There are several organizations that thankfully are working on talent development and retention in Memphis, but none of the work is more important than the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals and National Black MBA Association of Memphis.
One of the Young Professionals’ leaders described the group (and it’s an apt description for the MBA Association as well) as Memphis’ “silent missile that tirelessly works to improve our community and keep our demographic engaged,” and they do it without the serious financial support and support from local leadership that they deserve. They are some of Memphis’ largest networks of young professionals, and more to the point, the largest network of young African-American professionals, those men and women who are crucial to the success of our talent strategies.
As we have said before, if Memphis is to change its trajectory, our region must become a hub for African-American talent.
Getting It Right
Atlanta built its economic juggernaut while soaking up most African-American talent in the Southeast. Meanwhile, our economic development officials seem bashful about saying that we should set the same priority, or as a city official put it lately, “Memphis can become the black Austin” because of its authenticity and as the only MSA with more than one million people in the history of the country that is majority African-America.
Competitive advantage is built on differentiation, and it is this MSA factoid that sets us apart and must be used as leverage for economic growth. That’s why it’s no longer acceptable that our talent strategies do not specifically call for an African-American talent initiative and why it’s no longer acceptable that we do not even have an African-American cultural tourism initiative.
The absence of these basic building blocks sends the message to young African-American talent evaluating Memphis that we are in institutional deep denial and that our behavior suggests that we see our minority majority MSA population as a weakness or a competitive disadvantage.
Walking Toward the Issues
Here’s the thing, in doing this, we play into the hands of those who assume that a majority African-American region cannot succeed, and make no mistake about it, much of the commentary about Memphis often has this bias at its heart. No national urban commentator will come out and say it, but they believe that it will be hard for Memphis to succeed because of its majority of African-Americans.
That’s why in our mind, the smartest thing a city can do is to walk toward, rather than to deny, facts perceived as problems by others. Pretending that the facts are not the facts only make us look foolish or worse, that we only believe success will come if we can develop, retain, and attract white young professionals.
We’re not saying that we shouldn’t be scratching and clawing for any talent that we can get, whatever color, but the fact remains: we have a significant bulge in children when compared to the average of the top 51 MSAs – and the majority of the kids are black – and this bulge can be an economic plus, but first, we have to begin to treat it that way.
Using Both Hands
In other words, we need to spotlight our wealth of African-American talent, we need to celebrate a culture and identity that was largely shaped by our African-American history, and we need to state clearly that the development, retention, and attraction of African-American talent are top priorities for every one of us in this city.
To do less is to pursue economic success with one hand tied behind our backs.
Which brings us back to the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals and National Black MBA Association of Memphis. Last week, they sponsored a panel discussion about our local talent development efforts. It was a invigorating discussion and the interest in the audience in making Memphis a magnet for talent was palpable. Most encouraging of all is that despite the siren’s call of Atlanta and other Southeastern cities, these young professionals have decided to invest their futures and lay down roots in Memphis.
Doubling Down
At least for now. In the long run, we’re only deluding ourselves if we think that these talented young professional will remain here out of sheer loyalty and without more opportunity, more job advancement, and more signs of progress. There is no African-American young professional in Memphis who can’t name at least a half dozen friends who have already abandoned Memphis for the greener pastures of Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, and Raleigh.
Every report that matters tells us that we will have to redouble our efforts, we will have to take more risks, and we have to think and act differently if our economy is to bounce back. If we want to become competitive, it will take more than talking the talk about innovation, entrepreneurship, minority business, and authenticity. We have got to walk the walk, and fortunately, we’ve taken a few steps in that direction lately.
First and foremost, we have to break the link between race and poverty that exists here. It matters because it must be eliminated if we are to become a national hub of African-American talent and African-American entrepreneurs. There are no other opportunities for the future that builds as much on our innate distinctiveness or has the potential for putting more money into everyone’s cash registers.
Negative Images Where They Hurt Most
In this regard, it’s particularly troubling that Memphis has a negative image among African-Americans young professionals living outside Memphis. To this point, we should trumpet all the good things happening in Memphis now, but we should also invite young professionals – who have proven that they want to make difference by their immigration into New Orleans – to join us in disproving the myth that a majority African-American region cannot succeed.
Because of it, every economic development program in Memphis and Shelby County should adopt a shared priority of making our community a national hub for young African-American talent and African-American entrepreneurs. In the first African-American majority region with more than one million people, it’s not just a matter of sound morals. It’s the heart of a sound economic policy.
