Memphis Can (Civic Action Now)
The Community Services team is working with Memphis, TN to assess the civic
health of the Memphis Metropolitan Area and create action plans to improve
it through a broad-based, community engagement process. This project is based
on the content and process of the Civic Index, a tool developed by the National
Civic League to assess and strenghten the civic infrastructure of communities.
Click here to see a press release and
photos taken during the announcement of this project in Memphis.
The first meeting took place March 2, facilitated
by NCL staff Drew O'Connor. In small and large group discussions, the group
in attendance analyzed 6 of the twelve components of the Civic Index. These
were Vision, On-going Learning, New Roles for Government, Citizens, Non-profits
and Business. As an outcome of this process, the group developed an Ideal
Future Statement and completed a Civic Index Evaluation Form for the 6 components
covered.
On April 11, NCL and Memphis community members met to develop Key Performance
Areas (KPAs). After two meetings of assessment between March 2nd and 16th,
stakeholders were ready to consider the Civic Index assessment findings and
select critical areas for action. At this meeting, stakeholders considered
previously compiled civic assets, qualitative findings of the civic index
assessment and numeric evaluations of the Memphis Civic infrastructure. After
considering that information, the KPAs were selected: 1. Vision; 2. Sharing
Information and Educating Citizens; 3. Building Leadership and Public Participation;
4. Connecting the Community; 5. Cheer Memphis and; 6. Economic Development.
View photos taken at the March 2 meeting
On May 2, task forces for each of these KPAs were developed and participants
selected at least one task force on which to focus their efforts. In addition,
task forces reported on the selection of chairpersons, selection of name for
their task force and projected areas of focus for their task force. Areas
of cross-over between the task forces were identified. Stakeholders provided
suggestions and asked questions to enhance the planning activities within
each task force. Moving forward, the Memphis Can project will continue the
action planning process in each task force. Specifically, it will be a focus
to recruit additional key stakeholders into each task force, develop a vision
for each task force area of focus, identify supporting and inhibiting forces
in each area, and come to aggreement on the key challenges and issues faced
in each of the task force themes.
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