The document summarizes a gathering in Memphis, TN called the Opportunity Challenge which brought together leaders to discuss how to develop and utilize the talent of the city. It identifies obstacles such as declining population but notes promising statistics like the average age. The challenge is to rebuild the economy from the ground up in a way that meets people where they are. The gathering resulted in three new frameworks: the Learning City, Venture City, and Connected City. The Learning City focuses on education initiatives while the Venture City prioritizes entrepreneurship and the Connected City fosters social and physical connections. The document concludes by listing next steps and thanking organizers and sponsors.

1. THE OPPORTUNITY
CHALLENGE
Memphis, TN
February 2011
Part of the US Initiative
ofbyandforus.org

2. THE OPPORTUNITY
CHALLENGE
was a three-day gathering of
policy-makers, thought-
leaders, entrepreneurs, workforce and
economic development professionals, and
civic leaders working together to answer a
big question…

3. How do we develop all of
our talent and put all of our
talent to work?

4. How do we develop all of
our talent and put all of our
talent to work?
…and why do we care?

5. What is the OPPORTUNITY?

6. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
Memphis is losing
population, but some
neighborhoods are actually
getting denser.

7. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
Memphis is losing
population, but some
neighborhoods are actually
getting denser.
This follows a national
trend.

8. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
Memphis is the largest city in
Tennessee and the
economic/cultural capital of a
three-state region.

9. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
Memphis is the largest city in
Tennessee and the
economic/cultural capital of a
three-state region.
So goes Memphis, so goes a big
chunk of the southeastern USA.

10. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
The qualities that define
Memphis’ past will define
American cities’ future.

11. What is the OPPORTUNITY?
The qualities that define
Memphis’ past will define
American cities’ future.
We’re a city of creative risk-
takers, boot-
strappers, entrepreneurs, and
self-taught, self-reliant doers.

12. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.

13. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
In the last 50 years, our
landmass has more than doubled
while our population has steadily
declined.

14. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
In the last 50 years, our
landmass has more than doubled
while our population has steadily
declined.
Population density today is less
than half of what it was in 1960.

15. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
In spite of annexation, we’ve
seen a net loss of 10,000 citizens
in the last 10 years.

16. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
In spite of annexation, we’ve
seen a net loss of 10,000 citizens
in the last 10 years.
Between 2000 - 2010, Shelby
County lost 41,000 25-34 year-
olds.

17. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
1 in 4 Memphians lives in
poverty, including 1 in 3
African-Americans.

18. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
1 in 4 Memphians lives in
poverty, including 1 in 3
African-Americans.
Poverty rate among children is
up 45% since 2000.

19. That’s not to say we don’t have
some real obstacles.
Only 24% of Memphians have a
college degree. Fewer than 5%
have a Master’s degree or
higher.

20. One very interesting – and
promising statistic:
Average age in Memphis:
33.4 years

21. The CHALLENGE therefore is:
How do we rebuild our city’s
economy from the ground up
and the inside out?

22. The CHALLENGE therefore is:
How do we create a pipeline of
educational and economic
progress that meets people
where they are?

23. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: work collaboratively and
fearlessly
on answers to these questions.

24. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: hear from thought leaders
and policy experts about the forces
that are shaping our city (and all
cities.)

25. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: better asses our assets.

26. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: really understand where the
gaps are.

27. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: develop THREEnew ways of
understanding Memphis…

28. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: develop THREEnew ways of
understanding Memphis…
The LEARNING CITY

29. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: develop THREEnew ways of
understanding Memphis…
The VENTURE CITY

30. OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGE allowed
us to: develop THREEnew ways of
understanding Memphis…
The CONNECTED CITY

31. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
1. Play the game of you.

32. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
2. Embrace electronic portfolios
for learning.

33. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
3. Adopt policies that will accelerate
post-secondary education.

34. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
4. Create a public innovation lab
to re-engage disconnected 16-24 year-
olds.

35. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
5. Achieve the talent dividend.

36. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
6. Create an office of talent
within local government.

37. The LEARNING CITY asks us to do 7
things:
7. Establish a learning cities coalition.

38. The VENTURE CITY asks us to do 4
things:
1. Develop an evergreen
entrepreneurial ecosystem.

39. The VENTURE CITY asks us to do 4
things:
2. Redefine the future returns.

40. The VENTURE CITY asks us to do 4
things:
3. Plan for the long term.

41. The VENTURE CITY asks us to do 4
things:
4. Create pathways to employ
the hardest to employ.

42. The CONNECTED CITY asks us to do 2
things:
1. Foster social connections.

43. The CONNECTED CITY asks us to do 2
things:
2. Foster physical connections.

44. Memphis needs to be all three at
once.

45. The new values:
Risk

46. The new values:
Risk Work

47. The new values:
Risk Work Guts

48. The new values:
Risk Work Guts
Ideas

49. The new values:
Risk Work Guts
Ideas Self-made connections

50. The new values:
Risk Work Guts
Ideas Self-made connections
Equity

51. The new values:
Risk Work Guts
Ideas Self-made connections
Equity Iteration

52. The new values:
Risk Work Guts
Ideas Self-made connections
Equity Iteration
Knowledge

53. So NOW what?

54. So NOW what?
Crosstown Arts
facebook.com/crosstownarts
memfeast.tumblr.com/

55. So NOW what?
Memphis Bioworks Foundation
memphisbioworks.org

56. So NOW what?
Office of Talent & Human Capital
Douglas.Scarboro@MemphisTN.gov

57. So NOW what?
Launch Memphis
@launchmemphis
facebook.com/launchmemphis

58. So NOW what?
FedEx Institute of Technology
Office of Technology Transfer
memphis.edu/fedex/ott.php

59. So NOW what?
Memphis Talent Dividend
memphistalentdividend.com

60. Big THANKS:

61. Big THANKS:
Joe Cotright
Laurel Dukehart
Paddy Harrington
Charles Leadbeater
Peter Smith
Suzanne Walsh
Veronica White
Katherine von Jan

62. Big THANKS:
Hyde Family Foundations
Doug Carpenter & Associates
FedEx
Duncan-Williams, Inc.
Lenny’s Franchisor, LLC
Memphis Bioworks Foundation

63. KERRY HAYES
Kerry.Hayes@MemphisTN.gov
facebook.com/kerry.j.hayes
901 302 7509