In summer 2024, our latest cohort of Morehead Cain Scholars completed new research on the City of Memphis’ Affordable Housing Trust Fund and presented their findings to Mayor Paul Young and his executive leadership team. The resulting research report and presentation include insights on Memphis’ current housing landscape and challenges, how peer cities have developed […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position for our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This role will support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public data assets, reporting and user […]
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Angelica Carey, Research Project Manager at Innovate Memphis, recently presented a poster at the 2024 Urban Food Systems Symposium in Columbus, Ohio.
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis Now that the 2023-2024 school year has come to a close, we’d like to reflect on the exciting work we accomplished with our Commute Options partner schools this spring. Commute Options involves deep collaboration with educators, local government, and many community […]
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Susan Dalton is Innovate Memphis’ Director of Strategic Initiatives and was recently recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2024. Since starting at Innovate Memphis in 2017, Susan has led a range of innovation projects for parks & public space, neighborhood vitality, civic data, food security, and worked with government partners to […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Susan Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, has been recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2024. Susan Dalton is a Memphis native who puts community first when she strives to make a positive social impact and has worked at Innovate Memphis for over six years. […]
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Innovate Memphis’ Research Project Manager, Angelica Carey, first began her work on food security with our team in 2022 as a No Kid Hungry City Innovation Fellow. The 18-month fellowship selected diverse leaders to be embedded in city government or innovation teams to address food insecurity using creativity and collaboration. The fellows use a human-centered […]
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Jackson McNeil is Innovate Memphis’ Transportation & Mobility Director and the author of our new white paper on local transit funding. He brings a wealth of knowledge about transportation systems, having earned his master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis and through his previous work on equitable transportation systems at […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Chief of Staff and City Innovation Director Courtney McNeal was appointed to the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Board of Commissioners on February 6, 2024. McNeal was appointed by City Mayor Paul Young and approved unanimously by the Memphis City Council. The nine-member MATA Board of Commissioners governs […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Previous reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we worked with a coalition of government agencies, business leaders, nonprofits and community […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position to add to our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we organized activation events and pop-up programs to enrich public spaces, fostering community engagement and well-being through […]
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis As we start to wind down and look toward the new year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the work Commute Options has done in partnership with schools this semester. Commute Options is an Innovate Memphis program funded by […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position to add to our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public […]
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Seeking qualified candidates: Data Architect Innovate Memphis is seeking a skilled Data Architect / Data Engineer to lead the creation of our modern data infrastructure – comprising a Databricks Delta Lake, Data Catalog, and Monitoring Framework. This contract covers a specific project scope, spanning 8-12 weeks of dedicated development, plus two months of subsequent post-deployment […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, Transit Vision collaboration and planning on improved local transportation service, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to reimagine neighborhood […]
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Core to all of Innovate Memphis’ work is collaboration and an evidence-based approach to diagnosing and solving civic problems. Over the past several years, our team has partnered with the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy (SUAPP) to place graduate research Fellows who work on a portfolio of innovation projects. These […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover MEMFix economic revitalization, Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to address two key issues: […]
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The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) is a civic data-centered learning network connecting independent partner organizations in more than 30 cities. Coordinated by the Urban Institute, NNIP’s mission is to ensure all communities have access to data and the skills to use information to advance equity and well-being across neighborhoods. NNIP network organizations share a […]
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Request for Proposals: Parks Budget Assessment Research Support Innovate Memphis seeks a vendor to assist the City of Memphis in conducting a budget assessment and funding recommendations for Memphis Parks. We are seeking proposals or quotes from qualified consulting firms with expertise in municipal budgeting and financial management and forecasting. The consultant should conduct a […]
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When it comes to improving upward mobility for Black Memphians, a persistent challenge is having access to strong financial capital and advisory support from the industry. The Memphis Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network has been bringing financial and housing institutions together with community members for nearly a decade to make access to these resources […]
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In 2022, Innovate Memphis launched a new pilot program to provide digital resources to the Black elder population in some of Memphis’ underserved communities. The program consists of a five-week digital literacy course curriculum, and participants who meet attendance requirements receive a free laptop at their graduation ceremony. As of June 2023, three cohorts of […]
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Guest blog by Applied Anthropology Fellow Jennie Doss, recent graduate of the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy When I reflect on my time as a graduate fellow working with Innovate Memphis over these past two years, I think of the lessons learned, the work accomplished, and the new friends made […]
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This article originally appeared in the Memphis Business Journal; Photo credit Aleks Antonío Photography for MBJ A friend of Courtney McNeal likes to say that she’s had “nine lives” at Innovate Memphis, and there’s truth to this joke. For nearly six years, McNeal has held a variety of roles with the nonprofit, which designs, incubates, and sustains […]
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We are excited to share that Clean Memphis has published the Memphis Food Rescue Landscape Analysis, a project powered by Innovate Memphis that identifies challenges and potential solutions to address local food insecurity. With funding provided by the City of Memphis and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Clean Memphis partnered with Innovate Memphis to […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Commute Options Program Manager position! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support local K-12 schools as they promote biking, walking, carpooling and public transit options families that can improve student attendance and educational outcomes. We […]
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April 2023 From March 18, 2021 to August 2, 2021 the research team observed the eviction proceedings of the Shelby County, TN General Sessions Civil Court. Each week during this period, researchers were given eviction dockets that provided them with relevant information to follow legal proceedings in the courtroom and complete these surveys. Throughout the […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney McNeal to a newly created Chief of Staff position. Her new duties are effective as of February 2023, and will run concurrently with her City Innovation Director role. McNeal joined Innovate over five years ago overseeing community engagement activities and working on the City’s Memphis […]
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By Jackson McNeil, Transportation & Mobility Director Transit Equity Day is a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. In Memphis, Innovate Memphis has participated in an annual event on February 4th with other transit advocates and organizations to honor Rosa Parks […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Midsouth Director position! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to lead Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public data assets, reporting and user support across […]
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Innovate Memphis Names New Transportation and Mobility Director MEMPHIS, TN – Innovate Memphis announces the hire of Jackson McNeil as Transportation and Mobility Director for Commute Options. In this role, McNeil is responsible for providing project management and delivery of current and emerging transportation-related projects with a focus on encouraging individuals, employers, and schools to […]
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As we prepare for an exciting year ahead for our organization and city, our team at Innovate Memphis is also looking back to celebrate a year of big accomplishments in 2022. We experienced significant changes in organizational leadership with outgoing Executive Director Justin Entzminger taking on a new opportunity at the Bloomberg Center for Public […]
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Posted: December 20, 2022 | Submissions Due: January 13, 2023 Innovate Memphis is seeking proposals from experienced contractors to help manage the development of a civic data infrastructure plan. The contractor will assist Innovate Memphis staff in gathering information and writing a data infrastructure plan that outlines data reporting requirements, data source access needs, technology, […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Transportation & Mobility Director position! Interested candidates can review the job description here. Please share our Transportation & Mobility Director job announcement widely with your networks so that we can find a great leader to carry this work forward at Innovate Memphis. Candidates […]
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In 2011, Memphis became one of the first five cities in the world to establish an Innovation Delivery team in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. The past decade has included much to celebrate about innovation as we have navigated a period of growth, change, and challenges – including an unprecedented global public health emergency that upended […]
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This article originally appeared in the Memphis Business Journal. In many ways, Jessica Lotz is a data-oriented person. Research has played a major role in her career, and she can easily go down a rabbit hole with a spreadsheet, and find it satisfying. Yet she’s also keenly aware that data alone is ineffective, and that it should […]
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Innovate Memphis today announced that Jessica Lotz has been appointed as its new executive director. Lotz succeeds Justin Entzminger, who previously led the organization for six years. Lotz comes to Innovate Memphis from Memphis-Shelby County Schools as the Director of Research and Performance Management. For the past six years, she was responsible for expanding and […]
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Please join us in congratulating Justin Entzminger on his new role as Innovation Practice Director for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. We are grateful to Justin for his leadership over the past six years as Executive Director of Innovate Memphis. During his tenure, Justin led the innovation team for the […]
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Innovate Memphis is seeking an Executive Director. This position will oversee and direct strategic and operational responsibility for Innovate Memphis staff, programs, and expansion, in alignment with the Innovate Memphis mission. Founded in 2012 as the Mayor’s Institute for Excellence in Government, Innovate Memphis was one of the first five innovation teams funded by Bloomberg […]
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Seniors on Medicare that face mobility issues and live on a limited or fixed income have a number of options at their disposal for being transported to and from important appointments, including doctor visits. You may wonder, however, whether Medicare actually covers the cost of these transportation options — and what alternatives are at seniors’ […]
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If you tuned into WREG News Channel 3’s Live at 9 segment this morning, you just might have seen our own Courtney McNeal sharing about our 901RideChoice Rides to Wellness program. Getting around Memphis without a car isn’t easy for anyone, but for seniors and people living with disabilities, this can have a direct, negative […]
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Wherever you went today, from work to dropping the kids off at school or even picking up milk at the supermarket, your socioeconomic status got you there. This is a radical thought at first glance. But the resources available to us are ultimately what influence the decisions we make on a day to day basis. […]
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If the disruption posed by the COVID-19 pandemic did have silver linings, one impact for families was an increased availability to care for vulnerable loved ones as they worked from home or left the workforce altogether. A significant number of these caregivers, researchers demonstrated, have been women. But with vaccines now widely available and case […]
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A report from the American Hospital Association suggested that close to 4 million Americans delay or do not receive the medical attention they need due to transportation barriers every year – a figure likely worsened by pandemic-associated economic hardship and isolation. In some ways, this seems obvious. If you don’t have a car – or […]
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Memphians often take for granted our ability to navigate around such a car-dependent metropolis, enabling us to get to what and where we need – weather permitting, at least. Easy access to transportation, which for most of us means the family car, is what allows us to connect with friends and family, go shopping, and […]
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Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
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Brookings Institution | Alan Berube and Nicole Bateman | October 14, 2021 Article Link: Brookings Metro Report: Inclusive Economic Indicators Brookings Metro ran an Inclusive Economic Indicators Lab to help three regions—Indianapolis, Memphis, and Orlando—develop compelling and influential indicators projects that use metrics to drive more inclusive local economic outcomes. Innovate Memphis, in partnership with […]
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Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
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June 2021 Abandoned properties are a wicked challenge facing Memphis neighborhoods, and this won’t change during and after the pandemic. To make matters worse, abandoned properties are often delinquent on local property taxes, and in a state with no income tax, property tax revenue is the primary way local government generates revenue to deliver services. […]
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Article Link: Fighting Blight | Memphis Metropolis | April 11, 2021 Memphis Metropolis gets deep into the weeds to understand the causes of blight and how community developers are using innovative tools to eradicate it, one property at a time. First, Leslie Smith, executive director of Blight Authority of Memphis, explains what a land bank […]
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Recently, our Research Fellow, Austin Harrison, joined Emily Trenholm on her new podcast – Memphis Metropolis to talk housing challenges in Memphis and the 2020 State of Memphis Housing report. He was joined by Deputy Director of City of Memphis’ Division of Housing & Community Development, Mairi Albertson, as well as, Dr. Charlie Santo, Associate […]
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Innovate Memphis is proud to announce our acceptance into The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).
