations\u2014they embody the character of Memphis, a city rich in history and brimming with creativity. Overton Park offers a lush green retreat, while Overton Square is a vibrant center for culture, dining, and nightlife, bringing people together from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s the people of Memphis who make the city truly special for Dr. Wigginton. He speaks of the authenticity and resilience of Memphians as the driving force behind his work and his passion for being an ambassador for the city. The people here shape the culture, and their genuine, down-to-earth nature inspires him to showcase Memphis\u2019 many virtues to the world. For Dr. Wigginton, the city\u2019s heart lies in its community, a collective spirit that fuels his dedication to the National Civil Rights Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Wigginton is particularly excited about the deeper collective reckoning happening in Memphis today. He sees a growing movement toward addressing social and economic inequalities and uplifting the least privileged in the city. This, he believes, is essential for Memphis to truly thrive. He echoes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reminding us that to create a prosperous future, we must commit to elevating everyone, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. This shift towards social justice and equality is a positive step that makes Dr. Wigginton optimistic about the city\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reflecting on those who have inspired him, Dr. Wigginton speaks with reverence about Maxine Smith, a civil rights leader who passed in 2013. Smith\u2019s tireless work for justice and equality left an indelible mark on the city, and her legacy continues to influence Dr. Wigginton’s work today. A portrait of Maxine Smith hangs near his office, reminding him daily of the importance of advocating for real opportunities for all Memphians to reach their full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the leader of the National Civil Rights Museum, Dr. Wigginton envisions the museum as a space not only for reflection but also for action. His hope is that every Memphian feels a sense of belonging at the museum, using it as a source of inspiration and a catalyst for finding real solutions to the challenges the city faces. He believes that by embracing its history and learning from its past, Memphis can continue to grow and thrive as a city of inclusion, justice, and opportunity for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through his love of Memphis, Dr. Wigginton\u2019s work at the museum, and his belief in the power of community, he is helping to shape a future where everyone can find their place in this vibrant, soulful city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In our city, \u201csoul\u201d isn\u2019t just a word. It\u2019s a feeling, it\u2019s a movement, it\u2019s a vibe. As Memphians, we wear soul with pride. Our city isn\u2019t just the birthplace of musical icons or the city where food, music, and culture come to life. Our city\u2019s soul is described by generosity that knows no bounds and the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":27257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[5575,15,5452,5425],"class_list":["post-27212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-memphian-stories","tag-bring-your-soul","tag-featured","tag-featured-memphian","tag-we-are-memphis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nExplore Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\u2019s Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"We Are Memphis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wearememphis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"We Are Memphis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@wearememphistn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wearememphistn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"We Are Memphis\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"We Are Memphis\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068\"},\"headline\":\"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":765,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/wigginton-russel.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Bring Your Soul\",\"featured\",\"Featured Memphian\",\"We Are Memphis\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Memphian Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/\",\"name\":\"Explore Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\u2019s Insights\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/wigginton-russel.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068\"},\"description\":\"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/wigginton-russel.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/wigginton-russel.webp\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/meet\\\/memphian-stories\\\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"We Are Memphis\",\"description\":\"soul@wearememphis.com\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wearememphis.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068\",\"name\":\"We Are Memphis\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"We Are Memphis\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Explore Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\u2019s Insights","description":"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton","og_description":"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.","og_url":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/","og_site_name":"We Are Memphis","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wearememphis","article_published_time":"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"We Are Memphis","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@wearememphistn","twitter_site":"@wearememphistn","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"We Are Memphis","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/"},"author":{"name":"We Are Memphis","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/#\/schema\/person\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068"},"headline":"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton","datePublished":"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/"},"wordCount":765,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp","keywords":["Bring Your Soul","featured","Featured Memphian","We Are Memphis"],"articleSection":["Memphian Stories"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/","url":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/","name":"Explore Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton\u2019s Insights","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp","datePublished":"2024-09-11T19:16:09+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-16T15:59:35+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/#\/schema\/person\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068"},"description":"Discover Memphis through the eyes of Russell Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton shares places and stories that shape the soul of the city.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wigginton-russel.webp","width":1000,"height":1000},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/memphian-stories\/bring-your-soul-exploring-memphis-with-dr-russell-wigginton\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"BRING YOUR SOUL: Exploring Memphis with Dr. Russell Wigginton"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/","name":"We Are Memphis","description":"soul@wearememphis.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/#\/schema\/person\/d4a7b095e987e78e7689e5d4c7242068","name":"We Are Memphis","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8663df2bbbbdb459397adc99a2b38f15db269d79799c88014492486c96365920?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"We Are Memphis"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}