What is More for Memphis?
More for Memphis is a comprehensive, county-wide plan to improve the quality of life for all residents by ensuring everyone, especially those in Black, brown, and low-income communities, have access to the essential services and resources they need to thrive.
More for Memphis is powered by Seeding Success.
We are excited to unveil our plan for a thriving Memphis and Shelby County.
Listen to partners who contributed to the plan:
Learn about the major goal of the plan:
Where are we now?
Implementation.
After an extensive and comprehensive process, the plan was finalized and approved to move into implementation. Right now, transition planning groups are working on fundraising, designing the governance structure and selection process for who will be involved in implementation. Over the first five years, our aim is to prove that this plan can work and unlock more long-term financial support.
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In October 2019, Seeding Success was invited to a national roundtable discussion with Blue Meridian Partners (BMP) to gain insight from communities striving to achieve racial equity and improve opportunities for young people and families living in poverty. In early 2020, BMP met with 80+ diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit organizations, students, parents, business leaders, elected officials, and philanthropists, leading to the selection of Memphis for its Place Matters initiative.
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S2 established a Design Committee of individuals representing a range of backgrounds and lived/living experiences to determine the purpose and process for the larger partnership to work together successfully and with equity at the forefront. At the same time, the Kresge Foundation was supporting its Shared Prosperity initiative in Memphis. S2 and Kresge agreed to combine their efforts with Place Matters as their path forward.
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In order to make this effort truly community-driven, Seeding Success established dynamic protocols to engage stakeholders from all across Memphis and Shelby County in the planning process. Relying on the principles of collective impact, the Design Committee was formed to fulfill the initial requirements for future planning and implementation.
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Design Committee members collaborated with additional community members, including residents and youth, in Summer Planning Committees that:
Established a structure for phase 2 governance and decision-making
Built a community engagement strategy guided by a commitment to race equity
Created a local brand for the initiative - “More For Memphis”
Determined recommendations to support near-term investments related to COVID relief.
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The work of Phase 2 is led and managed by Anchor Collaboratives, which are groups of 2 or more organizations that convene workgroups for each of the six focus areas identified by the Design Committee:
Education & Youth Development
Health & Well-Being
Economic Development
Justice & Safety
Community Development
Culture
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The community-wide plan will be presented to city and county governments for consideration during Phase 3. Members of the collaboratives and community representatives will begin to implement the plan, and ongoing data reviews and community engagement will help monitor progress and inform any response necessary to changing conditions, new challenges, and future opportunities.
Want to get involved?