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Innovate Memphis Program Manager Susan Dalton joined fellow panelists in this virtual series by The New Memphis Institute to Celebrate What’s Right and discuss Memphis the Movement! Panelists discuss why and how Memphis is making moves in innovation, technology, and business development to forge a new Memphis. Susan shared her perspective as a lifelong Memphian […]
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September 2020 Memphis is in the midst of a crisis which calls for unprecedented levels of collaboration and communication. To answer this call and to facilitate the hard but necessary conversations throughout the Memphis housing and community development field, the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in partnership with Innovate Memphis, […]
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The 901 Ride Choice Year One program report provides details on the first year pilot of the local mobility management program and referral service connecting people to non-emergency transportation. The Challenge Limited transportation access is a significant barrier to care. Many individuals are unable to seek preventative care necessary to manage their health, leading to […]
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August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
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Innovate Memphis believes that Black Lives Matter and stands in solidarity with the international calls to end police brutality. We oppose injustice, cruelty, and systemic racism in all its forms. We acknowledge the depth and breadth of the generations of inequities facing our communities. These racist systems are always at the root of the challenges […]
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The economic and social repercussions of the novel coronavirus are already becoming evident and are likely to have a tangible, longer-term impact for many Memphians. Built from national best practices, our interactive mapping tool takes a data-informed approach to identify the neighborhoods with the highest number of Memphis residents most vulnerable to the ongoing socio-economic […]
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April 17, 2020 | The Spark The theme of The SPARK April 2020 is “Travel and Transportation.” Jeremy C. Park interviews Justin Entzminger and Courtney McNeal of 901RideChoice, a free phone service for older adults and people living with disabilities who need local, reliable transportation options to get to their destinations.
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Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
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High Ground News | February 13, 2020 Article Link: Memphis nonprofits ask, “Are we inclusive? Are we equitable?” “What does it mean for an employer to have an inclusive culture and equitable practices? And how does an organization truly reflect the values and identities of the communities it serves? Late last summer, a group of […]
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A new report and interactive map from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the OECD shows a surge of commitment from cities around the world to build this internal innovation capacity. Memphis was one of the first cohorts of innovation teams and Innovate Memphis continues to work alongside community and public sector leaders to deliver civic solutions.
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Fast Company | November 4, 2019 Article Link: How Memphis Transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces After taking down Confederate statues, these public spaces and parks have been intentionally redesigned with and for a stronger community where people can enjoy quality public space. The parks were reimagined as part of the […]
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Smart Growth America | October 29, 2019 Article Link: Local Stakeholders Convene for Complete Streets A a roundtable hosted by U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (TN-9) in Memphis, TN last week about creating safer streets was almost prescient. Unlike some members of Congress who are still victim blaming (ehm, Rep. John Garamendi [CA-3]), Rep. Cohen is […]
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Link: Shelby County Deserves Great Transit Opinion Article The Commercial Appeal | October 4, 2019 Sylvia Crum and Erik Henneghan of the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council express the importance of transportation for Shelby County. Our ability to improve public transit will determine how well our county can fully achieve ambitious goals for the future – […]
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High Ground News Podcast: An affordable housing trust fund for Memphis Paul Young, director of the city’s division of housing and community development and John Paul Shaffer, executive director of BLDG Memphis, discuss the recent creation of a local trust fund that will help support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
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June 8, 2019 | High Ground News Article: Medical District steps up to Commute Challenge and shared mobility May marks the third annual Commute Challenge by Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis transportation demand management program. This annual month-long initiative aims to encourage Memphians across the metro area to ditch ride-alone commutes in favor of biking, […]
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Podcast Link: Innovate Memphis Justin Entzminger and Susan Dalton join Jeremy Parks on this episode of cityCurrent Radio Show to discuss the newest program for mobility management: 901RideChoice. The conversation shares insight into how the organization works and has developed over time, and reviews details of the program.
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Article Link: Feature Story: Program Helps Callers Find Medical Transportation Innovate Memphis is leading a new program, 901RideChoice, to improve transportation access for older adults and people living with a disability. This is one of many initiatives Innovate Memphis has developed within their Transportation and Emergency Medical Services work. Learn more about the program in […]
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May 17, 2019 | GOODWorks For the entire month of May, Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis program initiative, is challenging Memphians to shift gears from riding alone, to instead carpooling, using public transit, walking, biking, or scooting to and from work instead. Participants in the Commute Challenge 2019 sign-up for the free challenge, track their […]
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April 29, 2019 | Strong Towns Article Link: Memphis’ U-Turn: How the City is Committing to a Stronger Future Doug McGowen, former Director of the innovation team (and current COO), shares the impact of suburban sprawl and development patterns on the health of the city, and the approach to reverse the trend in this Strong […]
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Justin Entzminger, Executive Director, Innovate Memphis, Elena Delavega, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Memphis, and Kendra Freeman, Director of Community Engagement, Metropolitan Planning Council (Chicago) examined the present-day systems that perpetuate poverty in segregated cities like Memphis, Chicago, and others. In Memphis, the solution has often involved attracting outside money with a low-wage, […]
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Article: 5 Lessons from the best data-driven cities April 24, 2019. Bloomberg Cities. City of Memphis achieved 2019 Silver Certification of What Works Cities: In this article by Bloomberg Cities, Memphis is highlighted as one of the top cities across the US using data to improve practices and deliver better services for residents. “Memphis received […]
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Smart City initiative seeks to improve public problems with technology March 21, 2019 | High Ground News Making Memphis a smart city is a top priority for the City of Memphis, and through its information services team and Innovate Memphis, the city has been seeking civic-minded and smart city technology-based startups to develop creative solutions […]
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative: Catalyzing Change on a Community Level November 11, 2018 Between July and September 2018, The Democracy Collaborative and Innovate Memphis conducted a review of MMDC’s work during its first two years of operation. This research process was composed of a review of baseline anchor data, stakeholder surveys, and current program data; […]
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Innovate Memphis pushes to revamp Memphis bus system from the ground up October 3, 2018. High Ground News
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Armed with data, partners find a new strategy to tackle blighted properties September 12, 2018 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis is working closely with partners including CAESER, Clean Memphis and Neighborhood Preservation Inc. to provide numerous metrics that better indicate what’s going on at a neighborhood level. With multiple sources forming a more comprehensive […]
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Behind the Headlines: Shared Mobility July 6, 2018 | WKNO In their first month, Explore Bike Share and scooter trips exceeded 32,000 trips. In this episode of Behind The Headlines, city leaders address the vision and approach for emerging shared mobility options in Memphis and how intentional deployment, collaboration, and innovation is setting us apart.
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The Lessons of Bird Electric Scooters June 19, 2018 | Smart City Memphis Innovate Memphis helped lay the research for a comprehensive shared mobility framework, with the forethought of these emerging mobility options. In this article, Councilman Kemp Conrad shares his views on the initial lessons of adopting and adapting to innovate a model for […]
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Bird scooters offer Memphians an option in shared-mobility society | Opinion June 16, 2018 | The Commercial Appeal
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After quick stay in Nashville, Bird scooters flock to Memphis June 14, 2018. Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis helped to develop a Shared Use Mobility Ordinance to support council members in developing this opportunity for mobility options. “Memphis is an innovative city that recognizes the importance of an equitable, affordable and reliable transit system,” said […]
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Cover story: How an underfunded, inadequate transit system undermines Memphis’ workforce and economy June 12, 2018. Memphis Business Journal “Every community of this size should have a viable transportation system, and we really don’t have it,” Luttrell said. One contributing factor leaders cited: the lack of density in the city’s core due to years of […]
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New Plans Would Change Memphis Medical District April 17, 2018. Memphis Daily News
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BTH: New Vision for Memphis Transportation April 2017, 2018. WKNO FM Video interview with Suzanne Carlson, Glenn Gadbois and Scudder Wagg
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Redesigned bus system brings Memphians closer to work April 10. 2018. Memphis Business Journals
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Bus System Overhaul Would Shift Balance of Service to More Frequency April 10, 2018. Memphis Daily News Coverage of the results of the report for Memphis 3.0
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Memphis 3.0 looks to citizens’ input on shaping city’s transit system January 17, 2018. High Ground News “There’s a lot of discussion about how the system used to be, and we try to tell the public that the city was smaller at that time too. The transit vision gives us an opportunity to determine what […]
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Creating Neighborhoods of Opportunity through Citywide Initiatives 2017. Kresge Annual Report Details from Kresge’s annual report on the collaborative work of NPI and Knowledge Quest to address blight and investment in neighborhoods.