To this end, minority business and African-American talent has to be treated as more than social work. Too often, companies and corporations act helping minority entrepreneurs act like it’s just a good deed rather than a critical investment in economic success. Despite decades of talk about the importance of minority businesses, these businesses remain largely in low-growth and no-growth sectors and rely on personal debt and family financing rather than loans, equity, and other tools. Because of it, the businesses lack the number, size, and capabilities of their white-owned counterparts.
Leaping Ahead
Our modest recommendation is that Memphis adopt a “New Agenda” for African-American-owned business growth and expansion. We need a quantum leap in our thinking and in our actions, given the fragile state of the Memphis economy in the knowledge economy, and it will take collaboration by every segment of our community.
Most of all, minority business leaders have to have a seat at the table when policy is being made, when important public discussions are taking place on economic policies, and when white-owned businesses are trying to tap into the value of a diverse workforce.
More African-American businesses would accomplish so many of our economic objectives for Memphis, including accelerated jobs growth, rebuilding urban neighborhoods, expanding local tax bases, creating more customers and putting more money in cash registers and creating a model for young people in neighborhoods.
It Starts by Listening
As a result, every corporation in Memphis needs to expand its role in creating opportunities for African-American-owned businesses. On the other side, minority businesses must emphasize innovative ways and prove their added values. It is all built on a central premise: African-American businesses are a major key to Memphis economic development.
As the first step, we’d recommend that economic development officials schedule a candid conversation with the people who understand the challenges and opportunities most: African-American businesspeople.
And there’s no better place to start than with Urban League Young Professionals and the National Black MBA Association of Memphis.
As a young African-American male, who is about to graduate college in May 2012, many young African-American professionals is planning on leaving Memphis. Memphis have the right ingredients to become a great city, but it still (as a Metro area) lacks leadership and bold vision.
I went to Atlanta and Dallas over the summer and I felt like I was in a different world. Memphis overall, doesn’t really offer much opportunities for young African-American professionals. The reason so many African-American move to Atlanta is because Atlanta is seen as a place where blacks can be successful, and the same can be said about Dallas (and other cities mention in your writing). In Atlanta, its nothing to see wealthy African-Americans and young professionals. Its nothing to see successfully African-American neighborhoods and communities. Will someone please name me a successfully African-American area in Memphis? There is none!!! Even Whitehaven and Hickory Hill, which are middle-class African-American areas with average incomes of $45,000 and $40,000, are declining.
Personally, I like Dallas better and that is the place I plan on moving once I graduate. Now, I’m not moving because of crime (Atlanta has plenty) or high taxes (Dallas property taxes is much higher), but I’m moving because these places offer more opportunities (plain and simple).
Though I certainly understand your point, I do suggest you employ the help of a proof-reader before sending your resume to Dallas. Good luck to you.
“Though I certainly understand your point, I do suggest you employ the help of a proof-reader before sending your resume to Dallas. Good luck to you.”
LOL! Didn’t know I was writing a research paper.
Businessman2011, you still need to know the appropriate time to use “is” vs “are” and “successful” vs “successfully”. This is coming from a fellow young-black professional. Unless you plan on working for yourself writing, speaking, and reading are very important indicators of our success as a people as we move forward. Though I’ve visited several cities and countries across the world, I’ve yet to visit Dallas, TX or the state of Texas.
I also think about moving to progressive cities I visit such as Boston, New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco simply because of the desire to make more money and live in a vibrant, dense, pedestrian friendly city. However, if Memphis had an ample amount of jobs paying a great salary than leaving wouldn’t be an option. I’m here for two reasons. My family and the fact that I enjoy life wherever I am. However, I’m sure I would enjoy life a little more waking up near downtown San Francisco.
Let me add that you made some valid points regarding Memphis lacking (one) vibrant quality African-American neighborhood. I tend to look at neighborhoods from a standpoint that they need to feature key ingredients to be considered successful. Urban design is at the forefront. Wide sidewalks, transparent storefronts(windows at the street-level), dining options, street trees, quality recreational spaces, entertainment options, and efficient transportation options. I mentioned all those things without mentioning the things on most people’s list. Good schools and safety.
