Through 'therapy,' Memphians tackle urban challenges

The University of Memphis Design Collaborative asked Memphians to consider city improvements in March at their kick-off event “Let’s Stay Together, Memphis.” And citizens had no shortage of ideas about their community. Since the event – billed as “relationship therapy” for the city and its citizens – the organizers have been reviewing, analyzing and categorizing the information provided by participants. This week, they released their findings.
 
At the event, the new University of Memphis initiative asked Memphians to think deeper about their relationship with the city. "One of the long-term relationships that is most important to our happiness, but often overlooked, is our relationship with the city we live in," said Dr. Charlie Santo, Director of the University's Division of City & Regional Planning.
 
“Overall, the data collected during the course of ‘Let’s Stay Together, Memphis’ provides some clear themes that would be worth further investigation,” the report reads.
 
Among the issues revealed as most pressing for participants were the topics of political leadership, public investments, transportation and neighborhood quality. Three afternoon roundtables sparked spirited discussions that connected these individual issues to broader, more encompassing issues like the overall local economy and a lack of public trust in local institutions.
 
On the path to “full realization of hope for Memphis’ future,” the report outlined three key topics participants want addressed: improvements in the transparency and response of civic institutions, economic development to enhance neighborhood quality, and improvement to transportation options.
 
The learning does not conclude with the completed report, though. This initial event was the first in a series of conversations around improving Memphis communities. The Design Collaborative has a busy line-up in the coming months, taking their “Let’s Stay Together” model on the road to visit community events and continue soliciting feedback. This Saturday the organization will be at the Tamale Fest in Binghampton with visuals and love letters ready to be written.
 
The end result of all the data collection will be a plan that can be executed by collaborative partners. Design Collaborative can then functionally draw on resources from across the University of Memphis in the fall, when developing a plan for that vision becomes part of the graduate coursework.
 
You can view the full report online and keep up with their progress on Facebook.