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Bootcamp talks trash in Downtown Memphis October 5, 2017. Memphis Business Journals The Innovation Bootcamp – a collaborative partnership among Innovate Memphis, Lokion, and FedEx Institute of Technology – joined forces to address the challenge of solid waste. “We’re assembling people from nonprofits, for-profits and academia who may or may not ever think about city […]
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Violence Blocked: 901BLOC expands to further curb youth violence. September 28, 2017. The Memphis Flyer 901Bloc is focused on intervention and prevention programs to address the challenge of youth gun violence in Memphis. The 901B.L.O.C. program focuses specifically on youth crime involving guns. Its guiding principle is to meet the city’s at-risk youth where they […]
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Right Response: EMS initiative breaking down barriers to health care options September 8, 2017. Memphis Daily News “A couple of years ago the Memphis Fire Department determined that the non-emergency calls were really bogging down the system,” said Justin Entzminger, director of Innovate Memphis. “Last year alone, out of approximately 130,000 ambulance runs, about 25,000 […]
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Fire department’s Right Response program saves time, lives August 20, 2017 | The Commercial Appeal Innovate Memphis worked with the Memphis Fire Department to develop the Right Response program, which provides non-emergency callers with appropriate care while ensuring our ambulances are free for true emergencies. It’s a collaborative with local healthcare organizations, area hospitals, nonprofit […]
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Memphis and Beyond: Assessing the Market for CRA Investment March 1, 2017. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis Innovate Memphis staff members, Nidia Logan Robinson, Ian Nunley, and Rachel Knox contributed to a report on Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis outlining the case for CRA – Community Reinvestment Act. Additionally, the Innovate Memphis team […]
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Memphis Property Hub Using Micro-Level Data to Drive Solutions August 8, 2016. Memphis Daily News The Memphis Property Hub compiles data from multiple public sources to tell the story of Shelby County’s 351,000 parcels. Every piece of property, whether vacant land or a commercial structure, can be traced with Memphis Light, Gas and Water payments, […]
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New Memphis Property Hub database to provide fine-tuned information in war on blight June 22, 2016. Commercial Appeal
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Making 911 Smarter, Safer, Cheaper June 22, 2016 | The Commercial Appeal One in five calls is a nonemergency — meaning the person who called doesn’t require emergency medical treatment. A review of the Healthcare Navigator Program and the impact on reducing the impact of non-emergency calls.
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Innovate Memphis develops bold ideas for city April 22, 2016 | High Ground News “Social innovation is the broad mission, but for Innovate Memphis, the process is what really makes the whole endeavor unique in the city.In 2011, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded Memphis a three-year grant to establish what then was called the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery […]
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IBM Team Gathers Data on Memphians’ 911 Use Feb 24, 2016 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis obtained a grant from IBM Smarter Cities Challenge to capture and utilize data and develop smarter strategies. The Memphis Fire Department – Emergency Medica Services Division aims to reduce non-emergency use of emergency resources by supplementing a healthcare […]
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Former Innovation Delivery Team expands mission, changes namen Nov, 6, 2015 Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis was previously known as the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team. One of the first Bloomberg Philanthropies “Innovation Teams” the Memphis cohort has been the first to expand and continue the mission outside of Bloomberg funding. With the name change came […]
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City Innovators Share What Idea Generation Means to Them July 21, 2015. Bloomberg Philanthropies Bloomberg Philanthropies asked i-teams directors and team members to define what idea generation means to them, and share their thoughts on how they approach this vital step in government innovation. Previous Director, Doug McGowen shares his insight.
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Five Tips for City Innovators Tommy Pacello shares his insight on innovation. Innovation at the city level is vital for long-term growth and stability, but developing bold solutions to big urban challenges requires a devotion to process and partnership and strong leadership that is willing to try something new. Key Takeaways:1. Activate the community2. Numbers…
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How Memphis is lowering crime and reviving neighborhoods Dec 16, 2014 | CNN n the face dwindling budgets and changing societal needs, the nation’s mayors are using innovation to solve their most pressing problems. With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, five mayors have deployed innovation teams to deliver creative solutions that improve the lives of their […]
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Build it and they will learn: lasting lessons from temporary MEMFix projects Oct 14, 2014 | High Ground News High Ground takes a look at the roots of the tactical urbanism movement in Memphis, beginning with the surprising success of Broad Avenue. With the support of adaptive city leadership and invigorated neighborhood stakeholders, each MEMFix […]
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South Land MEMFix Memphis Flyer | Oct 10, 2013 The concept for MEMFix is gatheting attention with a neighborhood block party to reactivating streets and vacant storefronts. Previous events have been held in Crosstown and the University of Memphis area. This article highlights the South MEMFix is a partnership between the mayor’s team, the LeMoyne-Owen […]
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Knowledge Is Power : Memphis Gun Down program turns attention to literacy. Oct 3, 2013 | Memphis Flyer A collaborative effort between Wharton’s Memphis Gun Down project, a plan that seeks to reduce youth gun violence by 20 percent in selected areas of South Memphis and Frayser and 10 percent citywide by September 2014, and manufacturing […]
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Alternative Medicine New hospital-based program aims to reduce the number of gunshot victims. June 6, 2013 | Memphis Flyer Memphis Gun Down is excited to partner with the Regional Medical Center at Memphis to launch the hospital-based intervention program to complement our existing street and school-based interventions,” Wharton said. “We are committed to reaching out […]
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Innovating Governance from Outside Mention of Memphis and the Bloomberg Innovation Delivery Teams. …The teams use different strategies in each of the selected cities, ranging from an emphasis on prototyping to competition. In Memphis, for instance, the focus was on bringing government agencies together to target specific neighborhoods. It began with bringing 45 representatives from…
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Article Link: Fighting Blight | Memphis Metropolis | April 11, 2021 Memphis Metropolis gets deep into the weeds to understand the causes of blight and how community developers are using innovative tools to eradicate it, one property at a time. First, Leslie Smith, executive director of Blight Authority of Memphis, explains what a land bank […]
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Armed with data, partners find a new strategy to tackle blighted properties September 12, 2018 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis is working closely with partners including CAESER, Clean Memphis and Neighborhood Preservation Inc. to provide numerous metrics that better indicate what’s going on at a neighborhood level. With multiple sources forming a more comprehensive […]
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Creating Neighborhoods of Opportunity through Citywide Initiatives 2017. Kresge Annual Report Details from Kresge’s annual report on the collaborative work of NPI and Knowledge Quest to address blight and investment in neighborhoods.
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Memphis Property Hub Using Micro-Level Data to Drive Solutions August 8, 2016. Memphis Daily News The Memphis Property Hub compiles data from multiple public sources to tell the story of Shelby County’s 351,000 parcels. Every piece of property, whether vacant land or a commercial structure, can be traced with Memphis Light, Gas and Water payments, […]
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New Memphis Property Hub database to provide fine-tuned information in war on blight June 22, 2016. Commercial Appeal
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Angelica Carey, Research Project Manager at Innovate Memphis, recently presented a poster at the 2024 Urban Food Systems Symposium in Columbus, Ohio.
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis Now that the 2023-2024 school year has come to a close, we’d like to reflect on the exciting work we accomplished with our Commute Options partner schools this spring. Commute Options involves deep collaboration with educators, local government, and many community […]
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Susan Dalton is Innovate Memphis’ Director of Strategic Initiatives and was recently recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2024. Since starting at Innovate Memphis in 2017, Susan has led a range of innovation projects for parks & public space, neighborhood vitality, civic data, food security, and worked with government partners to […]
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Jackson McNeil is Innovate Memphis’ Transportation & Mobility Director and the author of our new white paper on local transit funding. He brings a wealth of knowledge about transportation systems, having earned his master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis and through his previous work on equitable transportation systems at […]
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Core to all of Innovate Memphis’ work is collaboration and an evidence-based approach to diagnosing and solving civic problems. Over the past several years, our team has partnered with the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy (SUAPP) to place graduate research Fellows who work on a portfolio of innovation projects. These […]
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Guest blog by Applied Anthropology Fellow Jennie Doss, recent graduate of the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy When I reflect on my time as a graduate fellow working with Innovate Memphis over these past two years, I think of the lessons learned, the work accomplished, and the new friends made […]
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We are excited to share that Clean Memphis has published the Memphis Food Rescue Landscape Analysis, a project powered by Innovate Memphis that identifies challenges and potential solutions to address local food insecurity. With funding provided by the City of Memphis and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Clean Memphis partnered with Innovate Memphis to […]
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By Jackson McNeil, Transportation & Mobility Director Transit Equity Day is a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. In Memphis, Innovate Memphis has participated in an annual event on February 4th with other transit advocates and organizations to honor Rosa Parks […]
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Innovate Memphis Names New Transportation and Mobility Director MEMPHIS, TN – Innovate Memphis announces the hire of Jackson McNeil as Transportation and Mobility Director for Commute Options. In this role, McNeil is responsible for providing project management and delivery of current and emerging transportation-related projects with a focus on encouraging individuals, employers, and schools to […]
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As we prepare for an exciting year ahead for our organization and city, our team at Innovate Memphis is also looking back to celebrate a year of big accomplishments in 2022. We experienced significant changes in organizational leadership with outgoing Executive Director Justin Entzminger taking on a new opportunity at the Bloomberg Center for Public […]
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In 2011, Memphis became one of the first five cities in the world to establish an Innovation Delivery team in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. The past decade has included much to celebrate about innovation as we have navigated a period of growth, change, and challenges – including an unprecedented global public health emergency that upended […]
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This article originally appeared in the Memphis Business Journal. In many ways, Jessica Lotz is a data-oriented person. Research has played a major role in her career, and she can easily go down a rabbit hole with a spreadsheet, and find it satisfying. Yet she’s also keenly aware that data alone is ineffective, and that it should […]
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Innovate Memphis today announced that Jessica Lotz has been appointed as its new executive director. Lotz succeeds Justin Entzminger, who previously led the organization for six years. Lotz comes to Innovate Memphis from Memphis-Shelby County Schools as the Director of Research and Performance Management. For the past six years, she was responsible for expanding and […]
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Please join us in congratulating Justin Entzminger on his new role as Innovation Practice Director for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. We are grateful to Justin for his leadership over the past six years as Executive Director of Innovate Memphis. During his tenure, Justin led the innovation team for the […]
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Innovate Memphis is seeking an Executive Director. This position will oversee and direct strategic and operational responsibility for Innovate Memphis staff, programs, and expansion, in alignment with the Innovate Memphis mission. Founded in 2012 as the Mayor’s Institute for Excellence in Government, Innovate Memphis was one of the first five innovation teams funded by Bloomberg […]
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Seniors on Medicare that face mobility issues and live on a limited or fixed income have a number of options at their disposal for being transported to and from important appointments, including doctor visits. You may wonder, however, whether Medicare actually covers the cost of these transportation options — and what alternatives are at seniors’ […]
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If you tuned into WREG News Channel 3’s Live at 9 segment this morning, you just might have seen our own Courtney McNeal sharing about our 901RideChoice Rides to Wellness program. Getting around Memphis without a car isn’t easy for anyone, but for seniors and people living with disabilities, this can have a direct, negative […]
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Wherever you went today, from work to dropping the kids off at school or even picking up milk at the supermarket, your socioeconomic status got you there. This is a radical thought at first glance. But the resources available to us are ultimately what influence the decisions we make on a day to day basis. […]
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If the disruption posed by the COVID-19 pandemic did have silver linings, one impact for families was an increased availability to care for vulnerable loved ones as they worked from home or left the workforce altogether. A significant number of these caregivers, researchers demonstrated, have been women. But with vaccines now widely available and case […]
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A report from the American Hospital Association suggested that close to 4 million Americans delay or do not receive the medical attention they need due to transportation barriers every year – a figure likely worsened by pandemic-associated economic hardship and isolation. In some ways, this seems obvious. If you don’t have a car – or […]
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Memphians often take for granted our ability to navigate around such a car-dependent metropolis, enabling us to get to what and where we need – weather permitting, at least. Easy access to transportation, which for most of us means the family car, is what allows us to connect with friends and family, go shopping, and […]
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Innovate Memphis is proud to announce our acceptance into The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).
