Make Memphis, the Facebook group created by 34-year-old entrepreneur Taylor Berger, evolved from a digital round table into a bona-fide platform for change in just over a month's time.
On Dec. 7, the group spawned from a Facebook post announcing Berger's call to action: "I'd like to propose we the real people of Memphis do something...I've started a Facebook page called Make Memphis...Who's in?"
So far, 1,273 people have joined, according the open group's member count.
As owner of well-known local businesses Yolo, Chiwawa, Tamp and Tap and the soon to be Truck Stop restaurant, Berger knows a thing or two about progress.
Make Memphis stemmed from Berger's weariness of the negative chatter about Memphis on social media and through anonymous comments on The Commercial Appeal website.
The Facebook group quickly became an idea generator and discussion board for Memphis advocates.
"The mission of Make Memphis is to connect people and shepherd ideas through to action, delivering results that make Memphis a better place to live and work," Berger said during a recent meeting with the group's founders.
Tommy Pacello, a member of the Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team, spoke to the small group of movers and shakers on the ways Make Memphis could enhance the city by teaming up with IOBY, a crowd-sourcing platform for citizen-led neighborhood projects.
IOBY couples a community-organizing core of activists and advocates with crowd funding, the pooling of small donations online for a specific project or cause.
"Before this platform was around, there wasn't really a good way for neighbors to invest back into their neighborhoods," Pacello said.
The Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team and Livable Memphis have combined efforts and funds to bring IOBY to Memphis with hopes to establish a Memphis-specific platform.
"Whether it is taking a blighted property and turning it into a positive asset to your neighborhood or a campaign to bring recycling back downtown, whatever is under your skin about this city, you can prototype it on a small scale, fund it on IOBY, get investors for your fundraising then launch it officially," Pacello said.
Memphis has had tremendous success in the past year utilizing IOBY to implement the Hampline, the two-mile on-road/multi-use trail and the most innovative bicycle infrastructure project to be built in the United States.
"In fact, it was the biggest crowd funded infrastructure project since the Statue of Liberty," Pacello said.
The Hampline is IOBY's largest project to date, raising just over $75,000. The average IOBY project will accrue between $1,000 and $15,000 in funds, bringing about smaller scale neighborhood change.
Make Memphis is holding an open event Feb. 8 at 409 South Main St. in preparation for IOBY's visit to spread the word and publicize ideas for potential Memphis projects.
"The first seven or eight projects are in the pipeline and there is room for 15 to 20 more, possibly from the Make Memphis group," Pacello said.
University of Memphis computer science professor Laney Strange has recently planted her roots in Memphis and is co-owner of Memphis Punch Studios, a firm that builds community-driven campaigns, programs and services.
With experience as a software engineer for Amazon in Silicon Valley then for a non-profit called TechSoup in San Francisco, Strange hopes to pair her specialized tech skills with her passion for civic duty and is eager to contribute to any projects that may enhance the city.
There is one clear goal in the recent Make Memphis meetings according to Strange, "Let's highlight and funnel some of the best ideas and make them happen."
Berger believes big, unformulated goals in Memphis can be tackled over time by focusing on smaller, more finite projects.
"I really want more talented people to come to Memphis, but I can't make an IOBY project for that," Berger said. "What I can do is create an area of downtown that we brand as a creative super hub area of smart business people to draw them in. Let's take a big idea, boil it down to something you can put a project around and get the help to make it happen."
Banks and law firms that once did business downtown have since moved eastward. The creative industry, however, has its roots firmly planted in the downtown district.
"Architecture firms, branding and web design firms are staying downtown because they understand the benefits of interacting with lots of other like-minded creative individuals," Berger said. "These are also the type of firms that do a lot of hiring of young people out of school. We are trying to bring attention to what's already here to make it better and to hopefully make it grow."
The lack of bright, young professionals moving to Memphis to do business isn't the only problem, according to Berger.
"I think we have a big problem with students leaving Memphis after graduation," Berger said. "Having a track record of getting things done provides students a way to start building their personal brand, getting things done in the city, meeting people and falling in with others like themselves. They start liking the city more and the city starts liking them back."
University of Memphis graphic design student Rachel Hurley designed the Make Memphis logo and will work with the group to promote future endeavors.
"For students, getting involved in city initiatives like Make Memphis is a great opportunity to network, gain experience and maybe find a mentor," Hurley said.
Berger is working to brand a downtown area south of Madison Avenue as the downtown core's creative business hub, with plans to kick start the project with a festival and a social media scavenger hunt/race in late April.
