Popping Potential: Mickey’s Popcorn Shapes the Future of Memphis’ Youth

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 3, 2024 / Mickey’s Popcorn, a local Memphis business founded in 2020 by Kenny and Dr. Penny Mickey, stands out not only for its gourmet popcorn, but also for its significant impact on the community. Known as the “master crafter,” Kenny brings a wealth of experience in food manufacturing and logistics from his time at companies like Cargill and FedEx. Meanwhile, Dr. Penny, with her background in executive leadership in education and government, leads Mickey’s Popcorn with strategic vision. FedEx was introduced to Dr. Penny through her participation in the Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, an initiative to help small businesses expand in e-commerce.

The Gradus Project, Mickey’s non-profit organization that operates alongside the business, functions as a social enterprise and plays a critical role in providing temporary employment opportunities to a variety of underserved communities, including survivors of domestic violence, autistic individuals, and at-risk youth. Dr. Penny recently led the inaugural “On and Poppin Teen Camp” in partnership with nutritional scientist Ali Manning, supported by FedEx Cares. The initiative welcomed high school students from Youth Villages in Memphis for an immersive entrepreneurial experience.