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Innovate Memphis Program Manager Susan Dalton joined fellow panelists in this virtual series by The New Memphis Institute to Celebrate What’s Right and discuss Memphis the Movement! Panelists discuss why and how Memphis is making moves in innovation, technology, and business development to forge a new Memphis. Susan shared her perspective as a lifelong Memphian […]
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Innovate Memphis believes that Black Lives Matter and stands in solidarity with the international calls to end police brutality. We oppose injustice, cruelty, and systemic racism in all its forms. We acknowledge the depth and breadth of the generations of inequities facing our communities. These racist systems are always at the root of the challenges […]
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Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
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High Ground News | February 13, 2020 Article Link: Memphis nonprofits ask, “Are we inclusive? Are we equitable?” “What does it mean for an employer to have an inclusive culture and equitable practices? And how does an organization truly reflect the values and identities of the communities it serves? Late last summer, a group of […]
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Link: Shelby County Deserves Great Transit Opinion Article The Commercial Appeal | October 4, 2019 Sylvia Crum and Erik Henneghan of the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council express the importance of transportation for Shelby County. Our ability to improve public transit will determine how well our county can fully achieve ambitious goals for the future – […]
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May 17, 2019 | GOODWorks For the entire month of May, Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis program initiative, is challenging Memphians to shift gears from riding alone, to instead carpooling, using public transit, walking, biking, or scooting to and from work instead. Participants in the Commute Challenge 2019 sign-up for the free challenge, track their […]
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Five Tips for City Innovators Tommy Pacello shares his insight on innovation. Innovation at the city level is vital for long-term growth and stability, but developing bold solutions to big urban challenges requires a devotion to process and partnership and strong leadership that is willing to try something new. Key Takeaways:1. Activate the community2. Numbers…
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis Now that the 2023-2024 school year has come to a close, we’d like to reflect on the exciting work we accomplished with our Commute Options partner schools this spring. Commute Options involves deep collaboration with educators, local government, and many community […]
Learn More
Innovate Memphis’ Research Project Manager, Angelica Carey, first began her work on food security with our team in 2022 as a No Kid Hungry City Innovation Fellow. The 18-month fellowship selected diverse leaders to be embedded in city government or innovation teams to address food insecurity using creativity and collaboration. The fellows use a human-centered […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Previous reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we worked with a coalition of government agencies, business leaders, nonprofits and community […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we organized activation events and pop-up programs to enrich public spaces, fostering community engagement and well-being through […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, Transit Vision collaboration and planning on improved local transportation service, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to reimagine neighborhood […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover MEMFix economic revitalization, Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to address two key issues: […]
Learn More
When it comes to improving upward mobility for Black Memphians, a persistent challenge is having access to strong financial capital and advisory support from the industry. The Memphis Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network has been bringing financial and housing institutions together with community members for nearly a decade to make access to these resources […]
Learn More
Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
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Brookings Institution | Alan Berube and Nicole Bateman | October 14, 2021 Article Link: Brookings Metro Report: Inclusive Economic Indicators Brookings Metro ran an Inclusive Economic Indicators Lab to help three regions—Indianapolis, Memphis, and Orlando—develop compelling and influential indicators projects that use metrics to drive more inclusive local economic outcomes. Innovate Memphis, in partnership with […]
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Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
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June 2021 Abandoned properties are a wicked challenge facing Memphis neighborhoods, and this won’t change during and after the pandemic. To make matters worse, abandoned properties are often delinquent on local property taxes, and in a state with no income tax, property tax revenue is the primary way local government generates revenue to deliver services. […]
Learn More
September 2020 Memphis is in the midst of a crisis which calls for unprecedented levels of collaboration and communication. To answer this call and to facilitate the hard but necessary conversations throughout the Memphis housing and community development field, the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in partnership with Innovate Memphis, […]
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The 901 Ride Choice Year One program report provides details on the first year pilot of the local mobility management program and referral service connecting people to non-emergency transportation. The Challenge Limited transportation access is a significant barrier to care. Many individuals are unable to seek preventative care necessary to manage their health, leading to […]
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August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
Learn More
The economic and social repercussions of the novel coronavirus are already becoming evident and are likely to have a tangible, longer-term impact for many Memphians. Built from national best practices, our interactive mapping tool takes a data-informed approach to identify the neighborhoods with the highest number of Memphis residents most vulnerable to the ongoing socio-economic […]
Learn More
Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
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Fast Company | November 4, 2019 Article Link: How Memphis Transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces After taking down Confederate statues, these public spaces and parks have been intentionally redesigned with and for a stronger community where people can enjoy quality public space. The parks were reimagined as part of the […]
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative: Catalyzing Change on a Community Level November 11, 2018 Between July and September 2018, The Democracy Collaborative and Innovate Memphis conducted a review of MMDC’s work during its first two years of operation. This research process was composed of a review of baseline anchor data, stakeholder surveys, and current program data; […]
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Memphis and Beyond: Assessing the Market for CRA Investment March 1, 2017. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis Innovate Memphis staff members, Nidia Logan Robinson, Ian Nunley, and Rachel Knox contributed to a report on Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis outlining the case for CRA – Community Reinvestment Act. Additionally, the Innovate Memphis team […]
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Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
Learn More
August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
Learn More
Fast Company | November 4, 2019 Article Link: How Memphis Transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces After taking down Confederate statues, these public spaces and parks have been intentionally redesigned with and for a stronger community where people can enjoy quality public space. The parks were reimagined as part of the […]
Learn More
Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Susan Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, has been recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2024. Susan Dalton is a Memphis native who puts community first when she strives to make a positive social impact and has worked at Innovate Memphis for over six years. […]
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The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) is a civic data-centered learning network connecting independent partner organizations in more than 30 cities. Coordinated by the Urban Institute, NNIP’s mission is to ensure all communities have access to data and the skills to use information to advance equity and well-being across neighborhoods. NNIP network organizations share a […]
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Brookings Institution | Alan Berube and Nicole Bateman | October 14, 2021 Article Link: Brookings Metro Report: Inclusive Economic Indicators Brookings Metro ran an Inclusive Economic Indicators Lab to help three regions—Indianapolis, Memphis, and Orlando—develop compelling and influential indicators projects that use metrics to drive more inclusive local economic outcomes. Innovate Memphis, in partnership with […]
Learn More
Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
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Innovate Memphis is proud to announce our acceptance into The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).
