Week Three: Here in Memphis

Welcome to Week Three of the RegionSmart/ULI Memphis 21-Day Equitable Development Challenge

Week Three: Here in Memphis

Complete 7 of the following tasks: (We encourage everyone to do tasks #8 and #9)

  1. Watch the video or study the slides from this 2019 presentation on Shelby County’s stats and recommendations around Equitable Development: Disruptive Demographics, Vulnerable Populations, and City Competitiveness with Dr. Jim Johnson. It’s the first one on the page.
  2. Read Black Businesses: Separate & Unequal Memphis Business Journal
  3. Watch Black Lives Matters at Work An interview with Darrel Cobbins
  4. Read It’s Time for Business Leaders to Step Up Archie Willis’ Op-Ed in the Daily Memphian
  5. Read National Expert Says Redlining is Alive & Well in Memphis
  6. Read Boxtown: The Land of Broken Promises 
  7. Study the Redlining Map of Memphis. Plan a route to do a driving tour tomorrow to study a red-lined neighborhood on the map. Curious how other cities compare and/or you love maps? check out more work from the University of Richmond.
  8. Drive, bike or walk around a red-lined neighborhood. Ask yourself these questions:
    1. Can you still observe the impact of the redlining maps?
    2. What do you notice?
    3. How would you describe the resources in a red lined neighborhood?
    4. How accessible is the neighborhood to jobs, connectivity, schools, and/or greenspace?
    5. Is there a sense of arrival? Is it welcoming?
    6. How does this impact our larger community?
  9. Set aside time to talk to someone about what you are discovering.

Week Three Questions for Personal Reflection and Discussion Groups:

  • What did you learn about our community that was surprising? Changed your perspective? Was new information?
  • How do you think redlining impacts real estate development in Memphis today?
  • What do you think it will take to change the impact? What you can you do as an industry professional? Or what can your company or organization do?

We look forward to our discussions and to the collective actions we identify that we can take to push an Equitable Development Agenda forward for Memphis and the MidSouth.