Adrian Davis is a dedicated and passionate firefighter from Memphis who suffered a severe injury while on duty. Returning to the fire station in Whitehaven around 3 a.m. on September 25, 2021, after transporting an older gentleman to the hospital, Adrian noticed debris on the side of the exit ramp leading to the expressway. To his surprise, a car had run off the overpass ramp, hit the merge wall, flipped over, and landed partially in the slow lane and partially in the hazard lane. The vehicle was on fire, and two young women were outside the burning car.
Adrian and his partner quickly parked with emergency lights on and jumped over the hazard wall. While his partner grabbed the spray can, Adrian rushed to rescue the two women, one with blood in her mouth and the other complaining of stomach pain from the crash. He moved them to safety next to the hazard wall. As he was assessing their injuries, a drunk driver hit the burning vehicle, which struck Adrian’s leg and flipped him into the air. Despite his own severe injury, an open fracture of his left leg’s tibia and fibula, Adrian managed to push the women out of harm’s way and urged them to jump over the wall to avoid oncoming traffic.
After being rescued by his colleagues, one of the most heart-wrenching moments for Adrian was being cut out of his clothes and placed on the emergency trauma table, witnessing the pain of his colleagues seeing him injured. It took several months before Adrian could get out of bed, during which he faced depression and a grueling pension process.
During his recovery, Adrian found solace in helping the less fortunate. Inspired by a child from a previous relationship who wanted to feed the homeless, Adrian began investigating how to make a difference. Learning about the Union Mission’s efforts, he decided he could personally feed 165 people. After receiving several awards from the City of Memphis, including the 2022 Firefighter of the Year, Valor Award, and Life Saving Merit Award, Adrian felt it was the perfect time to give back.
Eager to prove his worth and continue serving the community, Adrian founded a nonprofit organization called Community Service Leaders of America (CSLA). Initially conducting homeless food drives, Adrian soon realized he wanted to uplift those he served, leading him to upscale his initiatives. He recruited brilliant individuals he had met over the years, bringing chefs, live music, and the whole community together to serve the less fortunate. The effort grew, and CSLA now feeds around 300 people at each event.
Adrian’s community development work expanded, and his team began choosing initiatives to improve the community. They recently organized a Community Health Fair with 44 vendors offering a wide range of medical services, from mammograms and vaccinations to blood drives, cancer clinics, yoga, and mental therapy. Upcoming initiatives include a gun buyback program, expungement program, and voter drive.
Adrian’s vision is to inspire and lead community development, uplift neighborhoods, and create a lasting impact. He believes it is a man’s obligation to take care of his bills, home, neighbor, street, and block and then uplift the community. Adrian, his staff at CSLA, and their supporters represent this commitment. With a strong faith in God, Adrian believes in giving back to the community in exchange for a second chance at life.
Working closely with city and county commissioners and reaching out to every state official in Tennessee, Adrian aims to see chapters of community leaders and establish a hub of services that can be duplicated in other states. From housing to health services, CSLA is dedicated to making community development exciting for the youth and fostering a family feel. They are the new leaders, striving to bridge the gap between old and new leadership and encouraging young people to join in making a difference. The momentum they have now is rare and invaluable, driving Adrian to continually improve as a leader and work towards the betterment of Memphis, Nashville, and surrounding areas.
