The Opportunity
Seeding Success and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, along with 300+ multi-sector and neighborhood partners, have secured $8.5 million in new national and local investments to establish a plan for improving the long-term quality of life of Memphis and Shelby County residents.
This joint effort will bring together many community members, nonprofits, businesses, and public organizations to define the challenges of our social and economic systems and policies; and identify sustainable solutions that make a shared vision for a thriving community a reality. The goal will be to improve the connection between the systems that support families like housing, community development, economic development, education, transportation, health, and workforce development and allow residents to access these resources efficiently.
Over the next several years, this effort will take place with the initial 18-month planning stage dedicated to listening to the community and working with partners to determine priorities and where resources should be targeted, including immediate pandemic relief. This planning process has the potential to unlock millions more in resources and investments for implementation. The ultimate goal of this collective effort is to fundamentally improve the economic and social opportunities in measurable ways for communities most affected by inequity.
The Plan
Develop a comprehensive plan to disrupt racial inequity and generational poverty in Memphis and Shelby County with the following requirements:
Community-Driven
The planning process will provide meaningful opportunities for community members to lead action and participate in decision making.
Evidence-Based
The plan will rely on data to increase investments in neighborhood initiatives and community-based organizations to accelerate and scale what’s working.
Capacity-Building
Strengthen our community’s ability to collaborate across sectors and respond to future challenges.
Sustainable
Solutions in the plan will be translated into equity-based policies to secure resources for implementation for generations to come.