I believe that if a neighborhood features my favorite list of key ingredients than it is both safe and features quality schools. I believe the quality of the schools is based more on the aptitude, income level, and household make up of the kids attending the school rather than race. It just so happens that most of Memphis low-income black residents live outside the I-240 loop in Cordova and Hacks Cross(New Hickory Hill)rather than inner city neighborhoods.
Outside of downtown the area I see with the most potential to meet the aformentioned criteria of a good neighborhood is Midtown. Specifically, the Cooper-Young, Madison Avenue, and Broad Avenue corridor. Adding bike lanes, streetscape improvements, and a quality theater district to the quality amount of housing, dining, and entertainment options along Cooper and Madison leads me to believe that this is the next area I would prefer to live in during my time in Memphis. Once the Kroc Center opens this area will be the place to live, work, and play in Memphis. To be honest we all should call Memphis “The M” or “M-Town” as Atlanta refers to itself as “The A” or “A-Town”.
It’s all about connections. Projects like skate parks, bike lanes, and the Greenline bring people together and get them moving outdoors. These key factors help people establish a connection with the neighborhoods they live in. In order to replicate this model and create a successful black neighborhood we need to focus on these key elements. The places to focus on creating quality African-American communities and districts is not outside the I-240 loop but rather inside the I-240 loop in neighborhoods like Glenview or Binghampton which happen to be close in proximity to the Parkway System (North, South, East Parkway). The land is already paid for and the bones are in place to make it happen. What we need is successful growth in our colleges especially Lemoyne-Owen. This will help feed our niche in retaining, developing, and attracting young black professionals
Considering it’s late I wrote all of this without proofreading. Please feel free to comment.
Its not like I hate Memphis or anything.I’m just moving for better opportunities. Let me ask, why would a young professional want to move here?
Don’t worry, this is just a casual conversation (proofreading). I wrote my first post 5 min before class on my Blackberry. Lol. Everything you mentioned in your previous post is true. How will African-Americans in Memphis build such a neighborhood?
Business and Anon-
Not sure if I’m allowed to chime into this conversation but regarding Business’s last question, “why would a young professional want to move here?” I have my own perspective. I have found that it is far easier to become involved in meaningful ways within this community- beyond simply my career. While NYC has a group and movement for everyone, every idea and every inclination, the sheer size of that city usually means such movements and organizations are built to a much larger scale that and thus require a full time commitment or make it extremely difficult to realize what progress or contribution and individual is actually making.
I guess the question really becomes what truly motivates an individual. There is the total (or at least primary) focus on career track where prestige and stature can be one’s focus. This has numerous benefits such as financial and social stability as well as improving the ability for one to provide for both a family and a minimal degree of interests outside that focus. There is also a track where one devotes their career and talents toward civic and social improvements which may or may not be defined as a “career track” but is often less likely to lead to a similar degree of financial notoriety.
There is a middle ground that I personally like to think I have chosen. My professional career allows me to be extremely involved in improving the quality of life in whatever community I reside in- especially that of the built environment.
No choice is the “right” choice as everyone must travel the path that suites their goals and their personalities.
Memphis is unique among the city’s I have had a chance to call home in that there is also the opportunity to become involved in ways and efforts where progress in terms of the issue and my own personal efforts is more easily quantifiable. However, it is just large enough to possess both the resources and enough interested parties to support such efforts. Call me shallow, egotistical and/or selfish, but personally I would rather devote time and energy toward an effort where I know my contribution is valued and progress is easier to ascertain.
I haven’t been through there in a while, but I can attest that the Glenview neighborhood was–at one time–a great, lively, middle class, predominantly African American neighborhood. (If that has changed in the last few years, you have my apologies for bringing it up.)
I’m not in any way attempting to say that one strong neighborhood is sufficient. However, it is a starting point for seeing what could be.
I apoligize for the horrific grammar and run-on sentences in my earlier post.
Real-
Glenview remains a very active, middle class, predominantly African American neighborhood.
answer : no “aware” young professional, whether black, blue, white or orange is likely to choose Memphis TN over a plethora of other US cities that offers much much more…no way
“blackness” didn’t make Atlanta a great SE US city
intelligence, creativity, desire, and access to capital mightily contributed to Atlanta’s dynamic
look, most of the professional blacks that call Atlanta “home”, did NOT grow up in Atlanta in the first place..
many of the local Memphians, i.e. black so-called professionals are products of an inferior educational system in the first place….many of whom were “socially promoted” all the way through high school and then admitted to Tiger High….with already inferior and lacking academic skills (nonethless awared a wothless friggen “dgree””……just listen to some of these so-called black professionals for yourselves…it’s embarassing to admit they are products of the school system)…
let’s top trying to compare the background and future of ATLANTA to the present condition of Memphis, TN…that’s laughable…and insulting to a HUGE NUMBER of dynamic and thoughtful black professionals in Atlanta for decades……believe me, they don’t want to be “linked” with the morons in the black community in Memphis just because they share the same race classification….