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Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
Learn More
Brookings Institution | Alan Berube and Nicole Bateman | October 14, 2021 Article Link: Brookings Metro Report: Inclusive Economic Indicators Brookings Metro ran an Inclusive Economic Indicators Lab to help three regions—Indianapolis, Memphis, and Orlando—develop compelling and influential indicators projects that use metrics to drive more inclusive local economic outcomes. Innovate Memphis, in partnership with […]
Learn More
Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
Learn More
Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Previous reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we worked with a coalition of government agencies, business leaders, nonprofits and community […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we organized activation events and pop-up programs to enrich public spaces, fostering community engagement and well-being through […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, Transit Vision collaboration and planning on improved local transportation service, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to reimagine neighborhood […]
Learn More
When it comes to improving upward mobility for Black Memphians, a persistent challenge is having access to strong financial capital and advisory support from the industry. The Memphis Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network has been bringing financial and housing institutions together with community members for nearly a decade to make access to these resources […]
Learn More
June 2021 Abandoned properties are a wicked challenge facing Memphis neighborhoods, and this won’t change during and after the pandemic. To make matters worse, abandoned properties are often delinquent on local property taxes, and in a state with no income tax, property tax revenue is the primary way local government generates revenue to deliver services. […]
Learn More
September 2020 Memphis is in the midst of a crisis which calls for unprecedented levels of collaboration and communication. To answer this call and to facilitate the hard but necessary conversations throughout the Memphis housing and community development field, the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in partnership with Innovate Memphis, […]
Learn More
Memphis Medical District Collaborative: Catalyzing Change on a Community Level November 11, 2018 Between July and September 2018, The Democracy Collaborative and Innovate Memphis conducted a review of MMDC’s work during its first two years of operation. This research process was composed of a review of baseline anchor data, stakeholder surveys, and current program data; […]
Learn More
Memphis and Beyond: Assessing the Market for CRA Investment March 1, 2017. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis Innovate Memphis staff members, Nidia Logan Robinson, Ian Nunley, and Rachel Knox contributed to a report on Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis outlining the case for CRA – Community Reinvestment Act. Additionally, the Innovate Memphis team […]
Learn More
In summer 2024, our latest cohort of Morehead Cain Scholars completed new research on the City of Memphis’ Affordable Housing Trust Fund and presented their findings to Mayor Paul Young and his executive leadership team. The resulting research report and presentation include insights on Memphis’ current housing landscape and challenges, how peer cities have developed […]
Learn More
Article Link: Fighting Blight | Memphis Metropolis | April 11, 2021 Memphis Metropolis gets deep into the weeds to understand the causes of blight and how community developers are using innovative tools to eradicate it, one property at a time. First, Leslie Smith, executive director of Blight Authority of Memphis, explains what a land bank […]
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Recently, our Research Fellow, Austin Harrison, joined Emily Trenholm on her new podcast – Memphis Metropolis to talk housing challenges in Memphis and the 2020 State of Memphis Housing report. He was joined by Deputy Director of City of Memphis’ Division of Housing & Community Development, Mairi Albertson, as well as, Dr. Charlie Santo, Associate […]
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High Ground News Podcast: An affordable housing trust fund for Memphis Paul Young, director of the city’s division of housing and community development and John Paul Shaffer, executive director of BLDG Memphis, discuss the recent creation of a local trust fund that will help support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
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April 29, 2019 | Strong Towns Article Link: Memphis’ U-Turn: How the City is Committing to a Stronger Future Doug McGowen, former Director of the innovation team (and current COO), shares the impact of suburban sprawl and development patterns on the health of the city, and the approach to reverse the trend in this Strong […]
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Justin Entzminger, Executive Director, Innovate Memphis, Elena Delavega, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Memphis, and Kendra Freeman, Director of Community Engagement, Metropolitan Planning Council (Chicago) examined the present-day systems that perpetuate poverty in segregated cities like Memphis, Chicago, and others. In Memphis, the solution has often involved attracting outside money with a low-wage, […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover MEMFix economic revitalization, Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to address two key issues: […]
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April 17, 2020 | The Spark The theme of The SPARK April 2020 is “Travel and Transportation.” Jeremy C. Park interviews Justin Entzminger and Courtney McNeal of 901RideChoice, a free phone service for older adults and people living with disabilities who need local, reliable transportation options to get to their destinations.
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Podcast Link: Innovate Memphis Justin Entzminger and Susan Dalton join Jeremy Parks on this episode of cityCurrent Radio Show to discuss the newest program for mobility management: 901RideChoice. The conversation shares insight into how the organization works and has developed over time, and reviews details of the program.
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Article Link: Feature Story: Program Helps Callers Find Medical Transportation Innovate Memphis is leading a new program, 901RideChoice, to improve transportation access for older adults and people living with a disability. This is one of many initiatives Innovate Memphis has developed within their Transportation and Emergency Medical Services work. Learn more about the program in […]
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Right Response: EMS initiative breaking down barriers to health care options September 8, 2017. Memphis Daily News “A couple of years ago the Memphis Fire Department determined that the non-emergency calls were really bogging down the system,” said Justin Entzminger, director of Innovate Memphis. “Last year alone, out of approximately 130,000 ambulance runs, about 25,000 […]
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Fire department’s Right Response program saves time, lives August 20, 2017 | The Commercial Appeal Innovate Memphis worked with the Memphis Fire Department to develop the Right Response program, which provides non-emergency callers with appropriate care while ensuring our ambulances are free for true emergencies. It’s a collaborative with local healthcare organizations, area hospitals, nonprofit […]
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Making 911 Smarter, Safer, Cheaper June 22, 2016 | The Commercial Appeal One in five calls is a nonemergency — meaning the person who called doesn’t require emergency medical treatment. A review of the Healthcare Navigator Program and the impact on reducing the impact of non-emergency calls.
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IBM Team Gathers Data on Memphians’ 911 Use Feb 24, 2016 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis obtained a grant from IBM Smarter Cities Challenge to capture and utilize data and develop smarter strategies. The Memphis Fire Department – Emergency Medica Services Division aims to reduce non-emergency use of emergency resources by supplementing a healthcare […]
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Angelica Carey, Research Project Manager at Innovate Memphis, recently presented a poster at the 2024 Urban Food Systems Symposium in Columbus, Ohio.
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Innovate Memphis’ Research Project Manager, Angelica Carey, first began her work on food security with our team in 2022 as a No Kid Hungry City Innovation Fellow. The 18-month fellowship selected diverse leaders to be embedded in city government or innovation teams to address food insecurity using creativity and collaboration. The fellows use a human-centered […]
Learn More
Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Susan Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, has been recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2024. Susan Dalton is a Memphis native who puts community first when she strives to make a positive social impact and has worked at Innovate Memphis for over six years. […]
Learn More
Core to all of Innovate Memphis’ work is collaboration and an evidence-based approach to diagnosing and solving civic problems. Over the past several years, our team has partnered with the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy (SUAPP) to place graduate research Fellows who work on a portfolio of innovation projects. These […]
Learn More
In 2022, Innovate Memphis launched a new pilot program to provide digital resources to the Black elder population in some of Memphis’ underserved communities. The program consists of a five-week digital literacy course curriculum, and participants who meet attendance requirements receive a free laptop at their graduation ceremony. As of June 2023, three cohorts of […]
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Guest blog by Applied Anthropology Fellow Jennie Doss, recent graduate of the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy When I reflect on my time as a graduate fellow working with Innovate Memphis over these past two years, I think of the lessons learned, the work accomplished, and the new friends made […]
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This article originally appeared in the Memphis Business Journal; Photo credit Aleks Antonío Photography for MBJ A friend of Courtney McNeal likes to say that she’s had “nine lives” at Innovate Memphis, and there’s truth to this joke. For nearly six years, McNeal has held a variety of roles with the nonprofit, which designs, incubates, and sustains […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney McNeal to a newly created Chief of Staff position. Her new duties are effective as of February 2023, and will run concurrently with her City Innovation Director role. McNeal joined Innovate over five years ago overseeing community engagement activities and working on the City’s Memphis […]
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A new report and interactive map from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the OECD shows a surge of commitment from cities around the world to build this internal innovation capacity. Memphis was one of the first cohorts of innovation teams and Innovate Memphis continues to work alongside community and public sector leaders to deliver civic solutions.
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Podcast Link: Innovate Memphis Justin Entzminger and Susan Dalton join Jeremy Parks on this episode of cityCurrent Radio Show to discuss the newest program for mobility management: 901RideChoice. The conversation shares insight into how the organization works and has developed over time, and reviews details of the program.
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Article: 5 Lessons from the best data-driven cities April 24, 2019. Bloomberg Cities. City of Memphis achieved 2019 Silver Certification of What Works Cities: In this article by Bloomberg Cities, Memphis is highlighted as one of the top cities across the US using data to improve practices and deliver better services for residents. “Memphis received […]
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Smart City initiative seeks to improve public problems with technology March 21, 2019 | High Ground News Making Memphis a smart city is a top priority for the City of Memphis, and through its information services team and Innovate Memphis, the city has been seeking civic-minded and smart city technology-based startups to develop creative solutions […]
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Innovate Memphis develops bold ideas for city April 22, 2016 | High Ground News “Social innovation is the broad mission, but for Innovate Memphis, the process is what really makes the whole endeavor unique in the city.In 2011, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded Memphis a three-year grant to establish what then was called the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery […]
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Former Innovation Delivery Team expands mission, changes namen Nov, 6, 2015 Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis was previously known as the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team. One of the first Bloomberg Philanthropies “Innovation Teams” the Memphis cohort has been the first to expand and continue the mission outside of Bloomberg funding. With the name change came […]
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City Innovators Share What Idea Generation Means to Them July 21, 2015. Bloomberg Philanthropies Bloomberg Philanthropies asked i-teams directors and team members to define what idea generation means to them, and share their thoughts on how they approach this vital step in government innovation. Previous Director, Doug McGowen shares his insight.
