Historic Clayborn Temple

Historic Clayborn Temple is a sacred landmark rooted in the spiritual, cultural, and civic life of Memphis. Since 1893, it has stood as a beacon of dignity, resilience, and imagination. Best known as the organizing headquarters of the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike—where 1,300 workers carried the now-iconic “I AM A MAN” signs in their call for safety, dignity, and fair wages—Clayborn Temple occupies a central place in the ongoing story of human rights and community power in America.

More than a monument to the past, Clayborn Temple is a living symbol of what is possible when community, culture, and vision converge. Its reconstruction is guided by a framework that integrates art and cultural preservation, public health and safety, environmental sustainability, and community ownership and economic development. This holistic approach ensures that the restoration of Clayborn isn’t just about rebuilding a building—it’s about reimagining what a sacred space can do for the people who gather there.

On April 28, 2025, Clayborn Temple was devastated by an act of arson. While the fire could have marked an ending, it became a spark for bold new beginnings. From the ashes, a movement is rising to restore Clayborn as a space that nourishes, educates, and inspires. This work is rooted in the belief that communities facing structural underinvestment deserve beauty, abundance, and safety—and that restoration can be a catalyst for long-term neighborhood transformation.

The future of Clayborn Temple is not only about honoring its historic legacy—it is about creating a sustainable, inclusive, and visionary place that reflects the hopes and possibilities of generations to come. What happens here in Memphis will ripple outward as a model for community-led revitalization grounded in imagination, memory, and care.