Action Plan 08

Defend Memphis is in the process of putting together an orgaization of like minded Memphians to form the Alliance for the Betterment of Memphis. Or, A-BOM. The Alliance will primarily work as a committee in conjunction with DM in an effort to develop innovative ideas to solve the complex and unique problems here in the city of Memphis. In theory, A-Bom will consist of individuals from various backgrounds and professions who bring with them specific traits and qualities that can be utilized to promote positive gain for Memphis. These professionals will be recruited from a number of places including, but not limited to, the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and Christian Brothers University. Initially, A-BOM will focus on some core data collection which will later be used to develop suggestions and later proposals.

The recruitment will begin by looking for professionals in the fields of: Criminology & Criminal Justice, Ecomomics, City Planning, Psychology, and Education. Once a sufficient number of members are aboard, the attention will focus on problem identification. Members from each distinct field of expertise will be asked to identify the main problems associated with their area of interest. For instance, members from the city planning division would present reasons why certain zoning issues may prevent business from forming in certain parts of the city. The Ecomomic division would be able to conduct CBAs to determine the potential growth of the area. Once problems are identifed to the committee, the development of solutions can begin.