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Innovating Governance from Outside Mention of Memphis and the Bloomberg Innovation Delivery Teams. …The teams use different strategies in each of the selected cities, ranging from an emphasis on prototyping to competition. In Memphis, for instance, the focus was on bringing government agencies together to target specific neighborhoods. It began with bringing 45 representatives from…
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Violence Blocked: 901BLOC expands to further curb youth violence. September 28, 2017. The Memphis Flyer 901Bloc is focused on intervention and prevention programs to address the challenge of youth gun violence in Memphis. The 901B.L.O.C. program focuses specifically on youth crime involving guns. Its guiding principle is to meet the city’s at-risk youth where they […]
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Knowledge Is Power : Memphis Gun Down program turns attention to literacy. Oct 3, 2013 | Memphis Flyer A collaborative effort between Wharton’s Memphis Gun Down project, a plan that seeks to reduce youth gun violence by 20 percent in selected areas of South Memphis and Frayser and 10 percent citywide by September 2014, and manufacturing […]
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In summer 2024, our latest cohort of Morehead Cain Scholars completed new research on the City of Memphis’ Affordable Housing Trust Fund and presented their findings to Mayor Paul Young and his executive leadership team. The resulting research report and presentation include insights on Memphis’ current housing landscape and challenges, how peer cities have developed […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we organized activation events and pop-up programs to enrich public spaces, fostering community engagement and well-being through […]
Learn More
This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, Transit Vision collaboration and planning on improved local transportation service, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to reimagine neighborhood […]
Learn More
When it comes to improving upward mobility for Black Memphians, a persistent challenge is having access to strong financial capital and advisory support from the industry. The Memphis Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network has been bringing financial and housing institutions together with community members for nearly a decade to make access to these resources […]
Learn More
June 2021 Abandoned properties are a wicked challenge facing Memphis neighborhoods, and this won’t change during and after the pandemic. To make matters worse, abandoned properties are often delinquent on local property taxes, and in a state with no income tax, property tax revenue is the primary way local government generates revenue to deliver services. […]
Learn More
September 2020 Memphis is in the midst of a crisis which calls for unprecedented levels of collaboration and communication. To answer this call and to facilitate the hard but necessary conversations throughout the Memphis housing and community development field, the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in partnership with Innovate Memphis, […]
Learn More
The economic and social repercussions of the novel coronavirus are already becoming evident and are likely to have a tangible, longer-term impact for many Memphians. Built from national best practices, our interactive mapping tool takes a data-informed approach to identify the neighborhoods with the highest number of Memphis residents most vulnerable to the ongoing socio-economic […]
Learn More
In summer 2024, our latest cohort of Morehead Cain Scholars completed new research on the City of Memphis’ Affordable Housing Trust Fund and presented their findings to Mayor Paul Young and his executive leadership team. The resulting research report and presentation include insights on Memphis’ current housing landscape and challenges, how peer cities have developed […]
Learn More
April 2023 From March 18, 2021 to August 2, 2021 the research team observed the eviction proceedings of the Shelby County, TN General Sessions Civil Court. Each week during this period, researchers were given eviction dockets that provided them with relevant information to follow legal proceedings in the courtroom and complete these surveys. Throughout the […]
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August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
Learn More
High Ground News Podcast: An affordable housing trust fund for Memphis Paul Young, director of the city’s division of housing and community development and John Paul Shaffer, executive director of BLDG Memphis, discuss the recent creation of a local trust fund that will help support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative: Catalyzing Change on a Community Level November 11, 2018 Between July and September 2018, The Democracy Collaborative and Innovate Memphis conducted a review of MMDC’s work during its first two years of operation. This research process was composed of a review of baseline anchor data, stakeholder surveys, and current program data; […]
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Bus System Overhaul Would Shift Balance of Service to More Frequency April 10, 2018. Memphis Daily News Coverage of the results of the report for Memphis 3.0
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How Memphis is lowering crime and reviving neighborhoods Dec 16, 2014 | CNN n the face dwindling budgets and changing societal needs, the nation’s mayors are using innovation to solve their most pressing problems. With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, five mayors have deployed innovation teams to deliver creative solutions that improve the lives of their […]
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Build it and they will learn: lasting lessons from temporary MEMFix projects Oct 14, 2014 | High Ground News High Ground takes a look at the roots of the tactical urbanism movement in Memphis, beginning with the surprising success of Broad Avenue. With the support of adaptive city leadership and invigorated neighborhood stakeholders, each MEMFix […]
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South Land MEMFix Memphis Flyer | Oct 10, 2013 The concept for MEMFix is gatheting attention with a neighborhood block party to reactivating streets and vacant storefronts. Previous events have been held in Crosstown and the University of Memphis area. This article highlights the South MEMFix is a partnership between the mayor’s team, the LeMoyne-Owen […]
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In summer 2024, our latest cohort of Morehead Cain Scholars completed new research on the City of Memphis’ Affordable Housing Trust Fund and presented their findings to Mayor Paul Young and his executive leadership team. The resulting research report and presentation include insights on Memphis’ current housing landscape and challenges, how peer cities have developed […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Susan Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, has been recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2024. Susan Dalton is a Memphis native who puts community first when she strives to make a positive social impact and has worked at Innovate Memphis for over six years. […]
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Core to all of Innovate Memphis’ work is collaboration and an evidence-based approach to diagnosing and solving civic problems. Over the past several years, our team has partnered with the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy (SUAPP) to place graduate research Fellows who work on a portfolio of innovation projects. These […]
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The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) is a civic data-centered learning network connecting independent partner organizations in more than 30 cities. Coordinated by the Urban Institute, NNIP’s mission is to ensure all communities have access to data and the skills to use information to advance equity and well-being across neighborhoods. NNIP network organizations share a […]
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When it comes to improving upward mobility for Black Memphians, a persistent challenge is having access to strong financial capital and advisory support from the industry. The Memphis Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network has been bringing financial and housing institutions together with community members for nearly a decade to make access to these resources […]
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In 2022, Innovate Memphis launched a new pilot program to provide digital resources to the Black elder population in some of Memphis’ underserved communities. The program consists of a five-week digital literacy course curriculum, and participants who meet attendance requirements receive a free laptop at their graduation ceremony. As of June 2023, three cohorts of […]
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Guest blog by Applied Anthropology Fellow Jennie Doss, recent graduate of the University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy When I reflect on my time as a graduate fellow working with Innovate Memphis over these past two years, I think of the lessons learned, the work accomplished, and the new friends made […]
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This article originally appeared in the Memphis Business Journal; Photo credit Aleks Antonío Photography for MBJ A friend of Courtney McNeal likes to say that she’s had “nine lives” at Innovate Memphis, and there’s truth to this joke. For nearly six years, McNeal has held a variety of roles with the nonprofit, which designs, incubates, and sustains […]
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We are excited to share that Clean Memphis has published the Memphis Food Rescue Landscape Analysis, a project powered by Innovate Memphis that identifies challenges and potential solutions to address local food insecurity. With funding provided by the City of Memphis and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Clean Memphis partnered with Innovate Memphis to […]
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April 2023 From March 18, 2021 to August 2, 2021 the research team observed the eviction proceedings of the Shelby County, TN General Sessions Civil Court. Each week during this period, researchers were given eviction dockets that provided them with relevant information to follow legal proceedings in the courtroom and complete these surveys. Throughout the […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney McNeal to a newly created Chief of Staff position. Her new duties are effective as of February 2023, and will run concurrently with her City Innovation Director role. McNeal joined Innovate over five years ago overseeing community engagement activities and working on the City’s Memphis […]
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By Jackson McNeil, Transportation & Mobility Director Transit Equity Day is a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. In Memphis, Innovate Memphis has participated in an annual event on February 4th with other transit advocates and organizations to honor Rosa Parks […]
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Innovate Memphis Names New Transportation and Mobility Director MEMPHIS, TN – Innovate Memphis announces the hire of Jackson McNeil as Transportation and Mobility Director for Commute Options. In this role, McNeil is responsible for providing project management and delivery of current and emerging transportation-related projects with a focus on encouraging individuals, employers, and schools to […]
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As we prepare for an exciting year ahead for our organization and city, our team at Innovate Memphis is also looking back to celebrate a year of big accomplishments in 2022. We experienced significant changes in organizational leadership with outgoing Executive Director Justin Entzminger taking on a new opportunity at the Bloomberg Center for Public […]
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A report from the American Hospital Association suggested that close to 4 million Americans delay or do not receive the medical attention they need due to transportation barriers every year – a figure likely worsened by pandemic-associated economic hardship and isolation. In some ways, this seems obvious. If you don’t have a car – or […]
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Memphians often take for granted our ability to navigate around such a car-dependent metropolis, enabling us to get to what and where we need – weather permitting, at least. Easy access to transportation, which for most of us means the family car, is what allows us to connect with friends and family, go shopping, and […]
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Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
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Brookings Institution | Alan Berube and Nicole Bateman | October 14, 2021 Article Link: Brookings Metro Report: Inclusive Economic Indicators Brookings Metro ran an Inclusive Economic Indicators Lab to help three regions—Indianapolis, Memphis, and Orlando—develop compelling and influential indicators projects that use metrics to drive more inclusive local economic outcomes. Innovate Memphis, in partnership with […]
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Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
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Article Link: Fighting Blight | Memphis Metropolis | April 11, 2021 Memphis Metropolis gets deep into the weeds to understand the causes of blight and how community developers are using innovative tools to eradicate it, one property at a time. First, Leslie Smith, executive director of Blight Authority of Memphis, explains what a land bank […]
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Recently, our Research Fellow, Austin Harrison, joined Emily Trenholm on her new podcast – Memphis Metropolis to talk housing challenges in Memphis and the 2020 State of Memphis Housing report. He was joined by Deputy Director of City of Memphis’ Division of Housing & Community Development, Mairi Albertson, as well as, Dr. Charlie Santo, Associate […]
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Innovate Memphis is proud to announce our acceptance into The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).
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August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
Learn More
April 17, 2020 | The Spark The theme of The SPARK April 2020 is “Travel and Transportation.” Jeremy C. Park interviews Justin Entzminger and Courtney McNeal of 901RideChoice, a free phone service for older adults and people living with disabilities who need local, reliable transportation options to get to their destinations.
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Article Link: Data Story On March 6-8 2020, the City of Memphis partnered with CodeCrew, Innovate Memphis, Shelby County, StartCo, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and Census 2020 to plan its first Civic Data Hackathon. As part of International Open Data Day, Memphis joined cities all over the world in using open data to address […]
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High Ground News | February 13, 2020 Article Link: Memphis nonprofits ask, “Are we inclusive? Are we equitable?” “What does it mean for an employer to have an inclusive culture and equitable practices? And how does an organization truly reflect the values and identities of the communities it serves? Late last summer, a group of […]
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A new report and interactive map from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the OECD shows a surge of commitment from cities around the world to build this internal innovation capacity. Memphis was one of the first cohorts of innovation teams and Innovate Memphis continues to work alongside community and public sector leaders to deliver civic solutions.
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Fast Company | November 4, 2019 Article Link: How Memphis Transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces After taking down Confederate statues, these public spaces and parks have been intentionally redesigned with and for a stronger community where people can enjoy quality public space. The parks were reimagined as part of the […]
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Smart Growth America | October 29, 2019 Article Link: Local Stakeholders Convene for Complete Streets A a roundtable hosted by U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (TN-9) in Memphis, TN last week about creating safer streets was almost prescient. Unlike some members of Congress who are still victim blaming (ehm, Rep. John Garamendi [CA-3]), Rep. Cohen is […]
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Link: Shelby County Deserves Great Transit Opinion Article The Commercial Appeal | October 4, 2019 Sylvia Crum and Erik Henneghan of the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council express the importance of transportation for Shelby County. Our ability to improve public transit will determine how well our county can fully achieve ambitious goals for the future – […]
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High Ground News Podcast: An affordable housing trust fund for Memphis Paul Young, director of the city’s division of housing and community development and John Paul Shaffer, executive director of BLDG Memphis, discuss the recent creation of a local trust fund that will help support the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
Learn More
June 8, 2019 | High Ground News Article: Medical District steps up to Commute Challenge and shared mobility May marks the third annual Commute Challenge by Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis transportation demand management program. This annual month-long initiative aims to encourage Memphians across the metro area to ditch ride-alone commutes in favor of biking, […]
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Podcast Link: Innovate Memphis Justin Entzminger and Susan Dalton join Jeremy Parks on this episode of cityCurrent Radio Show to discuss the newest program for mobility management: 901RideChoice. The conversation shares insight into how the organization works and has developed over time, and reviews details of the program.