Memphis is NOT “Atlanta LIGHT”, nor will it ever be in my experience…..and I have lived in suburban Atlanta for several years as well as Dallas and multiple other US cities..
It’s not racist to state that many many black professionals in Memphis don’t “sound proffessional” at all when they open up their mouths to commmunicate…a similar statement could be made about a segment of the rural white population was well……perception and image is important……if others “hear” stupidity when you open up your mouth, they are likely to disrepect what you are attempting to say in the first place, and at the end as well…..if you hear any person, “busting verbs”, using ebonics, urban slang, ghetto idioms, redneck idioms, etc , certain negative judgments are made.. the proof of that is contained within this thread itself..
Memphis will be playing catch-up for decades, while other cities will rocket past it.
You can’t see that all around you, day-in and day-out ??
If you can’t, you’re either in denial, overly biased, or completely blind (and deaf).
Many of you must enjoy engaging in wishful thinking and pipedreams.
Sorry, I don’t live in this fantasy, and I don’t legitimize such a crazy “head trip” of building castles in the air of Memphis, TN.
Anonymous: You’re wrong about a number of things, but the basic one is that you don’t sound racist.
Everyone has an opinion about the viability of Memphis TN as some sort of dynamic city.
Look, it’s plainly not. Memphis is no such thing. It is foolish to assert anything of the sort in re ‘competitiveness’ with other southern or sw cities.
There is nothing wrong with having ‘civic pride’ about Memphis. That’s a good thing indeed..but no one outside of Memphis is buying that crap about its ‘stature’ as some ‘well of enlightenment’ and progressive thought. You’d have to be a damn fool to assert that….or to place Memphis on the same plane as an ATLANTA in re black professionals and their overwhelming positive effect on the community and the region. In fact that’s outrageous.
I’m sure that I, a former resident of Atlanta, am quite certain about that !
Stop the charade…for black DEMONSTRATED ACCOMPLISHMENT, The City of Atlanta is head and shoulders above the City of Memphis TN, and probably several others as well.
Compared to Atlanta, Memphis is an imposter in this regard, with a dismal track record.
Go ask Atlantans what they think of Memphis, TN. Go ask Residents of Charlotte what they think of Memphis….heck, just go to Nashville and ask what they think of the states’s largest city…..okay….go ask folks in Knoxville ! Go to Texas and ask around Dallas, Houston, Austin, …Go to Orlando, Tampa Bay, Charleston..
I know I know, you people think it doesn’t matter what all of these other cities even within your own state THINK about Memphis ! Therein lies your ignorance and malaise….the point is, they all can’t be wrong about the negativity towards Memphis…Many of you probably think all of these other negative opinions are simply fabricated out of thin air, or some crazy hatred of good ole Memphis..
Get real, and face the music…stop talking the talk….no one is buying such rubbish.
Not long ago, even Fred Smith was quoted as saying that “Memphis is not competitive”……heck, I guess he too is just “wrong”…
you bet
I assumed Anon is capable of basic reading and comprehension, but their extremely repetitive and non-topical gibberish undermines that assumption. What are they even blathering about?
He’s just showing his ass, as usual. He was long ago outed as a liar, a homohater, and a racist. He thinks he’s breaking new ground by pointing out that Memphis is a city with a lot of poor undereducated black people. Wow. Stop the presses. The difference here is that shekelboy is overt in his hatred of poor undereducated black people.
Urbanut: I think it’s a testament to you and others that you don’t have a clue. 🙂
I don’t think Memphis can compete for the typical YP, white or black, that is looking for the fast track to success. Those people will go to where things are already created and compete for a space.
Where Memphis can compete, and what it truly needs, is to attract builders and entrepreneurs. Atlanta did not become great because of all the people migrating there for work. It became great because it had people intent on improving and growing the city. Once it was great, businesses came, people came. We need to stop worrying about attracting people like the original poster – if you build it, they will come (and stay).