Authenticity and Hospitality: Joshua's Lessons from Memphians

Meet JOSHUA CONLEY,
Class of 2017

Joshua and his wife Ava moved to Memphis in June 2016, where he found a community deeply aligned with his values. Over four years of teaching at Frayser Achievement School District, Joshua learned to appreciate the authenticity of his students, who inspired his commitment to “radical hospitality”. Now the Executive Director of Foster Village Memphis, Joshua applies these lessons to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families, emphasizing the importance of genuine connection and community.

Joshua moved from Montgomery, Alabama to Memphis with his wife, Ava, in June 2016. For Joshua, Memphis was more than just a new city; it was a community that resonated deeply with his values and aspirations. Over the years, he would come to see and respect the city’s authenticity, especially through the eyes of its children.

For four years, Joshua taught at Frayser Achievement School District. During this time, he witnessed the raw and genuine spirit of his students. Despite facing numerous challenges, they embodied a sense of authenticity that Joshua admired. "In Memphis, it's okay to not be okay," he says. The city's people and his students taught him that embracing one's true self is the key to being embraced by others.

Through authentic connections, the radical hospitality that Joshua experienced in his classroom fueled his desire to bring that to others. 

"The Bible talks about being radically hospitable," Joshua reflected, "and I saw my students do that for me. They would bring things to me when I was having a hard or stressful time. In the midst of so many of their own battles, the fact that they had the capacity to draw me a picture and write a note is just mind-blowingly awesome."

He strived to model radical hospitality not just in teaching, but in every aspect of his life.

His path eventually brought him to his current role as the Executive Director of Foster Village Memphis. Here, he applies the lessons of radical hospitality to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families, making sure they are properly equipped and connected.

Reflecting on his time here, Joshua acknowledges the profound impact MTR and its people had on his life. "There are so many ways MTR has influenced me," he says. "It gave me an opportunity for four years to model in my classroom what I want to model with my life — radical hospitality."

The authentic community he found through MTR blessed his marriage and provided him with lifelong friendships. Joshua speaks fondly of co-teacher Konrad Mueller, MTR-provided counselor Rocky Anthony, and coach Calli Rollins — who wrote him a note years ago that he still keeps on his desk.

Joshua's story is a testament to the power of community and authenticity. Through MTR and living in Memphis, he found a community that walked with him through the best and worst of times, showing him that change happens when we come together.

As Joshua continues to lead Foster Village Memphis, he remains committed to the principles of authenticity and radical hospitality. He understands that real impact often happens in the small, intentional moments.