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Article Link: Feature Story: Program Helps Callers Find Medical Transportation Innovate Memphis is leading a new program, 901RideChoice, to improve transportation access for older adults and people living with a disability. This is one of many initiatives Innovate Memphis has developed within their Transportation and Emergency Medical Services work. Learn more about the program in […]
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May 17, 2019 | GOODWorks For the entire month of May, Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis program initiative, is challenging Memphians to shift gears from riding alone, to instead carpooling, using public transit, walking, biking, or scooting to and from work instead. Participants in the Commute Challenge 2019 sign-up for the free challenge, track their […]
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April 29, 2019 | Strong Towns Article Link: Memphis’ U-Turn: How the City is Committing to a Stronger Future Doug McGowen, former Director of the innovation team (and current COO), shares the impact of suburban sprawl and development patterns on the health of the city, and the approach to reverse the trend in this Strong […]
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Justin Entzminger, Executive Director, Innovate Memphis, Elena Delavega, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Memphis, and Kendra Freeman, Director of Community Engagement, Metropolitan Planning Council (Chicago) examined the present-day systems that perpetuate poverty in segregated cities like Memphis, Chicago, and others. In Memphis, the solution has often involved attracting outside money with a low-wage, […]
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Article: 5 Lessons from the best data-driven cities April 24, 2019. Bloomberg Cities. City of Memphis achieved 2019 Silver Certification of What Works Cities: In this article by Bloomberg Cities, Memphis is highlighted as one of the top cities across the US using data to improve practices and deliver better services for residents. “Memphis received […]
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Smart City initiative seeks to improve public problems with technology March 21, 2019 | High Ground News Making Memphis a smart city is a top priority for the City of Memphis, and through its information services team and Innovate Memphis, the city has been seeking civic-minded and smart city technology-based startups to develop creative solutions […]
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative: Catalyzing Change on a Community Level November 11, 2018 Between July and September 2018, The Democracy Collaborative and Innovate Memphis conducted a review of MMDC’s work during its first two years of operation. This research process was composed of a review of baseline anchor data, stakeholder surveys, and current program data; […]
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Innovate Memphis pushes to revamp Memphis bus system from the ground up October 3, 2018. High Ground News
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Armed with data, partners find a new strategy to tackle blighted properties September 12, 2018 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis is working closely with partners including CAESER, Clean Memphis and Neighborhood Preservation Inc. to provide numerous metrics that better indicate what’s going on at a neighborhood level. With multiple sources forming a more comprehensive […]
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Behind the Headlines: Shared Mobility July 6, 2018 | WKNO In their first month, Explore Bike Share and scooter trips exceeded 32,000 trips. In this episode of Behind The Headlines, city leaders address the vision and approach for emerging shared mobility options in Memphis and how intentional deployment, collaboration, and innovation is setting us apart.
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The Lessons of Bird Electric Scooters June 19, 2018 | Smart City Memphis Innovate Memphis helped lay the research for a comprehensive shared mobility framework, with the forethought of these emerging mobility options. In this article, Councilman Kemp Conrad shares his views on the initial lessons of adopting and adapting to innovate a model for […]
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Bird scooters offer Memphians an option in shared-mobility society | Opinion June 16, 2018 | The Commercial Appeal
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After quick stay in Nashville, Bird scooters flock to Memphis June 14, 2018. Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis helped to develop a Shared Use Mobility Ordinance to support council members in developing this opportunity for mobility options. “Memphis is an innovative city that recognizes the importance of an equitable, affordable and reliable transit system,” said […]
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Cover story: How an underfunded, inadequate transit system undermines Memphis’ workforce and economy June 12, 2018. Memphis Business Journal “Every community of this size should have a viable transportation system, and we really don’t have it,” Luttrell said. One contributing factor leaders cited: the lack of density in the city’s core due to years of […]
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New Plans Would Change Memphis Medical District April 17, 2018. Memphis Daily News
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BTH: New Vision for Memphis Transportation April 2017, 2018. WKNO FM Video interview with Suzanne Carlson, Glenn Gadbois and Scudder Wagg
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Redesigned bus system brings Memphians closer to work April 10. 2018. Memphis Business Journals
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Bus System Overhaul Would Shift Balance of Service to More Frequency April 10, 2018. Memphis Daily News Coverage of the results of the report for Memphis 3.0
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Memphis 3.0 looks to citizens’ input on shaping city’s transit system January 17, 2018. High Ground News “There’s a lot of discussion about how the system used to be, and we try to tell the public that the city was smaller at that time too. The transit vision gives us an opportunity to determine what […]
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Creating Neighborhoods of Opportunity through Citywide Initiatives 2017. Kresge Annual Report Details from Kresge’s annual report on the collaborative work of NPI and Knowledge Quest to address blight and investment in neighborhoods.
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Bootcamp talks trash in Downtown Memphis October 5, 2017. Memphis Business Journals The Innovation Bootcamp – a collaborative partnership among Innovate Memphis, Lokion, and FedEx Institute of Technology – joined forces to address the challenge of solid waste. “We’re assembling people from nonprofits, for-profits and academia who may or may not ever think about city […]
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Violence Blocked: 901BLOC expands to further curb youth violence. September 28, 2017. The Memphis Flyer 901Bloc is focused on intervention and prevention programs to address the challenge of youth gun violence in Memphis. The 901B.L.O.C. program focuses specifically on youth crime involving guns. Its guiding principle is to meet the city’s at-risk youth where they […]
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Right Response: EMS initiative breaking down barriers to health care options September 8, 2017. Memphis Daily News “A couple of years ago the Memphis Fire Department determined that the non-emergency calls were really bogging down the system,” said Justin Entzminger, director of Innovate Memphis. “Last year alone, out of approximately 130,000 ambulance runs, about 25,000 […]
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Fire department’s Right Response program saves time, lives August 20, 2017 | The Commercial Appeal Innovate Memphis worked with the Memphis Fire Department to develop the Right Response program, which provides non-emergency callers with appropriate care while ensuring our ambulances are free for true emergencies. It’s a collaborative with local healthcare organizations, area hospitals, nonprofit […]
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Memphis Property Hub Using Micro-Level Data to Drive Solutions August 8, 2016. Memphis Daily News The Memphis Property Hub compiles data from multiple public sources to tell the story of Shelby County’s 351,000 parcels. Every piece of property, whether vacant land or a commercial structure, can be traced with Memphis Light, Gas and Water payments, […]
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New Memphis Property Hub database to provide fine-tuned information in war on blight June 22, 2016. Commercial Appeal
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Making 911 Smarter, Safer, Cheaper June 22, 2016 | The Commercial Appeal One in five calls is a nonemergency — meaning the person who called doesn’t require emergency medical treatment. A review of the Healthcare Navigator Program and the impact on reducing the impact of non-emergency calls.
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Innovate Memphis develops bold ideas for city April 22, 2016 | High Ground News “Social innovation is the broad mission, but for Innovate Memphis, the process is what really makes the whole endeavor unique in the city.In 2011, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded Memphis a three-year grant to establish what then was called the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery […]
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IBM Team Gathers Data on Memphians’ 911 Use Feb 24, 2016 | High Ground News Innovate Memphis obtained a grant from IBM Smarter Cities Challenge to capture and utilize data and develop smarter strategies. The Memphis Fire Department – Emergency Medica Services Division aims to reduce non-emergency use of emergency resources by supplementing a healthcare […]
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Former Innovation Delivery Team expands mission, changes namen Nov, 6, 2015 Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis was previously known as the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team. One of the first Bloomberg Philanthropies “Innovation Teams” the Memphis cohort has been the first to expand and continue the mission outside of Bloomberg funding. With the name change came […]
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City Innovators Share What Idea Generation Means to Them July 21, 2015. Bloomberg Philanthropies Bloomberg Philanthropies asked i-teams directors and team members to define what idea generation means to them, and share their thoughts on how they approach this vital step in government innovation. Previous Director, Doug McGowen shares his insight.
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How Memphis is lowering crime and reviving neighborhoods Dec 16, 2014 | CNN n the face dwindling budgets and changing societal needs, the nation’s mayors are using innovation to solve their most pressing problems. With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, five mayors have deployed innovation teams to deliver creative solutions that improve the lives of their […]
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Build it and they will learn: lasting lessons from temporary MEMFix projects Oct 14, 2014 | High Ground News High Ground takes a look at the roots of the tactical urbanism movement in Memphis, beginning with the surprising success of Broad Avenue. With the support of adaptive city leadership and invigorated neighborhood stakeholders, each MEMFix […]
Learn More
South Land MEMFix Memphis Flyer | Oct 10, 2013 The concept for MEMFix is gatheting attention with a neighborhood block party to reactivating streets and vacant storefronts. Previous events have been held in Crosstown and the University of Memphis area. This article highlights the South MEMFix is a partnership between the mayor’s team, the LeMoyne-Owen […]
Learn More
Knowledge Is Power : Memphis Gun Down program turns attention to literacy. Oct 3, 2013 | Memphis Flyer A collaborative effort between Wharton’s Memphis Gun Down project, a plan that seeks to reduce youth gun violence by 20 percent in selected areas of South Memphis and Frayser and 10 percent citywide by September 2014, and manufacturing […]
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Innovating Governance from Outside Mention of Memphis and the Bloomberg Innovation Delivery Teams. …The teams use different strategies in each of the selected cities, ranging from an emphasis on prototyping to competition. In Memphis, for instance, the focus was on bringing government agencies together to target specific neighborhoods. It began with bringing 45 representatives from…
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Susan Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, has been recognized in Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2024. Susan Dalton is a Memphis native who puts community first when she strives to make a positive social impact and has worked at Innovate Memphis for over six years. […]
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Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
Learn More
August 4, 2020 | Urban Institute For the past four years, Memphis has been proud to participate in Reimagining the Civic Commons, the national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through transformed public spaces. Participating in this network has helped our project team better engage with the community and create solutions for […]
Learn More
Fast Company | November 4, 2019 Article Link: How Memphis Transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces After taking down Confederate statues, these public spaces and parks have been intentionally redesigned with and for a stronger community where people can enjoy quality public space. The parks were reimagined as part of the […]
Learn More
Smithsonian Magazine | Richard Grant | November 2021 Article Link: How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library A must read! Dig into this deep feature story to learn more about the innovative work of the Memphis Public Libraries. Innovate Memphis is proud to support the Memphis Public Libraries, and the downtown Cossitt Library […]
Learn More
Bloomberg Cities | July 14, 2021 Article Link: Going for the Gold: Memphis Levels Up WWC Certification Memphis achieved What Works Cities Certification Gold – the national standard of excellence in data-drive city government. A team from Results for America, along with experts on the Certification Standard Committee, conducts the assessment in which local governments […]
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis Now that the 2023-2024 school year has come to a close, we’d like to reflect on the exciting work we accomplished with our Commute Options partner schools this spring. Commute Options involves deep collaboration with educators, local government, and many community […]
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis Now that the 2023-2024 school year has come to a close, we’d like to reflect on the exciting work we accomplished with our Commute Options partner schools this spring. Commute Options involves deep collaboration with educators, local government, and many community […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Previous reports cover 901 Ride Choice wellness transportation, MEMFix economic revitalization, and Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces. This example shows how we worked with a coalition of government agencies, business leaders, nonprofits and community […]
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This case study is part of Innovate Memphis’ 4-part series on successful innovation projects over the years. Other reports cover MEMFix economic revitalization, Civic Commons programming for parks and other public spaces, and Transit Vision collaboration and planning for better local transportation service. This example shows how we partnered with public, private, and nonprofit partners to address two key issues: […]
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The 901 Ride Choice Year One program report provides details on the first year pilot of the local mobility management program and referral service connecting people to non-emergency transportation. The Challenge Limited transportation access is a significant barrier to care. Many individuals are unable to seek preventative care necessary to manage their health, leading to […]
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By Jackson McNeil, Transportation & Mobility Director Transit Equity Day is a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. In Memphis, Innovate Memphis has participated in an annual event on February 4th with other transit advocates and organizations to honor Rosa Parks […]
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A report from the American Hospital Association suggested that close to 4 million Americans delay or do not receive the medical attention they need due to transportation barriers every year – a figure likely worsened by pandemic-associated economic hardship and isolation. In some ways, this seems obvious. If you don’t have a car – or […]
Learn More
Memphians often take for granted our ability to navigate around such a car-dependent metropolis, enabling us to get to what and where we need – weather permitting, at least. Easy access to transportation, which for most of us means the family car, is what allows us to connect with friends and family, go shopping, and […]
Learn More
April 17, 2020 | The Spark The theme of The SPARK April 2020 is “Travel and Transportation.” Jeremy C. Park interviews Justin Entzminger and Courtney McNeal of 901RideChoice, a free phone service for older adults and people living with disabilities who need local, reliable transportation options to get to their destinations.
Learn More
Smart Growth America | October 29, 2019 Article Link: Local Stakeholders Convene for Complete Streets A a roundtable hosted by U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (TN-9) in Memphis, TN last week about creating safer streets was almost prescient. Unlike some members of Congress who are still victim blaming (ehm, Rep. John Garamendi [CA-3]), Rep. Cohen is […]
Learn More
Link: Shelby County Deserves Great Transit Opinion Article The Commercial Appeal | October 4, 2019 Sylvia Crum and Erik Henneghan of the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council express the importance of transportation for Shelby County. Our ability to improve public transit will determine how well our county can fully achieve ambitious goals for the future – […]
Learn More
June 8, 2019 | High Ground News Article: Medical District steps up to Commute Challenge and shared mobility May marks the third annual Commute Challenge by Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis transportation demand management program. This annual month-long initiative aims to encourage Memphians across the metro area to ditch ride-alone commutes in favor of biking, […]
Learn More
Podcast Link: Innovate Memphis Justin Entzminger and Susan Dalton join Jeremy Parks on this episode of cityCurrent Radio Show to discuss the newest program for mobility management: 901RideChoice. The conversation shares insight into how the organization works and has developed over time, and reviews details of the program.
Learn More
Article Link: Feature Story: Program Helps Callers Find Medical Transportation Innovate Memphis is leading a new program, 901RideChoice, to improve transportation access for older adults and people living with a disability. This is one of many initiatives Innovate Memphis has developed within their Transportation and Emergency Medical Services work. Learn more about the program in […]
Learn More
May 17, 2019 | GOODWorks For the entire month of May, Commute Options, an Innovate Memphis program initiative, is challenging Memphians to shift gears from riding alone, to instead carpooling, using public transit, walking, biking, or scooting to and from work instead. Participants in the Commute Challenge 2019 sign-up for the free challenge, track their […]
Learn More
Smart City initiative seeks to improve public problems with technology March 21, 2019 | High Ground News Making Memphis a smart city is a top priority for the City of Memphis, and through its information services team and Innovate Memphis, the city has been seeking civic-minded and smart city technology-based startups to develop creative solutions […]
Learn More
Innovate Memphis pushes to revamp Memphis bus system from the ground up October 3, 2018. High Ground News
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Behind the Headlines: Shared Mobility July 6, 2018 | WKNO In their first month, Explore Bike Share and scooter trips exceeded 32,000 trips. In this episode of Behind The Headlines, city leaders address the vision and approach for emerging shared mobility options in Memphis and how intentional deployment, collaboration, and innovation is setting us apart.
Learn More
The Lessons of Bird Electric Scooters June 19, 2018 | Smart City Memphis Innovate Memphis helped lay the research for a comprehensive shared mobility framework, with the forethought of these emerging mobility options. In this article, Councilman Kemp Conrad shares his views on the initial lessons of adopting and adapting to innovate a model for […]
Learn More
Bird scooters offer Memphians an option in shared-mobility society | Opinion June 16, 2018 | The Commercial Appeal
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After quick stay in Nashville, Bird scooters flock to Memphis June 14, 2018. Memphis Business Journal Innovate Memphis helped to develop a Shared Use Mobility Ordinance to support council members in developing this opportunity for mobility options. “Memphis is an innovative city that recognizes the importance of an equitable, affordable and reliable transit system,” said […]
Learn More
Cover story: How an underfunded, inadequate transit system undermines Memphis’ workforce and economy June 12, 2018. Memphis Business Journal “Every community of this size should have a viable transportation system, and we really don’t have it,” Luttrell said. One contributing factor leaders cited: the lack of density in the city’s core due to years of […]
Learn More
New Plans Would Change Memphis Medical District April 17, 2018. Memphis Daily News
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BTH: New Vision for Memphis Transportation April 2017, 2018. WKNO FM Video interview with Suzanne Carlson, Glenn Gadbois and Scudder Wagg
Learn More
Redesigned bus system brings Memphians closer to work April 10. 2018. Memphis Business Journals
Learn More
Memphis 3.0 looks to citizens’ input on shaping city’s transit system January 17, 2018. High Ground News “There’s a lot of discussion about how the system used to be, and we try to tell the public that the city was smaller at that time too. The transit vision gives us an opportunity to determine what […]
Learn More
We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position for our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This role will support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public data assets, reporting and user […]
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Innovate Memphis is pleased to announce that Chief of Staff and City Innovation Director Courtney McNeal was appointed to the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Board of Commissioners on February 6, 2024. McNeal was appointed by City Mayor Paul Young and approved unanimously by the Memphis City Council. The nine-member MATA Board of Commissioners governs […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position to add to our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public […]
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This blog is authored by Nikki Dildine, Commute Options Schools Manager for Innovate Memphis As we start to wind down and look toward the new year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the work Commute Options has done in partnership with schools this semester. Commute Options is an Innovate Memphis program funded by […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Governance Lead position to add to our data team! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth (DMS) civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public […]
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Seeking qualified candidates: Data Architect Innovate Memphis is seeking a skilled Data Architect / Data Engineer to lead the creation of our modern data infrastructure – comprising a Databricks Delta Lake, Data Catalog, and Monitoring Framework. This contract covers a specific project scope, spanning 8-12 weeks of dedicated development, plus two months of subsequent post-deployment […]
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Request for Proposals: Parks Budget Assessment Research Support Innovate Memphis seeks a vendor to assist the City of Memphis in conducting a budget assessment and funding recommendations for Memphis Parks. We are seeking proposals or quotes from qualified consulting firms with expertise in municipal budgeting and financial management and forecasting. The consultant should conduct a […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Commute Options Program Manager position! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to support local K-12 schools as they promote biking, walking, carpooling and public transit options families that can improve student attendance and educational outcomes. We […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Data Midsouth Director position! Interested candidates can view the job description here. This is a new role to lead Innovate Memphis’ launch of our Data Midsouth civic data hub platform – a one-stop shop for public data assets, reporting and user support across […]
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Posted: December 20, 2022 | Submissions Due: January 13, 2023 Innovate Memphis is seeking proposals from experienced contractors to help manage the development of a civic data infrastructure plan. The contractor will assist Innovate Memphis staff in gathering information and writing a data infrastructure plan that outlines data reporting requirements, data source access needs, technology, […]
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We are excited to announce we are now accepting applicants for our Transportation & Mobility Director position! Interested candidates can review the job description here. Please share our Transportation & Mobility Director job announcement widely with your networks so that we can find a great leader to carry this work forward at Innovate Memphis. Candidates […]
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Alternative Medicine New hospital-based program aims to reduce the number of gunshot victims. June 6, 2013 | Memphis Flyer Memphis Gun Down is excited to partner with the Regional Medical Center at Memphis to launch the hospital-based intervention program to complement our existing street and school-based interventions,” Wharton said. “We are committed to reaching out […]
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